Many religions look upon the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea as their homeland. In 1947 , the United Nations decided to divide Palestine into two states, being Israel for the Jews and Palestine for the Arabs. The Jews accepted the plan but the Arabs didn’t want the Jews to take over their country. When the British left Palestine in 1948, Israel declared its independence.
At once, Arab countries started to attack the new state, but Israel fought back and won. It also expanded its territory and occupied more land than the UN gave it. Other Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria and Jordan took over the Arab part of Palestine. [1] Over 700,000 Palestinians became refugees. Since the war of 1948, Israel has had to fight three more wars against its Arab neighbors. When Egypt took control of the Suez Canal from Great Britain and France, together with Israel, they attacked Egypt and, for a short time, Israel took control of the Sinai peninsula. [2] Israel then invaded Lebanon in 1982. The PLO, an organization that fought for the rights of the Palestinians, continued to attack Israel from southern Lebanon. Israel's soldiers stayed in Lebanon until 2000.
Towards the end of the 1980’s, Palestinians in the occupied lands started to protest against Israel’s rule. This was known as the first Intifada. At the beginning of the 1990s, the PLO realized that its only hope was to make peace with Israel. But when the peace talks slowed down in 2000, the second Intifada began. Palestinian suicide bombers started blowing themselves up in Israeli towns , killing many. In return, Israel’s army took control of most parts of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Almost all conflicts revolve around some sort of religious disagreement. The Gaza conflict is an ongoing dispute within the frame of the long-term Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in the territory of the Gaza Strip. On Nov 14, 2012, Israel launched an air campaign against targets associated with Hamas, the Palestinian party that has ruled Gaza since 2007. They targeted 1,500 sites, in which over 160 people were killed in Israeli air strikes and shelling, more than half of them civilians, 37 of them children. [3] Israel and Hamas agreed to cease fire after eight days of lethal fighting, which was aimed to avert the escalating battle that had threatened to turn into a wider war.
Erika, congrats on still having the only post, even though it's Saturday!
Anyway, I have a question for you. There have been ceasefires all over the world, in all kinds of war, in all time periods. Some have held out, and some haven't. [1]
I want to know if you personally think that this ceasefire will last indefinitely. There has been war, as we know, in the land of Israel for some millenia, now, [2] and with such a history for violence, murder, terrorism, conquest, hatred, AND when the Israeli hold such current military power, do you think that a lasting peace can be worked out?
I will be discussing the links between Albert Einstein and Israel, as this is a part of the topic that interests me!
Though Einstein’s religious views wavered in his later life, he identified as a Jew. After the death of Israel’s first president Chaim Weizman in 1952, many citizens called for a new great leader, and all directions pointed to Einstein. Though Einstein was not an Israeli citizen, the Israelis called him: “The greatest Jew alive.” (1) The citizens hoped Einstein’s great mathematic skills and overall genius would help their nation prosper.
Einstein declined the offer though. He stated he was deeply moved by the offer, but felt he did have the aptitude or experience to fill this role. (2) These were valid concerns since Einstein had no experience in politics, other than offering his two cents once and awhile.
To sum up Einstein’s views on Israel he agreed there should be a Jewish homeland, but one without borders or an army. (3) He was called a “cultural Zionist” which is someone who supports the idea of a Jewish homeland, but disagreed on the independence of the state. Einstein made a speech in 1938 saying, “I should much rather see reasonable agreement with the Arabs on the basis of living together in peace than the creation of a Jewish state” (4)
I think Albert made a very good point there, though I feel interjecting my opinion on the conflict concerning Israel is inappropriate considering I am not fully versed on the subject. Also it is hard to form an opinion as a stranger looking in on the situation. I’m sure if I was Jewish, or if I was living in the Middle East I’d have different and more informed opinions.
I love this new way of showing this topic kailey ! I never thought of doing it with the contributions of another specific person. Maybe some more points about the issues at hand now , but overall very good insight.
