Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Critique and Search for a Permanent Resolution for Peaceful Co-Existence

Abstract

The struggle between Israelis and Palestinians for land, security and survival has created an explosive situation that has defied resolution for over half century. The critical aspect of this unending feud are its attendant destruction of life and property, poverty, famine, pestilence, disease, unrest and ultimately death for both the actual terrorists and innocents souls who are just victims of this crisis. As a result of this situation, the region has become a focus of international politics between super-powers of the West and the East, while fundamentalists on all sides have turned the conflict into manipulations to suit their own interests.Despite the fact that both United States and Russia have resolved in recent times to create a lasting solution to the problem by establishing a state for the Palestinians, yet each time a state of hope arises for the final resolution, a disagreement pulps up for renewed violence. The recent 2014 escalation which engaged the Hamas militias against the Israelis claimed several lives and casualties on both sides but weighing more heavily to the disadvantage of Palestinians.This work therefore is an attempt to review this age-long conflict in its historical antecedent context and tracing the course of the conflicts to its present state of turmoil between the warring neighbours. The work further delves into the roles played by the “powers that be” in quelling or rather provoking the conflict over the years. The work concludes with alternative suggestions of how the conflict may be resolved pointing out that there may yet be a red light in the tunnel for a final seizure of the crisis, given the ceasefires spirit between the warring parties in recent time. The methodology adopted for the work is content analysis, thereby utilizing a media network of the Cable News Network, Aljazeera, British Broadcasting Corporation, Newspapers and Magazines. Recourse was further made to the internet, extant periodicals from Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and interviews.

Keywords: Israeli, Palestinian, Conflict, Militia.