1st of October 2015

Plurad, Krizea Nae A.

3 Political Science 2

Professor Ronald Maglaqui Castillo

A Relevance of the Realist and the Idealist Approach: Resolving the Irresolvable in the
Israeli-Palestinian War
Introduction
For more than 80 years that has been passed, states Israel and Palestine has involved
themselves in a non-stop game of tag, except this form of tag involves bombs, missiles and even
tanks which generated appalling number of casualties and deaths over the years. Broad
international consensus regarding the political and legal concerns and controversies on the
inharmonious relations between Israel and Palestine wherein the conflict between the two states
has sent shockwaves all throughout the globe for having almost permanent fixtures in the media
although only perpetual tallying of deaths of both states are broadcasted. What actually lies
beneath the surface is far different and only bears little resemblance to what it is presumed to be.
Political dissidence has been plagued in both states for many years now and considering the fact
that there were already many attempts to resolve the disunity of Israel and Palestine but still
nothing has changed.
The aim of this paper is to use two approaches in International Relations to explain the
conflict that happened and still exists in Israel and Palestine despite the numerous attempts to
peace processes. The researcher will utilize the Realist perspective for the mainstream approach
and on the other hand, the Idealist Approach to also strengthen the theme of this paper and at the
same time will have a deeper understanding on the conflict.
Body/ Discussion
The issue between the Palestinians and Israelis has existed since many years now. The
conflict has several historical roots. This issue is religious and historical, from issues of religions
to land disputes. Several occurrences and happenings in the history of both states have made a
great impact to the current situation of the two sides (Hastedt, 2012). From suicide bombers to
land disputes, from a place of tranquility and serenity to a place of earsplitting sounds of agony,

Israel and Palestine had gone through a lot. From the long years of war, the conflict has had an
impact not only on the two states engaging in the conflict but even other countries and even
religions. A large number of lives are being taken on a daily basis, unfortunately. The Palestinian
Arabs have been pushed out of their properties and out of the land that was once theirs and one
that they, until now, still believe they are entitled to while the Israelis on the other side, used
harsh methods to force the Palestinian Arabs out of their homeland. Not only land disputes and
religious issues, there are also factors that adds more fuel to the fire. The United States of
America, one of the top economies who exports weaponries to other countries including Israel
(Guay, 2015), is actually benefitting from the conflict. As other countries descends into proxy
wars, sectarian conflicts and battles against terrorist networks, countries in the region have
stockpiled American military hardware where in it result to a boom in the American economy.
Guns. Bombs, grenades and other weapons are used by the Zionists (Israel) to destroy the
properties of the Palestinian Arabs, people in the United States is providing them with weapons
in order to force the Arabs out of their lands. On the other hand there are also Muslim countries
that are backing up the Palestinian Arabs in order to promote their own interests. Both the
Israelis and Arabs believe that they are entitled to the land. Those of the Israelis or the Jews
believe that it is their promise land or it is their haven while the Muslims believe that the land is
theirs simply because they have living there ever since. The issue has been globally known for
other countries and even other people of the religion has already been involving themselves in
the issue which created a lot of friction on the two. The author will then use the Realist and the
Idealist Approach to view the issue.
Inducing Realism in the Israeli-Palestinian War
Before taking up the issue in a realist frame of reference, Realism is and can be used to
explain current issues in international relations in parallel with the issue on Israeli-Palestinian
War for if one tries to look at the issue in a realist perspective kind of way, it is in the nature of
both the states to enhance their state power in order for them to defend themselves (Slaughter,
2011). States are said to work and function to increase their own power in relative to that of other
states. Realism in this context is a condition in which war between nations is assumed to be
permanent and expected. It is not said that it is required to have war. In this discourse the realist

