☰ Contents · World history

Israel and Palestine

Lessons 24 · 1 lessons · Sh. Ergashev, B. Xodjayev, J. Abdullayev. World History (1991–2017): textbook for Grade 11 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions. 1st edition. “Turon-Iqbol”, Tashkent, 2018
24

The State of Israel and the Palestinian question, 1991–2017

Textbook: pp. 109–112
GoalNeutrally explain the stages of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict after 1991 and the parties’ positions.
New words
the Oslo Accords of 1993–1995 between Israel and the PLO · Oslo kelishuvlarithe two-state solution: Israel and a Palestinian state side by side · ikki davlat yechimithe refugee question, the status of Palestinians displaced since 1948 · qochqinlar masalasia ceasefire, a pause in fighting agreed by the parties · o‘t ochishni to‘xtatish
Explanation

In 1947 the UN General Assembly, in Resolution 181, recommended dividing Palestine into Jewish and Arab states; Israel declared independence in 1948, Arab states opposed it and a war followed. The 1991 Madrid conference began peace talks, and in 1993 Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed the Oslo Accords; Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was killed by an Israeli extremist in 1995. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died in 2004; Hamas won the 2006 election and controlled Gaza from 2007, while the Palestinian Authority runs parts of the West Bank. In 2012 the UN gave Palestine the status of a non-member observer state. In 2020 Israel signed the Abraham Accords with the UAE and Bahrain. On 7 October 2023 a Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took about 250 hostages, after which the war in Gaza began; according to the Gaza health authorities, tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed, and a severe humanitarian crisis arose. Fighting resumed after truces in November 2023 and January 2025, and a new ceasefire took effect in October 2025. Unresolved issues are borders, the status of Jerusalem, refugees, settlements and security. Israel puts its security first, Palestinians put their own state and freedom first; international organizations call for a peaceful solution and the protection of civilians.

Worked examples
Jerusalem: Israel regards it as its capital, while Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state; most states say the city’s status should be settled through negotiations.
Settlements: most states and the UN regard the Jewish settlements Israel built in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as contrary to international law, while the Israeli government disagrees.
Class activity

Write 8 important dates of the conflict in 1947–2025 into a table; for each, note the view of both sides or the position of international organizations separately.

Practice
1
Which body adopted Resolution 181?
2
When were the Oslo Accords signed and between whom?
3
What is the “two-state solution”?
4
Name four unresolved issues in the conflict.