In 1993, as part of the Oslo Accords, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel agreed to an outline for Palestinians to self-govern in the Palestinian territories. In 1994, Israel withdrew from Gaza City and Jericho, giving civilian and city functions to the Palestinian Authority.
Call be dumb, but that’s not Isreal taking land, it’s giving it up. I can site all the times and dates when Isreal has accepted proposals for a two state deal to end hostilities and Palestine has refused.
I think the major problem has always been the extremists on BOTH sides. Those in Israel who absolutely refuse to entertain the idea of, as they see it, giving up land to the Palestinians. And those on the other side, currently Hamas and Hezbollah but many different names over the years, who believe in the total obliteration of Israel.
Whenever saner voices on either side have approached a peaceful solution the extremists on both sides have done their upmost to derail the process, and all to often assassinated those responsible for their perceived treachery.
Until these extremists can be brought under control the situation will not change.
Unfortunately at the moment it is the extremists who are running the show, certainly on the Israeli side.
The recent killing by Israel of a Hamas leader widely perceived to be something of a moderate is a case in point. He will no doubt have been replaced by someone with more extreme views, hence perpetuating the problem, exactly what Netanyahu wants.
And I'm not sure that Hezbollah have ever had anyone in a senior position who could be viewed as being moderate, or remotely interested in peace with Israel.
I imagine that Netanyahu's thought process is that if he can regain complete Israeli control over Gaza then it will be a devil of a job to get them out again.
They are pursuing a similar process in the West Bank, with the IDF standing by whilst settlers grab what they want, and appear to be free to kill any locals who try to resist.
I agree with Jacob that this has been going on for decades, and it is the lack of action on the part of the west to do anything about it that has emboldened those on the Israeli right and brought us to where we are now.
Morally the leaders on both sides are equally corrupt, but the Israelis have the military power to bring about carnage on a scale that Hamas and Hezbollah can only dream of.