So many of us are perplexed in trying to resolve the internal conflict of horror at the brutal Hamas attack on Israelis and the hostage taking, and the ferocious retaliatory response against Gaza militants and civilians by the Israeli military. As we try to understand the current crisis in the Middle East, we may find ourselves thinking it’s simply a matter of determining who is right and who is wrong, or even who is most wrong. But there’s much more to the story. To better understand today's conflict, we must first look back at the history of both peoples. It’s noteworthy that so many of the key players in this crisis are connected in some way as “people of the Book.” Whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, they make a claim to Abrahamic origins, yet they have been at odds for much of recorded history. How can such long-standing conflict be resolved? Related Content: When Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, he likely did not envisage how long the conflict with the Arab world would persist. https://www.vision.org/triumph-and-tragedy-middle-east-422 Vision publisher David Hulme interviews Shimon Peres, former prime minister of Israel, member of the Knesset, and founder of the Peres Center for Peace. https://www.vision.org/interview-shimon-peres-peace-be-within-your-walls-974 Fifty years after one of the shortest wars in history, the world feels its far-reaching effects more than ever. https://www.vision.org/seventh-day-six-day-war-5888 Like so many problems in the Middle East, the impasse between Israel and the Palestinians has some of its roots in World War I, a war that has cast a long shadow over the past hundred years. https://www.vision.org/insight-middle-east-and-world-war-i-31