Major Issues
Learn about the major issues that must be addressed as part of any peace treaty.
As with any conflict there are certain issues that seem to come up again and again as points of contention. In this section, we present what we see to be the three major issues that must be addressed in any potential solution that strives for a just peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
- Separation Barrier
The separation barrier is a structure being built by Israel around the West Bank. It is made up of a matrix of fences and concrete walls. Its stated purpose is protection for Israel from militant attacks, such as suicide bombings, and is referred to as the “security fence.” Those who oppose the barrier claim its goals are 1) a land grab for Israel and 2) as a means for splitting up the West Bank into small, disconnected enclaves. This group refers to the barrier as the “apartheid wall.” The major issues that must be decided are the validity of the barrier and its path.
- Status of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is claimed as a holy city by Jews, Christians and Muslims and so its control has been a hotly contested topic. Israel claims it as Israel’s eternal capital, while the Palestinians hope to claim it as the capital of their future state. Claims aside the city is currently divided into two halves: 1) East Jerusalem, which is almost completely Palestinian in population and 2) West Jerusalem, which is mostly in habited by Israeli Jews. The major issues surrounding Jerusalem are whether it should be a shared or undivided city and what types of control Israel and the future state of Palestine would have over it.
- Right of Return
There are actually two “rights of return” in this issue. Israel has a Law of Return, sometimes referred to as the "Israeli Right of Return," that states any Jew who comes to Israel will be granted automatic citizenship if they request it. The more common reference to the Right of Return, and the one we address here, is the Palestinian 'Right of Return.' This Right of Return is a reference to point 11 of UN Resolution 194, which states that the 600,000 to 800,000 refugees of the 1948 war wishing to return peacefully to their homes in the new State of Israel should be granted this right or monetary compensation for their property. The major issues that must be decided about this issue are the status and rights of refugees’ descendents, and the practical fact of how Israel, with the involvement of the international community, would be able to absorb or compensate that many people without causing a humanitarian or economic crisis.