From Twice Promised Land to Peace for Piece A Comprehensive Study of the Israeli-Arab Conflict

Stan Levit

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Alcock, Frank

Keywords

Conflict, Peace Negotiation, Israel-Arab

Area of Concentration

History

Abstract

The Israeli-Arab conflict is arguably the most heated ethnic dispute in the contemporary world. To fully grasp the complex situation which has led to such a prolonged conflict, a proper understanding must be anchored in the history and internal politics of Jewish and Arab interests in the Middle East over nearly the past century. The conflict has morphed over time, starting out as a regional state-based conflict, evolving into a Cold War proxy confrontation, and finally into a unique ethnic conflict with regional and international involvement. I deconstructed the conflict chronologically and avoided one grand theoretical explanation. Instead, I favor separating out the time periods where distinct types of conflict dynamics and interactions between the warring parties prevailed. I explored the possible outcomes to the conflict, finding that two options are the most likely: the continuation of the current uneasy status quo, or a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Seeing major obstacles in the conventional approach to the two-state solution, I suggest a Palestinian state with modified sovereignty and semi-permanent international involvement as a possible alternative to a fully independent state.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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