THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT: IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL PEACE, SECURITY AND THE ECONOMY

Abstract

The protracted conflict between Israel and Palestine is steeped in claims and counter-claims over land located within the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The declaration of the state of Israel in 1948 and the Palestinian quest for self- determination in a land they felt belonged to them set the tone for years of conflict between the two nations. Scholars are in agreement that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the longest territorial conflict in world history; hence it has attracted global attention and wide discourse. The thrust of this paper is to examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its implications on global peace, security and the economy. The implications of the conflict on global peace, security and the economy are enormous and include: humanitarian crisis manifesting in loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, displacement of persons, hunger, poverty and possible creation of army of terrorists which portends danger to peace and security. Its rippling worldwide economic implications border on possible hike in food and energy prices, disruptions in world market supply chain and trade, food crisis and disruptions in international diplomacy and economic relationships among others. Until the United Nations Resolutions 181 of 1947 and 242 of 1967 are put into implementation, the global community will continue to feel the impact of the age long conflict.