Patrick Bet-David explains the Israel vs Palestine conflict, whether or not it could lead to WW3 and everything else you need to know.
In light of the outbreak of the Israel-Palestine conflict on Saturday, Oct. 7, we thought it would be a good time to explore the history and current politics of Israel and the occupation of Palestine.
This chart below aims to show the history of the landmass since the Israeli government formed. From when it was a British colony called “Palestine” in 1917, to the beginning of the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948, to the series of occupations Israel carried out from 1967 to today.
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In this chart, we see the breakdown of exactly where the conflict is taking place. Population-wise, Israel and the Palestinian territories are roughly equivalent (6.8 million each), while in terms of landmass Israel has eclipsed Palestine in everything except the Gaza Strip (about 140 square miles), home to about 2.1 million Palestinians, and the West Bank, comprised of roughly 460,000 Israeli settlers and 2.7 million Palestinians. There are 1.6 million Palestinian citizens within Israel, and about 350,000 Palestinians living in Jerusalem.
According to The New York Times, of the two million Palestinians in Gaza about 50 percent are unemployed, and the city’s living conditions, health system, and infrastructure have worsened due to an Israeli-imposed and Egyptian-backed blockade. The blockade began when Hamas seized Gaza in 2007, and restricts the import of goods (including computers and other technology) that could be used to make weapons.
A recent survey showed that 57 percent of the Gaza Strip population supports Hamas. The on-and-off conflict between the two belligerents has erupted several times since the blockade was imposed.
The very act of recognizing Palestine is a divisive issue in geopolitics. As of 2022, 138 of the UN’s 193 member countries recognize it as a legitimate state, while the others see it only as territories. Meanwhile, only 162 of the 193 members recognize Israel as legitimate, with some outright disputing its statehood.
If you would like to know more about the Israel-Palestine conflict, including its history and its possible future, please watch Patrick’s new video!
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