Many thanks Mimi. I didn't make any comments on the current issues because I thought a lot of other people would speak on it. Plus I just like Einstein
For decades, the effects of the Israel-Palestinian conflict have caused violence resulting from conflicts that have prompted international action. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict began in the early twentieth century and is still in our headlines today. The main issues between the two people, are mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements, as well as the Palestinian freedom movement. There have been many attempts to create a two-state solution, in which they create an independent Palestinian state alongside the independent Jewish state. In 2007 a majority, including both Palestinians and Israelis, claimed that they preferred the creation of the two states as a means of the resolution of the conflicts. (1) There are issues still facing us today that have not yet been resolved. There is the fact that they are trying to maintain an ethically preferred state. The original population of what is now Israel used to be 96 percent Muslim and Christian however now these refugees are prohibited from returning to their homes because their state is described as a "Jewish State". (2) Canada and many other countries around the globe are increasing the attempts of security for all of the people, and to bring back the peace that was once upon these people. Canada is supporting the right of Israel to live in peace with all of its neighbors, we also recognize that Israel's right to assure its own security as well. Israel has the right under the international law to make necessary measures as long as it accords with human rights and international humanitarian law. (3) Canada also supports Palestinians however. We recognize their right to self-determination and the creation of a sovereign, independent, democratic state. As we work with the United Nations we continue to support and respond to the development and humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. (3) A current event that has occurred on October 13, 2012 was the the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had announced that "he would be ready to resume talks with Israel immediately after the UN General Assembly votes to upgrade 'Palestine' to nonmember status at the end of the month." (4) In the General Assemnbly the Palestinians are assured a majority. The upgrade however, would give Palestine upgraded status in various legal and UN institutions. Palestinian officials have stated that they intend to utilize that status to "contest the legality of Israel's policies in the West Bank." Our world has come to a cross roads on this who issue between the Israeli and Palestinians. The thought and debate on whether we should be able to enter their country and tell them what to do is also something that does not come naturally. Our world has the right to impose another countries views on other people just because we think that we know best. These two people should have the right to create their own countries if they desire, as well as creating any rights that they so see fit. However, on the opposite side of the spectrum, it is very difficult to see this when the line has been drawn and human rights have been broken. Our world needs to come together with these people and not try and tell them everything that we want them to do, but to simply work together to find a reasonable view for all. We are all one world, why break it apart now?
This war or conflict is millenia old. It's been "in the family" for thousands of years. I'm going to, for my weekly post, briefly elucidate the history of CONFLICT between the Israelite and their neighbours.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob showed up in the "Promised Land" with their one God in the 17th Century BCE (before common era) [1]. Famine therein forced them and their new "Israelite" people back to Egypt, where Jacob's family was reduced to slavery.
Moses leads them back into Israel some 40 years later, with the Torah (new "bible") and in the 13th Century BCE the Israelite officially settle Israel. "A Hebrew kingdom established in 1000 B.C. was later split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel; they were subsequently invaded by Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and Alexander the Great of Macedonia." [2]
Few Jews were left in Palestine after all this, and yet Palestine was attacked more. The Romans took it again (on account of Constantine switching faiths), then the Byzantine, then the Arabs, then the Muslims, then the Turks, then the Brits. The Mamelukes and the Ottoman also had a piece of it for a while, too. [3] People kept conquering this little nation.
The Brits, in and around WWI, made Palestine two parts, one of which is known as Israel. [4] After this, 600,000 Jews entered Israel from close countries, for protection, and 750,000 Arabs left Israel, out of hatred OR to gather power to attack. [5]
Egypt, Syria, Trans-jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are the "Arab States". They have waged 5 FULL-SCALE wars against Israel. 1948-War of Independence. 1956-Sinai War. 1967-Six Day War. 1973-Yom Kippur War.
The Israelite have been bloodied, but not beaten. And I don't believe a cease-fire, or any measure of peace, will solve such long-lasting hatred. People conquer the Jews, through war. Or the Jews defend themselves,, through war. That, I think, is the only way. Maybe the UN should just let the Arab States learn their lesson?
