THE INTRACTABILITY OF THE ISRAEL–PALESTINE CONFLICT: HISTORICAL ORIGINS, FAILED PEACE EFFORTS, AND PATHWAYS TO RESOLUTION

Abstract

The Israel–Palestine conflict is one of the most enduring and complex disputes in modern history, rooted in competing nationalist claims, historical grievances, and unresolved issues of sovereignty and identity. Since the 1947 UN Partition Plan and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, cycles of violence, displacement, and failed negotiations have shaped the region’s political, social, and economic landscape. Numerous peace initiatives including the Camp David Accords, Oslo Accords, Roadmap for Peace, and the Abraham Accords, have attempted resolution but ultimately failed to secure lasting peace. This study employs John Burton’s Human Needs Theory and Johan Galtung’s Conflict Transformation approach within a qualitative case study framework to analyze the conflict’s origins, strategies, and recurring failures. Findings highlight power asymmetry, unaddressed human needs, structural violence, geopolitical interference, and internal divisions as key obstacles. The study concludes that sustainable peace requires moving beyond short-term settlements toward inclusive frameworks that address fundamental needs, dismantle inequalities, and foster long-term transformation.