In a shift reminiscent of large-scale operations carried out during the second Palestinian uprising (2000-2005), Israel recently executed a military operation inside the occupied West Bank’s Jenin Refugee Camp. The assault aimed to destroy and seize weapons, targeting specific militant groups in the process. Approximately 2,000 soldiers were involved in this operation; they utilized military drones to execute the strikes. Historically, the Jenin camp has been known as a bastion for armed struggles against Israeli occupation, often acting as a hotbed for violence.
Understanding the Significance of Jenin Refugee Camp
The Jenin Refugee Camp, located in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, is a Palestinian refugee camp established in 1953. Built to accommodate Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war – referred to as Nakba or “catastrophe” in Arabic – the camp has since become an epicenter of ongoing clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces. Furthermore, during the second Palestinian uprising, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000-2005), the camp gained notoriety as a stronghold for armed resistance against Israeli occupation. Today, Jenin Refugee Camp stands as a stark symbol of the persistent Palestinian refugee issue and the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Geographies of Israel-Palestine Conflict: Key Locations to Know
Several locations have significant relevance to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Al Aqsa Mosque:
This is among the holiest structures in Islam, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif (“the Noble Sanctuary”), and by Jews as the Temple Mount. Situated in the Old City of Jerusalem, this site holds immense religious significance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike.
Sheikh Jarrah:
Located north of the Old City in East Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood housed numerous Palestinians displaced from their homes with the creation of the State of Israel in historical Palestine in 1948. Twenty-eight of these displaced Palestinian families found refuge in Sheikh Jarrah.
West Bank:
The West Bank is a landlocked territory in West Asia, containing a significant portion of the western Dead Sea shoreline. Jordan captured it during the Arab-Israeli War (1948), but Israel seized it during the Six-Day War of 1967 and has maintained control since then.
Gaza Strip:
Located between Israel and Egypt, the Gaza Strip became an Israeli-occupied territory after 1967. Control over Gaza City and most of the area’s daily administration was relinquished by Israel during the Oslo peace process. In 2005, Israel unilaterally removed Jewish settlements from the region, although it still controls its international access.
Golan Heights:
The Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 war, was effectively annexed by Israel in 1981. The United States officially recognized Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as part of Israel in 2017.
Revisiting UPSC Civil Services Examination Past Questions
The Israel-Palestine conflict frequently features in several competitive examinations, including the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Here are some previous year questions related to this topic:
In 2023, Statement-I stated, “Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States,” and Statement-II read, “The ‘Arab Peace Initiative’ mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.” The answer for the correct statement was (c) – Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
In 2018, the question was, “The term “two-state solution” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of?” The correct answer was Israel.
In 2008, the question asked, “Yom Kippur War was fought between which sides/countries?” The correct answer was Israel, and Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria.