I enjoyed your post Foster, I would just like to throw my two cents in, I think that all this war waging, bloody massacre of another's nation is getting old. We as humans like to think and fancy ourselves the most intellectual and civilized life forms, when this isn't the slightest bit true. We have all these conflicts in our world and even within our own nations, because of (What seems to me) small differences. We are all human, we get so offended and feel the need to in many cases go to war over these differences. If we are so civilized and intellectual then we would see that killing and slaughtering another human doesn't solve any of our problems; it only adds to whichever conflict is occurring at the time. You don't see one species of fish trying to wipe out a whole other species of fish based on its fin colour and what not. Now I know it may seem naive or whatever you want to call it, but that's my opinion. I think Will Ferrell said it best in his movie with Mark Wahlberg "The Other Guys" with the acronym E.L.E which means everybody love everybody. [1] It may sound silly and childish, but that's what it comes down to. It'll probably never happen because not everyone on this earth will ever completely forget about their differences, which is unfortunate but one can hope, can't I?
Sources: 1 - The Other Guys (I watched it last night.)
You can sure hope Benjii. If nothing else, we as humans hope. As my 3-cents, I'd like to say that maybe, just maybe, somewhere deep in our sub-sub-conscious, or even maybe in our genetic coding, we are created to defend ourselves. Every other human, at this point, is a threat (under current circumstances). Maybe we're just being subconsciously Malthusian. Maybe we're population checking without even knowing? Some people think humanity is doomed, but I think it all makes sense. Maybe that's childish, but I can hope, can't I?
I don't think that the reason behind war is because everybody is secretly a Malthusian. We are humans, yes, but before that we are animals. We wear clothes and brush our hair and can act civilized all we want, but we're beasts! Let's look at Lord of The Flies, a prime example of how brutal we truly are. It's natural for humans to want to conquer and protect their land and young, so war makes sense. I think as long as we're alive there will be war- that's just how it works.
Thank you for being in principal agreement with my opinion. Though I would think before using a fictional source when speaking about civilization, next time it comes up.
I see that, I see the need to defend ourselves when a threat is presented and I see the need for population check. I personally am a bit of a humanitarian, it'd be nice if the only reason people died was because of old age or natural causes but I see the reason for war. If and when a war is going on and it has a valid cause and can be justified then there is nothing we can do but let it happen sometimes. That being said, it comes down to an individuals opinions. I personally don't see a reason for war in Israel but I'm an outsider, I have no side in the matter, that is why I think there should be peace, but I'm sure to others they feel the need to go to war. Again it'd be nice if it wasn't happening but I respect both sides views and I understand that war is necessary.
Foster let me tell you something I'll reference that book and any other until I'm blue in the face if I please. And I don't agree with your opinion, thinking everyone is Malthusian in their "deep sub-sub-conscious" is ridiculous and white-washes pretty much the entire human race. I don't think that's right, so when it comes down to it, nope, I don't agree with your opinion.
I see Kaileyeinstein's point as well. Lord of the Flies may be a work of fiction but she raises a good point; war makes sense, with good reason too. I totally agree with the idea that as long as we are here and we embrace the animals we really are, then there will always be war.
The Arab-Israeli conflict over the land of Israel, or Palestine, has been going on for over 4,000 years, and still remains unresolved. The original causes to it lie in the Old Testament, where God promised the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants, however the term 'descendants' has been defined differently by both sides of the conflict, and the causes changed in May 1948 as the Jews declared independence and the Arabs' war turned from a war of conquest to a war of liberation (1).
The Arab-Israeli War of 1948 broke out when five Arab nations Egypt, Syria, Transjordan (later Jordan), Lebanon, and Iraq invaded territory in the former Palestinian mandate immediately following the announcement of the independence of the state of Israel on May 14, 1948. In 1947, and again on May 14, 1948, the United States had offered de facto recognition of the Israeli Provisional Government, but during the war, the United States maintained an arms embargo against all belligerents (2).
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Arab Legion (the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century) attempted to capture the entire city of Jerusalem; they protected it and cut off its Jewish residents from its coastal plain (3). Israeli broke the siege of the city. Israeli had control of some western proportions of Jerusalem.
