Since Hamas’ October 7 massacre, some activists have attempted to justify the attacks as a response to 75 years of Israeli oppression. But the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict tells a much longer story.
In 1947, the United Nations proposed dividing British Mandatory Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Jewish leaders accepted the partition plan, while Arab leaders rejected it. Following Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, neighboring Arab countries invaded the newly established Jewish state.
The conflict continued through decades of wars, Palestinian terrorist attacks, and failed peace efforts. The violence did not begin in 1967 with Israel’s capture of the West Bank and Gaza, nor did it begin with the establishment of Israel in 1948. Jewish communities had faced attacks long before either event.
Meanwhile, Israel developed into a democratic state with a thriving economy, despite ongoing security threats and repeated efforts by terrorist organizations to undermine its existence.
Understanding this history matters because the claim that October 7 was simply a response to decades of oppression overlooks the longstanding rejection of Jewish sovereignty and the violence directed against Israelis.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict did not begin on October 7. But its history cannot be used to justify the deliberate massacre, rape, and kidnapping of civilians.
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© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025
