Politically, the Middle East problem refers to the conflict between the Arab States (Palestine included) and Israel, and is also called Arab-Israeli conflict. It is historically the product of power struggles and has lasted for over half a century, which makes it the most enduring hot spot in today's world. The core issue of the Middle East Problem is the Palestine Problem.


I. A brief review of history


Palestine was called Canaan in ancient times. It covered the present Israel, Gaza, West Bank and Jordan. The original inhabitants in Palestine were Canaanites. About 4000 years ago, Hebrews and Philistines migrated from the Euphrates-Tigris and the coastal area along the Aegean to Palestine. Amid continuous fighting with Canaanites and Philistines, the Hebrew people established the first Hebrew kingdom in 1020 BC. From the 8th century to the beginning of the 20th century, Palestine suffered under the invasion, occupation and struggles by big powers. In 586 BC., the neo-Babylonian captured and drove Jews to Babylon. In 538 BC., the Persian Empire gave the captured Jews the permissions to return to Palestine. The Jews rebuilt their Holy Temple in Jerusalem. In 135, Jews was driven out of Palestine again by the Roman Empire, and began their Diaspora worldwide. In 637, Palestine was annexed by the Arab Empire, Arabs kept to move in and the Palestinian Arabs took in form.


In late 19th century, some Jewish intellectuals living in Europe initiated the Zionist movement. In 1897, a Zionist congress was held in Basle, Switzerland, under the leadership of Herzl, and World Zionist Organization was founded. The organization was aimed to create in Palestine a homeland for Jews secured by public laws. Britain supported the Zionist movement and used it as a tool for a better control of Palestine in order to protect its interests in the Suez Canal and to expand to the innerland of the Middle East. In 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, "view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". In July 1922, the League of Nations gave Britain the mandate over Palestine. Since then, Jews from all over the world began their influx to Palestine.


On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly passed with 33 pros, 13 cons and 10 abstentions Resolution 181 to partition Palestine. According to the resolution, two independent states would be established in the Palestine area, of which 15.2 thousand sq. km would be allocated to the State of Israel and the remaining 11.5 thousand sq. km to the State of Palestine. Since Jerusalem, with an area of 158 sq. km, is the holy site at the same time for Jews, Christians and Muslims, it should be internationalized and submitted under UN's trusteeship. On May 14, 1948, State of Israel was founded and became the first country ever set up in accordance with UN resolution. However, Arabs and Palestinians were strongly opposed to the resolution and the Palestine state was not set up at all. On the second day of Israel's foundation, a war between it and Arab countries broke out and that marked the beginning of the long history of Arab-Israeli conflicts.


II. Arab-Israeli wars


The First Middle East War. On May 15, 1948, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq mobilized Arab armies to wage a war against the newly founded Israel. The war was ended with Israel's victory. It not only successfully secured its occupation over the lands allocated by the UN resolution, but also took control of West Jerusalem and 6700 sq. km allocated to the Palestinians. At the same time, Jordan took control of 4800 sq. km in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and Egypt tool control of 350 sq. km in Gaza.


The Second Middle East War. On July 26, 1956, Egyptian President Nasser announced the nationalization of Suez Canal. Britain and France jointly waged an invasion to Egypt and took control of Sinai Peninsular. They withdrew in March 1957.


The Third Middle East War. With the increasing confrontation between Arabs and Israel, in May 1967, Egypt sent reinforcement to Sinai and demanded the withdrawal of UN troops. It sent troops to Gaza and blocked the Strait of Tiran, inhibiting the sail of all Israeli vessels and all the ships carrying strategic materials calling to Israel in the Gulf of Aqaba. On June 5, Israel launched a blitz air attack to the airports in Egypt, Syria and Jordan, and on the second day sent armored troops advancing in three routes to Sinai. When they arrived at the East bank of the Suez Canal on the fourth day, Egypt accepted a cease fire. On June 6, Israeli armies inflicted heavy losses on Jordanian troops in the West Bank, and took control of the area on the next day. On June 9, Israel attacked the Golan Heights, and Syria accepted a cease fire on June 11. After the war, Israel added 70 thousand sq. km of land to its control.


The Fourth Middle East War. Aiming to break the no-war-no-peace stalemate and to retrieve the conquered land, Egypt, Syria and other Arab countries waged a surprising attack against Israel on Oct. 6, 1973. Arab oil-producing countries used the oil weapon to show their support for Arab brothers. However, since the US gave Israel an all-out support, Arab countries missed the victory.


III. Peace Efforts for the Resolution of the Problem


1. UN Security Council Resolution 242 (Nov. 22, 1967): affirms the application of withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the conflict and termination of all claims or states of belligerence in order to achieve a just settlement of the refugee problem.


UN Security Council Resolution 338 (Oct. 22, 1973): calls on all parties to start immediately after the cease fire the implementation of Resolution 242 and to start peace negotiations under appropriate auspices.


Geneva Peace Conference (Oct.21, 1973): presided over by UN Secretary General in Geneva on Middle East Peace but boycotted by Arab side.


UN Assembly Resolution 3236 (Nov. 11, 1974): reaffirms the inalienable rights of Palestinian people to self-determination, to national independence and sovereignty, and to return to their homes.


2. David Camp Agreement (Sept. 17, 1978). In order to break the long-time enmity against Israel, Egyptian President Sadat visited Israel in November 1977. In September 1978, Egypt and Israel reached a reconciliation agreement in David Camp, under the auspices of the US. They signed peace treaty in March, 1979 and established diplomatic relations in February, 1980.


3. Madrid Peace Conference and the current Middle East Peace Process. On Oct. 30, 1991, the US and the Soviet Union co-chaired Middle East peace conference in Madrid, Spain. Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and other Arab countries attended. The conference resolved that on basis of UN Resolution 242 and 338 and the principle of land for peace, Arab countries and Israel should hold bilateral and multilateral peace talks aiming for the realization of peace in the Middle East. From then on till September 1993, Israel held 12 rounds of multilateral negotiations with Palestine, Jordan and Syria in Washington under the auspices of the US. Israel also held bilateral talks with Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon separately. In June 1996, Netanyahu was elected Israeli Prime Minister. He stuck to hard-line position, pursued three-no-policy, abandoned the principle of land for peace and supplanted it with the principle of security for peace. The Middle East Peace Process suffered a severe frustration. In May 1999, the newly elected Prime Minister Barak adopted an active Middle East policy and signed with the Palestine side the memorandum on implementation of Wye River Agreement. That gave people new hope for the Middle East Peace Process.


IV. China's Position on the Middle East Problem


China holds that, peace and stability in the Middle East region has positive significance on the maintenance of world peace and development. China actively supports the Middle East Peace Process and strongly believes that the realization of peace in the Middle East is the common aspirations of the people of all the countries in this region and conforms to their principle interests, that the continuous progress in the Middle East Peace Process will safeguard the security of regional countries. We believe that the UN resolutions relating to the Middle East problem and "land for peace" principle set up in the Madrid peace conference are the basis for peace talks in the Middle East and the faithful implementation of reached resolutions and understandings by the concerned parties is the key in breaking the stalemate in peace talks. China will continue as before its efforts with the international community for the realization of comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East at an early date.


China has always attaches great importance to its relations with developing countries. Middle East countries are all developing countries, and have no principle conflict of interests with China. China is willing to enhance and develop the friendly relations with regional countries on the basis of mutual respect. China and the Middle East countries are economically complementary and have tremendous potential in economic and trade cooperation and China is willing to further strengthen that cooperation with regional countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.