The Egyptians gained some territory in the south and the Jordanians took Jerusalem's Old City, but the other Arab forces were soon halted. In June the United Nations succeeded in establishing a four-week truce. This was followed in July by significant Israeli advances before another truce. Fighting erupted again in August and continued sporadically until the end of 1948. An Israeli advance in Jan., 1949, isolated Egyptian forces and led to a cease-fire (Jan. 7, 1949) (4).
As a result of the war, Israel won. However, no treaties were made only truces between the two. This means that war can break out at anytime again. The Israeli people gained back their land which they were given to since the bible days. Palestinians weren't happy about this which is why there is still conflict between the two. They each have their own beliefs why Israel belongs to them, which is why conflict still exists today with the holy land, Israel.
For my weekly post I decide to discuss the law of Chametz. 55% of respondents would like to keep their present religious laws. Chametz laws state that during Passover stores, restaurants or anywhere are not aloud to sell Chametz, Chametz is any food that is made of grain and water and is raised, and for example any processed food. Bread, cereal, cake and beer all fall under the category of Chametz. (1) “Chametz is the antithesis of matzah, the unleavened bread we eat on Passover to recall the haste in which we left Egypt, and the humble faith by which we merited redemption. Matzah is the symbol of the Exodus, a central component of the Seder rituals, and the heart of the "Festival of Matzot" (as Passover is called in the Torah). And the flip-side of eating matzah is getting rid of Chametz -- and the egotism and spiritual coarseness it represents.”. While others beg to differ saying that this law is going against social norms and peoples rights.
The attorney general stated that the law of Chametz only applies to “public places”. He stated that the purpose of this law was (2)"Preservation of the character of the public space in the Jewish state as a Jewish state during the Pesach holiday, without overly damaging the individual's right to freedom of occupation and freedom of religion." The law of Chametz does not state that during Passover no one is aloud to consume Chametz it just states that public places are not aloud to display it or sell it.
In my opinion passing this law is going to create many issues that result in violence. Seeing 55% of respondents believe this law is worth appealing is a statement. The attorney general said that this law isn’t worth appealing because it will not be changed. This is a statement that is asking for violet issues!!!! I believe passing this law is going to be just the beginning of violent crimes
Laura, as I was reading through this I was wondering where this applies to? I do not believe that something like this would have too much of an effect when there is so many other, larger issues to be disputed and focused on. Although these individuals are known to have a violent and barbaric nature, they focus this sort of behaviour towards things such as the land being stolen from them, the water rations of their people being under the control of a higher power and enduring continuous poverty for the past 4 000 years. I believe that creating a perception that the most sensitive of adjustment in law would upset the entirety of the community is a vast over exaggeration.
This is my weekly post it is on how Britain played a huge role in trying to create an artificial Arab majority. From around 1920-1948 Britain played a huge role in trying to create an artificial Arab majority in Palestine. This Palestinian Mandate was created by The League of Nations to give the Jewish people a place to live in the early 1900’s. (1) This “homeland” was created in the area which is now called Israel and Jordan. Israel was considered ‘West Palestine’ and Jordan was ‘East Palestine’ (2). This area had a stable population at around 600,000 people during the Ottoman empire.(1) With 550,000 being non-Jewish and 50,000 being Jewish.(1) Large amounts of money were used to purchase land near the coast of Israel for Jewish settlements, yet massive numbers of Syrian, Egyptians, Trans-Jordanian and Iraqi migrant Arabs set up camps around the settlements. In some places there were as many as 10 Arabs settlers to 1 Jewish settler. (1) After the fall of the Ottoman Empire Britain was given responsibility of facilitating Jewish Immigration in Palestine. (1) In 1920 the British set up quotas to restrict the amount of Jewish immigrates, and told the French to stop monitoring illegal Arab immigrates. (1) Between the years of 1922 and 1947 the Jewish population grew by 470,000, while non-Jewish grew by 588, 000. (3) The Arab population increased by 120 percent. (3) In 1928 Jordan (East Palestine) was closed to Jewish settlements; Britain placed the Arab Legion in charge of monitoring Arab immigration from Eastern Palestine into Western Palestine. (Jordan to Israel). (1)(2) In just 55 years (1890 to 1945) 500,000 Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi, and Eastern Palestine (Jordan) Arabs had settled into West Palestine (Israel). (1) In 1929 British Shaw Commission says that Jewish immigration is “excessive” and suggested to put a restriction on the amount of immigration and land sales. (1) For the Jewish population to purchase land now in 1934 it would cost them between $1,000 and $1,100 per acre. (3) Most of this land was arid (3), (arid is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and crops (4)). While rich black soil land in Iowa was being sold for $110 per acre in the same year. (3) This shows how the British were trying to force the Jewish population out to replace them with Arabs. In 1940 Britain Prohibited transfers of most land in Western Palestine "except to a Palestinian Arab" said Neville Chamberlain, Britain's Prime Minister in that most pivotal period of the shaping of British policy, (1937-1940). Chamberlain told his cabinet that "If we must offend one side, let us offend the Jews rather than the Arabs". (3) As you can see Britain played a huge role in trying to force the Jewish people out and replacing them with Arabs. This is something I didn’t know happened and I felt it is an important part of Israel’s history that we should know.
