Israel-Palestine Conflict, Schemes for Jobs, Sleep Science and Gamma-aminobutyric acid

(General Studies II – International Relations Section – Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.)

• The recent “national unity” agreement signed by Palestinian factions in China represents a potentially seismic shift in the dynamics of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• This unprecedented accord, bringing together Hamas, Fatah, and 12 other Palestinian groups, aims to reshape the political landscape in several critical ways:
• Establishment of an Interim National Reconciliation Government:
• Unification of Palestinian Leadership
• The accord signals a collective Palestinian response to ongoing conflicts, particularly in Gaza
• The timing of this agreement is particularly significant, coming amidst ongoing tensions and in the wake of recent conflicts

Historical Context: The Deep-Rooted Nature of the Conflict –

The history of the Israel-Palestine conflict is punctuated by numerous peace initiatives, each offering valuable insights for future efforts:

1. Camp David Accords (1978)
   1. Achievement: Demonstrated the potential for bilateral agreements between Israel and Arab states.
   1. Limitation: Focused primarily on Israel-Egypt relations, sidelining core Palestinian issues.
   1. Lesson: While bilateral agreements are possible, a comprehensive approach including all stakeholders is necessary for lasting peace.
2. Madrid Conference (1991)
   1. Achievement: Brought Israel and Arab states to the negotiating table in a multilateral setting.
   1. Limitation: Failed to produce concrete agreements or significant changes on the ground.
   1. Lesson: Multilateral forums can initiate dialogue but require follow-up mechanisms to translate talks into action.
3. Oslo Accords (1993-1995)
   1. Achievement: Established Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
   1. Limitation: Deferred critical issues (Jerusalem, refugees, borders) to final status negotiations that never materialized.
   1. Lesson: Interim agreements without clear pathways to resolving core issues can lead to frustration and renewed conflict.
4. Road Map for Peace (2003)
   1. Achievement: Proposed a clear, phased approach to peace with defined milestones.
   1. Limitation: Lacked effective enforcement mechanisms and was derailed by violence and political changes.
   1. Lesson: Step-by-step approaches need robust international support and mechanisms to overcome setbacks.
5. Annapolis Conference (2007)
   1. Achievement: Renewed high-level diplomatic engagement after years of stagnation.
   1. Limitation: Failed to produce lasting results due to political instability and lack of follow-through.
   1. Lesson: Continuous, sustained diplomatic efforts are crucial; one-off conferences are insufficient.

The Path Forward: A Multidimensional Strategy –

1. Support for Palestinian Unity:
   1. Facilitate implementation of the recent agreement through diplomatic and technical support.
   1. Encourage inclusive governance structures that represent diverse Palestinian voices.
2. Revitalized Peace Negotiations:
   1. Convene an international peace conference with broad participation, including regional actors.
   1. Establish working groups for core issues (borders, Jerusalem, refugees, security) with defined timelines.
3. Humanitarian and Development Focus:
   1. Provide immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza, addressing urgent needs in healthcare, water, and shelter.
   1. Develop comprehensive, long-term reconstruction plans for Gaza, tied to political progress.
4. Economic Integration and Development:
   1. Create special economic zones to boost Palestinian employment and Israeli-Palestinian business cooperation.
   1. Develop regional economic initiatives that incentivize cooperation (e.g., shared water management projects).
5. Security Cooperation and Confidence Building
   1. Establish joint Israeli-Palestinian security mechanisms, potentially with international oversight.
   1. Implement gradual, reciprocal measures to build trust (e.g., easing of checkpoints in exchange for enhanced security cooperation).
6. Accountability and Human Rights
   1. Establish independent monitoring mechanisms for human rights violations.
   1. Support civil society organizations working on documentation and advocacy.
7. Grassroots Reconciliation
   1. Fund people-to-people initiatives, especially youth exchanges and joint projects.
   1. Support education programs that promote understanding of both narratives.

The path ahead is undoubtedly challenging, requiring patience, commitment, and a willingness to engage in difficult conversations. However, the human cost of continued conflict underscores the urgency of pursuing peace with renewed vigor and creativity. This moment of Palestinian unity, despite its complexities, offers a window of opportunity that the international community and local leaders must seize to move towards a just and lasting resolution to one of the world’s most enduring conflicts.

• In a significant relief for India’s fledgling start-ups, the finance minister announced the scrapping of the contentious angel tax on foreign investments.
• This measure is expected to ease funding woes, bolster the Indian start-up ecosystem, boost entrepreneurial spirit, and support innovation.
• The significance of this development is underscored by the fact that start-up funding fell 60% in 2023 to $10 billion, according to the Indian Tech Startup Funding Report 2023 by Inc42.

• The angel tax had been opposed by several industry players who believed it curbed foreign investment.
• Several key issues arose with the Angel Tax,
• Including its impact on share valuation
• The treatment of estimated figures in the discounted cash flow (DCF) method
• The scrutiny of funding sources and investor credibility.
• The retrospective application of the tax and its
• The effect of the conversion of convertible instruments into equity.

Dig Deeper: Read about the perks that startups in India enjoy under the Start-Up India Scheme.

• Amid rising unemployment and job and wage losses, the first Budget of the new government prioritises employment and skilling.
• The Union Budget proposes five schemes with an outlay of ₹2 lakh crore to generate jobs for the youth.
• Union Finance Minister announced three “employment-linked incentive” schemes under the Prime Minister’s package, focusing on EPFO enrolment, first-time employees, and support to employees and employers.

Dig Deeper: Read about EPFO and the formalisation of the workforce.

• The Union Finance Minister announced the exemption of customs duty on three cancer treatment drugs: Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab.
• The budget also proposed changes in the basic customs duty on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors for medical X-ray machines under the phased manufacturing program.
• The total health sector outlay is ₹89,287 crore, amounting to 1.85% of the Budget expenditure, up from 1.76% from the Revised Estimates for Budget 2023-24.
• This remains below the 2% mark for health outlays from FY18 to FY22.
• The government will operationalize the Anusandhan National Research Fund for basic research and prototype development, with provisions for enhanced private sector-driven research and innovation at a commercial scale, financed by a ₹1 lakh crore pool.

Dig Deeper: Read about NexCAR19 India’s first approved CAR-T cell therapy.

• Sedation in tablets is primarily caused by barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol.
• These substances induce sedation and hypnotic activity by affecting the brain’s sleep cycles, particularly by decreasing the total REM (Rapid Eye Movement) time and increasing the amount of NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.

Role of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA):

• The brain contains two types of pathways: one that activates and one that inhibits activities.
• The endogenous neurotransmitters of the inhibitory system include gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
• Sedatives potentiate the action of GABA, which inhibits the brain pathways that keep a person awake, leading to sedation or sleep.

Dig Deeper: Know about hormones and Neurons impacting human health.