Shifting Dynamics in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Palestinian resistance increasingly stood independent of Arab states, reframing the conflict

as one between two peoples—not simply Israel versus its neighbors. This shift internationalized

the Palestinian cause, moving it from a regional Arab issue to a global political

struggle centered on self-determination. Grassroots uprisings in the late 20th century highlighted

the daily realities of occupation: checkpoints, arrests, land confiscations, and economic control.

The rise of militant groups, suicide bombings, and Israeli military operations hardened

attitudes on both sides and made compromise politically dangerous. Violence transformed public opinion.

Israeli fears intensified, while Palestinian despair deepened, narrowing political space for moderates.