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Obstacles to peace
While settlements are definitely an issue that needs to be resolved, they are not the cause of the conflict or the main obstacle to peace.
Settlements and International Law
This professor of international law argues that settlements are legal and only prevent a two state solution if Jews are prohibited from living in a future Palestinian state.
UN Resolution 242
This video sheds light on the importance of UN Resolution 242 and how it has been interpreted by various parties in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Final Status Issues in Negotiations
This is a good review of some of the main issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – borders, refugees, settlements, and Jerusalem.
Day 5 of the 1967 War
On Day 5 of the 1967 War, Egypt admitted defeat and Israel began to push Syrian forces out of the Golan Heights - an area they used to fire artillery at Israeli civilians.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYvyvn49NQo?list=PL-DNOnmKkUaagpJX65dCjPHf2gzdZ9LqR
Day 6 of the 1967 War
On the final day of the 1967 War, Israel defeated Syria in the Golan Heights and stopped the attacks against its civilians. In 6 days, Israel's status in the region changed dramatically.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/BDLuvJUww2Y?list=PL-DNOnmKkUaagpJX65dCjPHf2gzdZ9LqR
International law and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
In this lecture, Professor Eugene Kontorovich shares his analysis and perspective about settlements and other aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Can the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict be Solved?
This video reviews historic efforts to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Sheikh Jarrah explained
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What is happening in Silwan?
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Israel and Colonialism
Criticizing Israeli policies like settlements is perfectly legitimate. Accusing Jews of being colonizers in their own homeland is not.
Peace negotiations needed
If Israeli and Palestinian leaders can come together to negotiate a just peace, the checkpoints, Gaza blockade, and other safety measures can be lifted and the issue of settlements can be resolved.
Jews in a Palestinian state
"Why is it that Israel is expected to integrate—and does a reasonable job of including—the 20 percent of its population that is Arab, yet a Jewish presence... in any future Palestinian state is deemed “an obstacle" to the two state solution?" - Maajid Nawaz
Beyond the headlines
The issue of settlements is deeply complex and controversial inside and outside of Israel. It's important to understand how the people on the ground live and what their motivations are, rather than just relying on media headlines.
Understanding obstacles to peace
"Settlements may be a problem, but they are certainly not the major obstacle to the peace process." - Khaled Abu Toameh, Journalist
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3008/settlements-obstacle-to-peace
Settlements and colonialism
While West Bank settlements are definitely subject to criticism, it is not legitimate to call the people living there "colonizers". Jews are indigenous to the region, and denying their history and connection to their ancestral homeland is dehumanizing and only fuels more conflict.
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/224254/bellerose-aboriginal-people
Built-up Area of Settlements
According to numbers used by some of the harshest settlement critics, the built-up areas of these communities make up 1% of the West Bank. Even if you include agricultural and industrial areas connected to them, it is no more than 3%.
Settlements and Solutions Interactive Map
This is a fascinating interactive resource which allows you to explore the issue of West Bank settlements and potential solutions that can be negotiated in a peace agreement.
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/settlements-and-solutions
Legacy of Syria in the Golan
This is an interesting look into the Syrian military outposts and civilian structures that remain in the Golan Heights. Syrian forces used the high ground to attack Israelis living in the valley below, until Israel took control of the territory in 1967.
Settlements and international law
This article links to a variety of perspectives which will help you understand the debate about the legality of settlements under international law.
Settlements and international law
Former Dean of Yale Law School Eugene Rostow argued that West Bank settlements are legal under international law, writing that, "the Jewish right of settlement in the area is equivalent in every way to the right of the existing Palestinian population to live there."
International law
Internaional law expert Julius Stone wrote this interesting analysis of settlements, Jerusalem, refugees, and other key issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Settlements and international law
This is an example of how some argue that West Bank settlements are illegal under international law.
Perspectives on the Oslo Accords
This article provides a variety of perspectives about the failure of the Oslo Accords.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/why-the-oslo-accords-failed/
Settlements and Solutions
This interactive map allows you to explore different ways the territorial dispute between Israelis and Palestinians could be resolved.
