The current crisis in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict was triggered by the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, which were established there after the 1948 war. These families were originally expelled from Jaffa and Haifa during the same conflict and their properties were claimed by Israeli settlers under a law that allows them to reclaim lost properties since the 1970s. This has led to the 'Judaization' of East Jerusalem and the eviction of Palestinians from their homes.
The confrontation with Palestinians has been a unifying factor in Israeli society, breaking the front against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has struggled to secure the necessary majority to avoid corruption trials. However, this front has been broken by the right wing, particularly the once powerful Labour Party, which has been reduced in recent elections.
The immediate aftermath of the crisis saw a disproportionate reaction from Israeli security forces. Peaceful protests turned violent when the Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque during the Flag Parade, a nationalistic Israeli demonstration commemorating the occupation of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War. This sparked widespread outrage among Arab citizens of Israel, who now claim they too are Palestinians, and have joined the protests in support of the evicted families.
The situation in Gaza escalated into a twelve-day conflict involving exchanges of rockets between Palestinian militant groups and the Israeli army, though it's not considered a full-scale war given the disparity in military power. Gaza has been likened to an open-air prison due to its small size, high population density, and isolation.
The crisis has also highlighted the growing isolation of the Palestinian cause, with countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco recognizing Israel under pressure from former President Donald Trump and the acquiescence of Saudi Arabia.
The crisis further exposed the impotence of the international community, especially the European Union, and the inability to influence Israeli actions. President Biden has failed to counter the pro-Israel lobby in Congress and has not supported any condemnation resolutions from the UN Security Council.
The situation in East Jerusalem and the ongoing conflict highlight the tensions between Israel and Palestine, with significant implications for regional stability and the prospects for peace. The involvement of Arab citizens of Israel in the protests suggests that the conflict may be more complex than a binary struggle between Jews and Palestinians.