perspective will be used to tackle the conflict using one of the reasons why their conflict still
exist.
In connection with the issue on the Israeli-Palestinian War, similar with the realist
perspective, both states seek power in order to increase security for the reason that both states
quest for self-preservation (Harms & Ferry, 2005). It is not new that every states have their own
self-interests and because of their dissimilar concerns which started misunderstandings that led to
tremendous heinous. In the realist perspective, the most important and reliable form of power is
the military power, which explains why both try to improve theirs and even ask other countries to
help them. Both countries are driven by the fact that both states have claimed that the land is
theirs and though that in some kind of way think that the perseverance of the other party to claim
the land is theirs, is already a threat to their national security and that it is already a form of
trespassing to their territories that the Israelis did not only build a barrier but also denied the
rights of the Arabs to the land that served as their for so many centuries now.
Promulgation of Idealism in the Israeli-Palestinian War
Aside from the realist perspective, the idealist approach can also be used in addressing
the issue on the Israeli-Palestinian War. Unlike the realist perspective that is more aggressive
compared to the idealist prospect. The idealist perspective builds broader frame of reference on
the national interest of the state. Beliefs and values are central ingredients to the idealist prospect
(Daddow, 2013).
By using the prospect of an idealist, the researcher connects the notion of idealism why
there is conflict in the states, Israel and Palestine. One concern of both states that until now
remains unsolved is that of their issue in the Temple Mount. The Temple of Mount is a religious
site in the Old city of Jerusalem and is often called the Holy Sanctuary. Beliefs and practices is
what binds the Israeli Jews likewise of the Palestinian Arabs. On one side of the spectrum where
there is fear and horror of bomb threats on the cities and villages in Israel and at the same time
traumatic stories from families who have lost their love ones during the bomb attacks but then on
the other side, articles and news shows of stateless and homeless people who are living under
difficult economic and social conditions. There are no shortage of heart-wrenching stories about
the challenges Palestinians face both in the West Bank and the Gaza, both areas claimed by both
states. If those beliefs and values are what binds each of the state, it is also at the same time,

another reason that adds up to the fire existing between Israel and Palestine. This issue is one of
the primary hindrances to peace-making process between Israels and Palestines control over the
Temple Mount which serves as a sanctuary or haven for the Jews and a home for the Palestinian
Arabs.
National security undeniably is an important aspect in term of political, economic and
most importantly in military agendas in state and at the same time it is not questionable that
states engage in war in order to solve as they say miscalculations on both sides for the state has a
paramount responsibility in the contexts of its security not only locally but also internationally.
Internalization of Jerusalem
It is possible to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine only if both states agree
to internationalize Jerusalem, the holy city and the home of Judaism, Christianity and Islam but
considering the scenarios both states have been through during their conflict, it is nearly
impossible to implement peace. Even the Egyptian President has coincide and promotes the
peace talks or peace agreements of Israel and Palestine for the reason that both states actually
have so much to offer. Both states could actually offer greater resources to their neighboring
countries and with that, it could also change the face of their region. The researcher believes that
it is possible to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine if both states agree to
internationalize Jerusalem, the holy city that shelters three religion namely Judaism, Christianity
and Islam (Hastedt, 2012). To internationalize Jerusalem is to give the rights of the Palestinians
of their homes and property, not totally disregarding the barrier built by the Israelis but just
giving what is due to the innocent ones involve in the mess caused by disagreements of both
parties to cooperate. If both parties think of internationalizing Jerusalem then it would follow
that there will be another attempt to peace talks. Just recently, leaders of states like that of Saudi
has proposed of Arab Peace Initiative which surprisingly earned unanimous support from the
Arab League of a two-state solution in line with the Israeli and the Palestinian Conflict although
Israeli leaders continually refuse to discuss the initiative. As of now, Israelis continue to upgrade
their weaponry in order to guard their territory from others, Palestinians on the other hand
although with the presence of their initiative to support the two-state solution is still unprepared
to accept a Jewish State on any terms, after all the Israelis have also caused them devastation and
of course caused them to homeless. Military is not the only form of power that a state would

need, economic power is also big factor in the development of a country. Thus, it would be a
great deal if both states would establish peace with each other and that would spark the start of
economic development in both states.
Conclusion
Religions and ideologies. These two are only some of the reasons why some states go to
war. Both approaches in International Relations were successfully utilized in this paper to
address the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Concerns of both countries were also tackled in
connection to the issue and of course the approach that was used. Issues in the conflict as stated
above namely, the issue on the Temple of Mount or the Holy Sanctuary and the issue on the clash
of interests. To sum it all up, the conflict actually revolves around the problem on both states
about territory and identity.

Bibliography
Daddow, O. (2013). International Relations Theory: The Essentials. London: SAGE Publishing
Inc.
Guay, T. (2015). Global Crisis and Economic Growth Drives U.S Weaponry. Retrieved from Fast
Company: http://www.fastcompany.com/3044351/us-russia-china-dominate-globalweapons-market
Harms, G., & Ferry, T. M. (2005). The Palestine-Israel Conflict. London: Pluto Press.
Hastedt, G. P. (2012). Cases in International Relations: pathways to conflict cooperation. SAGE
Press.
Slaughter, A.-M. (2011). Intermational Relations, Principal Theories.