Arab–Israeli conflict facts for kids
The Arab–Israeli conflict is a term for the political problems and fighting between Israel and many Arab countries. This conflict has been going on since 1948.
It's a complicated situation with deep historical roots. It mainly started in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Two important ideas, Zionism and Arab nationalism, began to grow. Both groups felt a strong connection to the same land. This led to different ideas about who should live there and how it should be governed. Over time, this caused several wars and many attempts at peace. These events have shaped the Middle East as we know it today.
More recently, since the late 1900s, the conflict has changed. The original disagreements between Arab nations and Israel are still important. But many fights in the Middle East are now also influenced by a changing political scene. This includes the rivalry between Iran and Israel.
Contents
Why Did the Conflict Start?
The story of the Arab–Israeli conflict begins with two strong national movements:
- Zionism: This idea supported Jewish people returning to their historical homeland. They call it "Eretz Israel" (the Land of Israel). They wanted to create a Jewish state there. For Jewish people, this land is very important for religious and historical reasons.
- Arab Nationalism: This idea focused on Arab people having their own independent states. It also promoted a shared Arab identity across the Middle East. Many Arabs felt the land of Palestine was historically theirs. They believed it belonged to the Arab Palestinian people.
These two ideas grew as the Ottoman Empire became weaker. The Ottoman Empire had controlled the region for almost 400 years. As it started to focus more on Turkish identity, many Arabs felt unfairly treated. This made them want their own independent states even more. Both Zionism and Arab nationalism began in Europe. The first Zionist meeting was in Switzerland in 1897. The "Arab Club" was set up in Paris in 1906.
In the late 1800s, Jewish communities from Europe and the Middle East started moving to Palestine. They bought land there. At this time, Palestine had about 600,000 people. Most were Muslim Arabs, but there were also many Jews, Christians, and other groups. New Jewish communities were built. The first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, was also started.
During World War I (1914-1918), Britain made promises to both Arabs and Jews. Britain promised to support an independent Arab state if Arabs fought against the Ottoman Empire. To Jewish people, Britain gave the Balfour Declaration in 1917. This statement supported "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. It also said that nothing should harm the rights of non-Jewish communities already living there. These promises seemed helpful. But they caused problems later because they were about the same land.
Growing Problems (1920s-1940s)
After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was defeated. The League of Nations (an early international peace group) gave Britain control over Palestine. This was called the British Mandate of Palestine. This area included what is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
Jewish immigration continued. Palestinian Arabs saw this as a threat to their homeland. Policies where Jewish businesses preferred to hire only Jewish workers also caused anger. Protests and violence began as early as 1920. Tensions grew even more in 1929, leading to riots in Jerusalem and other areas.
Jewish immigration increased a lot, especially after the Nazis came to power in Germany. The Jewish population in British Palestine doubled. This fast change led to the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine. This was a big uprising against British rule and Jewish immigration. Because of Arab pressure, British authorities limited Jewish immigration. This became very difficult during the Holocaust, when many Jewish refugees needed safety.
Britain tried to find a peaceful solution many times but failed. So, Britain asked the new United Nations for help. In November 1947, the UN suggested a Partition Plan. This plan would divide Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Jerusalem would be an international city. Jewish leaders accepted this plan. But Arab states and Palestinian leaders rejected it. They believed the whole land belonged to them. This rejection led to open fighting between Arab and Jewish communities within Palestine.
Birth of Israel and the First War (1948)
On May 14, 1948, the British Mandate ended. On that same day, Jewish leaders declared the creation of the State of Israel.
The very next day, armies from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq invaded the new State of Israel. This started the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The new Israeli Defense Force (IDF) fought back. They pushed back the Arab armies. Israel expanded its borders beyond the original UN partition plan. By December 1948, Israel controlled most of the area west of the Jordan River. The remaining parts of the former British Mandate came under the control of Jordan (the West Bank) and Egypt (the Gaza Strip).
During and after this war, many Palestinian Arabs (around 713,000) left or were forced to leave their homes. They became Palestinian refugees. The reasons for their leaving are still debated. They include promises from Arab leaders that they could return after the war. Fear and direct actions by Israeli forces and Jewish groups also played a part. At the same time, many Jewish people living in Arab countries also faced problems. There were anti-Jewish riots and loss of citizenship or property. Over 850,000 Jews from Arab countries moved to Israel and other nations over the next twenty years.
The war ended with ceasefire agreements signed in 1949. These were between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
Years of Tension and Major Wars (1949-1973)
After 1948, there was continued tension and several major conflicts:
- Suez Crisis (1956): Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran. This blocked Israeli ships from reaching the Red Sea. Israel, with help from Britain and France, invaded the Sinai Peninsula. Pressure from the United States and the United Nations led to Israel's withdrawal. A UN peacekeeping force was then sent in.
- PLO Formed (1964): The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was created. Its goal was the liberation of Palestine.
