The Israel-Palestinian conflict is one of the most intractable and complex disputes of the modern era, fraught with historical grievances, territorial claims, and deep-seated national identities. While the conflict has many layers, one enduring issue that continues to fuel tensions and perpetuate cycles of violence is the Palestinian belief in the “right to return” to lands they or their ancestors fled or were expelled from during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. As long as this ideology persists, achieving lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians remains a distant dream.
At the heart of the Palestinian narrative is the belief that the land now known as Israel was unjustly taken from them, and that they have a legitimate right to return to their ancestral homes, which are now part of the Israeli state. This idea is enshrined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, which was passed in 1948, stating that refugees wishing to return to their homes should be permitted to do so and compensated if they choose not to.
For many Palestinians, the “right to return” is not just a political demand; it is an emotional and cultural bond that connects them to a homeland they view as having been forcibly taken. Even though Palestinians have control over the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, many continue to live in refugee camps across the Middle East, in places like Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. They prefer this precarious existence to resettlement, because they hold onto the hope that one day they or their descendants will be able to return to their former homes within Israel’s borders.
This refusal to move on from the refugee identity has far-reaching implications. It has meant that even when opportunities for statehood, as was offered in various peace negotiations, have been on the table, they were rejected by Palestinian leadership, often because they did not address the “right to return.” For example, in 2000, at the Camp David Summit, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat refused a peace deal that would have given Palestinians control over most of the West Bank and Gaza, partly because it did not provide a clear mechanism for the return of refugees to Israel.
Inculcating generations of Palestinians with this belief has also led to a mindset where statehood and autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza are seen as inadequate. Instead, many Palestinians continue to view Israel not as a legitimate Jewish state but as a temporary aberration in what they see as Arab land. This deeply entrenched belief makes it nearly impossible for Palestinian society to accept a two-state solution, where Israel exists alongside a Palestinian state.
The insistence on the right to return also presents a practical problem. Allowing millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to return to Israel would demographically and politically alter the character of Israel as a Jewish state. It would effectively end Israel’s existence as it is currently defined, leading to the very existential fears that drive much of Israel’s security policies.
Moreover, this belief fosters unrealistic expectations among Palestinians. Even as negotiations and diplomacy evolve, many still hold on to the idea that Israel will one day cease to exist as a Jewish state and be absorbed back into the Arab world. As a result, any form of compromise or peace agreement that does not meet this maximalist demand is seen as betrayal or failure, further radicalizing segments of Palestinian society and encouraging violent resistance.
For true peace to emerge, both sides must confront uncomfortable truths. For Palestinians, it means grappling with the reality that the right to return, as envisioned, is not viable without threatening the very existence of Israel. For Israelis, it means recognizing the historical grievances of Palestinians and addressing them with empathy and fairness, while firmly protecting the state’s right to exist.
The international community must also play a role in fostering this shift. Instead of perpetuating the refugee status of Palestinians by continuing to support organizations like UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), efforts should be made to encourage resettlement and integration in Palestinian-controlled territories and neighboring Arab countries. While symbolic gestures and negotiations regarding compensation or limited family reunifications could be part of a peace process, the focus must shift from the right to return to building a future for Palestinians in a state of their own, alongside Israel.
The ideology of the right to return remains a major roadblock to resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict. As long as Palestinians are taught to reject the legitimacy of Israel’s existence and continue to view themselves as refugees, peace will be elusive. It is only through confronting this deeply held belief, along with constructive political solutions that offer dignity and statehood to Palestinians, that both sides can hope to avoid further violence and work toward a lasting resolution to the conflict.
