History is important in understanding how we got here. Many of the fears and anger between both sides stems from a history of wrongdoings. In order to solve this conflict it is important to be able to see the world each sides point of view. 

In Israel, the Holocaust and history of persecutions for being Jewish influence their world view in ways many in the world cannot relate too. Their parents and grandparents were the 10% of Jewish people who survived the Holocaust in Europe. The Jewish population in Europe was so decimated that it never recovered from the Holocaust. The idea that any one of their loved ones can be killed just for being Jewish is more real to them than many of us realize. We like to believe that something that terrible could never happen again, but the facts do not support this belief. Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur, all of these atrocities happened after the Holocaust. When you add in the fact that Iran has regularly threatened to wipe out Israel, many chant death to Israel across the Middle East, and the videos of Hamas targeting civilians, how can they not be extra vigilant and more reactive?

World War Two almost erased the Jewish population of Europe. A forgotten aspect of this is the important fact that the Nazis did not perpetrate the Holocaust themselves. It required neighbors and informants to identify where the Jews were hiding. The Jewish people knew this, so remaining in Europe was just not an option for many survivors. Israel was created to be a safe area where they would no longer have to live in fear. It was also the only place they could go and have a homeland to protect themselves. We often forget that prior to the Holocaust, many could have been saved if countries in the world would have let Jewish refugees in, but no one did in large numbers. They were turned away despite the fact that countries knew they were being targeted in Germany. There is nowhere else in the world where a state like Israel could be established.

It is also important to understand that this belief and yearning for a homeland is not a 20th century phenomenon. This goes back hundreds of years. The Jewish people have always had a segment of the population who wanted to return to Israel. What is new is they have finally achieved their goal of having a homeland, and they will not give it up.

Many see the Israelis as occupiers. They are the people who forced their families off the lands they had lived and worked for hundreds of years. Much like the Jewish people in Nazi Occupied Europe, they have been forced into a new form of the ghettos. They have been forced into camps, deprived of rights, and many have been victims of Israeli military actions. There is a real fear that things could get much worse, and maybe even an extermination could be possible.

The Palestinians' sense of powerlessness in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict has deep roots in historical experiences, marked by failed peace talks and ongoing challenges. The continuous lack of progress has created an environment where hardline elements find fertile ground to rise to prominence. Frustrations stemming from obstacles, unresolved issues, and a perceived lack of agency in shaping their own future contribute to disillusionment within the Palestinian community. The failure of peace talks and the absence of tangible improvements in living conditions amplify the appeal of more radical approaches, strengthening the influence of hardline positions. Addressing these core issues is essential for creating an environment conducive to peace negotiations and empowering Palestinians to shape their own destiny.