- Six-Day War (1967): Tensions grew again when Egypt removed UN peacekeepers. Egypt also blocked the Straits of Tiran. On June 5, 1967, Israel launched a surprise attack on Egypt. It quickly destroyed most of the Egyptian, Jordanian, Syrian, and Iraqi air forces. In just six days, Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and the Golan Heights. These areas are still central to the conflict today.
- "Three No's" (1967): After the Six-Day War, Arab leaders met. They declared "no recognition, no peace, and no negotiations" with Israel. This showed their strong opposition.
- War of Attrition (1969-1970): Egypt started a war to try and wear down Israel. They wanted Israel to return the Sinai Peninsula.
- Yom Kippur War (1973): On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. It was on Yom Kippur, a very holy day for Jewish people. The Israeli military was initially caught off guard. Other Arab states sent troops. They also stopped selling oil to nations supporting Israel. This made oil prices go up a lot. The United States and the Soviet Union became indirectly involved. A ceasefire was eventually reached.
Peace Efforts and Changes (1974-2005)
After the major wars, efforts towards peace began. The conflict started to change.
- Peace with Egypt (1979): After the Camp David Accords (peace talks in the US), Israel and Egypt signed a historic peace treaty in March 1979. Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. Both countries recognized each other. This was a huge step. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel.
- Lebanon Wars (1982, 1993, 1996): The PLO moved to Lebanon after being forced out of Jordan. They launched attacks into Israel. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 to remove the PLO. Fighting continued at a lower level, especially with the rise of Hezbollah, a Shiite militia. Israel eventually left Southern Lebanon in 2000.
- First Intifada (1987-1993): A large Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule began in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This involved civil disobedience, protests, and stone-throwing. The international attention it brought led to peace talks.
- Oslo Accords (1993-1995): Secret peace talks in Oslo, Norway, led to the signing of the Oslo Accords. Israel recognized the PLO as the official representative of the Palestinian people. The PLO recognized Israel's right to exist and stopped using terrorism. These agreements created the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). This gave Palestinians some self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
- Peace with Jordan (1994): Israel and Jordan signed a peace agreement. Jordan became the second Arab country to do so.
- Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000-2005): Another period of intense violence broke out. This led Israel to increase its security measures. These included checkpoints and a security barrier around the West Bank.
- Gaza Disengagement (2005): Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided to remove all Israeli settlers and military forces from the Gaza Strip.
Shift to Iran–Israel Rivalry (2006-Present)
Since the mid-2000s, the broader Arab–Israeli conflict has been more and more influenced by the growing rivalry between Iran and Israel. The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is still very important.
Conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah
- 2006 Lebanon War: Hezbollah fighters captured Israeli soldiers. This led to a war that caused a lot of damage in Lebanon. Both sides had many casualties.
- Gaza Conflicts: After Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel and Egypt put a blockade on it. There have been several rounds of intense fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. These include Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009), Operation Pillar of Cloud (2012), and conflicts in 2014 and 2021. Israel says these actions are needed to stop rocket attacks and prevent weapons smuggling.
- Syrian Civil War (2011-Present): The civil war in Syria has made the regional situation even more complex. Israel has launched missile strikes in Syria. This is mainly to stop Iran and its allies (like Hezbollah) from gaining too much power. It also aims to prevent advanced weapons from being moved near Israel's border. Israel has also given humanitarian aid to Syrian war victims.
- US Recognition of Jerusalem (2017): In December 2017, the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It moved its embassy there in May 2018. This decision received both support and criticism around the world.
- Abraham Accords (2020): A big development was the signing of the Abraham Accords. These agreements led to Israel and several Arab nations becoming friends. These included the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and later Sudan. These agreements were partly driven by shared worries about Iran's growing influence in the region.
- 2023 Hamas–Israel War: As of today, May 24, 2025, the conflict that began in October 2023 between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza is still ongoing. Many people see this conflict as part of the wider Iran–Israel rivalry. Arab leaders have spoken out against the violence. But many Arab League countries have not officially interfered. This shows the changing situation in the region.
Some Arab nations, like Saudi Arabia, have said they are interested in becoming friends with Israel after the conflict. This would be on the condition that a Palestinian State is created.
Economic Impact
A report estimated that the conflict cost the Middle East about $12 trillion in lost economic opportunities between 1991 and 2010. This means that if there had been peace and cooperation, countries in the region could have had much higher economic growth. This includes Israel, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. For example, the average Israeli citizen could have earned much more money in 2010 if there had been peace.
Casualties
It's estimated that the conflict caused the loss of around 92,000 lives. This includes both military and civilian people between 1945 and 1995. The ongoing conflicts continue to add to this sad number.
Images for kids
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Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal on 7 October 1973
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Begin, Carter and Sadat at Camp David
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Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat at the Oslo Accords signing ceremony on 13 September 1993
See also
In Spanish: Conflicto árabe-israelí para niños
