Israeli Nervousness

While the Arab Spring may signal liberation and democraticization for Arabs, for Israel, it would be an understatement to call it a major cause for concern.

Few historical chronologies of the twentieth century are more complex than that of the seemingly unresolvable conflict between the predominantly Muslim Arabs and Jews of Israel.  Suffice it to say that significantly few Arab states recognize Israel as a legitimate state, since it was established in 1947, not through any military conquest of its own, but rather through legislated resolutions issued by the then newly created United Nations.  From a western perspective, the establishment (or re-establishment, some would say) of Israel served to provide a place of refuge for the many Jews throughout the world displaced by anti-semitic conflicts.  From an Arab perspective, the establishment of the State of Israel is effectively an enduring and expanding occupation of Arab Palestine.  Objectively, given the nature of the hostility exhibited by both parties throughout the years, neither the Arabs nor the Israelis are entirely blameless for the ongoing conflict.

But this year's Arab Spring alters the balance of power in the region.  Emboldened by increasingly favorable Arab sentiment globally, as well as by President Barack Obama's implied endorsement of a Palestinian state in a speech back in May, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is pursuing a vote for full Palestinian statehood by the United Nations Security Council, despite warnings from the U.S. State Department that it would veto such a vote. 

In the Palestinian pursuit of statehood, Abbas explains that "we are not going to annul Israel's legitimacy, [...] we wish to isolate Israel's policy." However, Israel is not swayed from a defensive postition, and has increased its military presence around certain Jewish settlements, fearful of violent demonstrations by emboldened Palestinians.  Although the Palestinians pursue an independent Palestine drawn from the pre-1967 borders, Israelis are concerned that, once a legitimate state, Palestine may then resort to the International Criminal Court in the Hague to prosecute Isreal for the illegitimacy of these Jewish settlements.  The vote for Palestinian statehood is next week, but tensions are already running high.