The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has lasted for over a century now; that's five wars since 1948. That's not counting the dozens of battles, raids and skirmishes that have also taken place, all over a piece of land. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a fight over territory and they thought they had claimed the territory for an extremely long time. The territory is located in Western Asia, between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and is surrounded by Arabia, Syria and Egypt. This land has been in the hands of many people; However, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began with the British Mandate from 1922 to 1947. While Israelis and Palestinians both lay claim to the land of Palestine based on historical geographic and cultural claims, growing religious intolerance on both sides prevents the two from living peacefully side by side. Demographics: In 1947, a plan to form two declared one Jewish and the other Arab: this was the result of the United Nations partition plan for Palestine. While the Jews accepted the partition plan without any surprise, the Arabs rejected it. The rejection of the Arabs led to a civil war later in 1947, and a year later the creation of the State of Israel was established. “Palestinians became dispossessed refugees throughout the Middle East after the establishment of the State of Israel. » This means that Palestinians were forced to leave their homes; which practically makes them exiles. (Emadi) The remaining areas of Palestine were divided between Jordan and Egypt. Between 1950 and 1967, most Palestinians lived in refugee camps, and unemployment and poverty were high in the Gaza Strip. "The Arabs opposed the Israeli occupation of Palestine and...... middle of paper ......pendence, May 15, 1948" Palestine... is the place where the Palestinian Arab people are born, where he grew up, developed and excelled. …. [His] voluntary dispossession and expulsion… were carried out by organized terror. In Palestine and in exile, the Palestinian Arab people have never wavered and never abandoned their conviction of their right to return and independence… and of their right to sovereignty over their territory and their homeland…. The Palestinian National Council…hereby declares the establishment of the State of Palestine on our Palestinian territory…--Palestinian Declaration of Independence, November 15, 1988 (Yiftached)Conclusion: Although the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on the basis of both having historical claims to geography and culture, this eventually turned into a conflict of religion; thus, it is almost possible to live side by side in peaceful coexistence.