Oslo Accords database
The Economic Cooperation Foundation has an interesting database of documents related to the Oslo Accords and subsequent negotiations between Israelis, Palestinians, and Arab states.
Definition of occupation under international law
The International Committee of the Red Cross has an FAQ about international law related to occupation.
https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/misc/634kfc.htm
Arab Reactions to the U.S. Peace Plan
This is a well-rounded analysis of how various Arab leaders and states reacted to the 2020 U.S. plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Consequences of the 2020 U.S. Peace Plan
This article provides an interesting perspective on how the 2020 U.S. peace plan may affect future U.S. policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/28/trump-israel-palestinian-middle-east-peace-plan-108078
2020 U.S. Peace Plan Overview
This is a useful overview of the 2020 U.S. Peace Plan, including the historical context, what the plan calls for, and reactions to it from across the region.
Rashid Khalidi Hundred Years War on Palestine
"The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine is not a new, revisionist history that challenges both Israeli and Palestinian readers with its reexamination of their respective narratives. It is simply poor history."
https://jewishreviewofbooks.com/articles/7210/the-war-on-history/
Opinions about annexation
Some security experts believe annexing parts of the West Bank would harm Israel’s security by damaging peaceful relations with Egypt and Jordan, causing the Palestinian Authority to collapse, and sparking war with Hamas, among other reasons.
Opinions about annexation
Some security experts believe annexing parts of the West Bank would make Israel more secure, because any military withdrawal from those areas would put Israel in grave danger.
https://besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/annexing-west-bank-area-c/
Analysis of possible annexation of parts of the West Bank
This article offers critical analysis about why PM Netanyahu may have decided to push for applying Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank in July, 2020.
Analysis of possible annexation of parts of the West Bank
Some argue that potential Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank is a way to pressure Palestinian leaders to negotiate peace, by showing that time is not on their side.
In depth analysis of annexation
This detailed report by the Congressional Research Service offers background and critical analysis about Israel potentially annexing parts of the West Bank
Oslo Explainer
Here is some helpful info about the Oslo Accords, including a bit of context about how this Israeli-Palestinian treaty came about.
The Oslo Accords/Oslo Process
The Oslo Accords were a series of treaties between Israelis and Palestinians. They officially launched the "peace process" which was aimed at ending the conflict but has failed to do so thusfar.
https://www.adl.org/education/resources/glossary-terms/the-oslo-accords-oslo-process
Factsheet about Sheikh Jarrah
This factsheet covers different aspects of the conflict happening in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
Backgrounder about Sheikh Jarrah
This resource provides background about history and more recent events surrounding the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
https://jewishunpacked.com/sheikh-jarrah-the-story-behind-the-story/
Perspectives on Sheikh jarrah
This article explores some different perspectives about the conflict over the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
Perspectives on Sheikh Jarrah
This article argues that the conflict in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah is fundamentally a private property dispute, and lays out the legal case of Jewish property owners there.
https://www.jns.org/opinion/understanding-the-sheikh-jarrah-property-dispute/
Perspectives on Sheikh Jarrah
This analysis represents a critical perspective on Israel’s role in the conflict over the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, and adds some context about the events that led up to the Hamas-Israel war in May, 2021.
https://israelpolicyforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Gottesman.Jerusalem.GazaIPF.May2021.pdf
HR 2590
HR 2590 purports to hold Israel accountable by placing additional conditions and reporting requirements on U.S. military aid. However, it is really a stepping stone to cutting off U.S. aid to Israel, fueled by misleading accusations and the anti-bias of many of the bill’s supporters.
https://israelpolicyforum.org/2021/04/29/the-simplification-of-a-non-simple-issue/
Ottoman Land Registration Law
In 1858 the Ottoman Empire enacted the Tapu Law, allowing people to register as owners of land in Arab provinces. For a variety of reasons, most farmers chose not to register and Ottoman and Arab elites became owners of vast amounts of territory. This became an important factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
https://israeled.org/ottomans-introduce-title-deeds-for-arab-lands/
Ottoman Land Laws and the Conflict
Ottoman land law reforms in the 1800s often led to confusing legal situations, contributing to tensions between Arabs and Jews. This has had lasting effects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.