I would like to talk about how the nation of Israel was formed and the events leading up to today for my weekly post. The small piece of land (about 20,770 km^2), (1) of what we call Israel has had quite a history dating all the way back to the 13th century B.C. with Moses who lead Israelites from Egypt to the land of Israel. (2) But for the sake of time Ill jump to shortly after the first world war when the British decided to establish a "national home in Palestine" for the rights of Jewish people. (3) Because of the British Mandate, Palestine was divided into two administrative districts with the Jews only permitted in the West side. Jumping ahead along the time line, in 1947 the UN had a General Assembly and voted with a 2/3 majority to partition western Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. The Arabs of course, rejected it and hence the beginning of Israeli and Palestinian conflict. It so far it has not been resulted in peace. (1) On the day of Israel's independence, surrounding Arab countries invaded Israel with intentions of destroying it, but luckily, the new Jewish state survived. In 1947 Israel signed armistice agreements with Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, but it didn't seem to help with anything as the Arab countries didn't accept Israel's existence as a Jewish state and in 1966, Israel is shelled by Syrians and invaded by Egyptians in 1967. (1) And of course, Israel having to defend themselves once again. Over the years there has been continuous attempts at destroying Israel by the Arab countries. But, one of the most significant one was on October 6, 1973, when Egypt and Syria decided to attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, when many of the Jewish people would be praying and fasting. But as always Israel was forced to defend their existence once again. And even then, Israel still seeks for peace and has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. Sources: 1. http://www.levitt.com/misc/israel_history 2. http://contenderministries.org/middleeast/timeline.php 3. http://www.science.co.il/israel-history.php
For my weekly post i will be focusing on the recent events gripping the middle east. Since the early 2011’s the Arab Spring has caused quite an uproar in the Middle East. The region was, and still is, radically reforming, and Israel has been set in the middle. By the fall of 2011 their Cairo Embassy had been ransacked and their ambassador to Turkey expelled, all while the Palestinians were seeking statehood recognition at the UN. This left Israel feeling more isolated than ever, coupled with Iran's “peaceful” nuclear program that they had been urging other countries to halt. This left a concern of a preemptive military strike from Israel, that only added to the hard feelings between the two countries.(1) Following the Arab Spring Israel also had many internal conflicts, as its people looked for their own revolution.
Israel soon launched an attack on Gaza, to out the Hamas, the hardline Palestinian party that has ruled Gaza since 2007. The Hamas in Gaza have responded forcefully to the new assault, sending more than 300 rockets into Israel over 24 hours, with several penetrating the heart of Israel’s population center around Tel Aviv. The air strikes continued from both, with new powerful allies picking their own sides. After many deaths, the two countries have reached a tentative ceasefire, but many “ask will it last?”
Now new problems are arising, as recently the EU have gotten involved. They have decided to impose restrictions on what they consider “known violent settlers” which are Israelis who have been violent towards Palestinian settlers. Of course the Israelis have said that this is not true, as none of these people have been punished by their law and therefore have not been violent towards any settlers, and that their government can handle internal issues without the involvement of outside parties who do not have any real reason to become involved.(2)
Although the recent ceasefire has Israel loosening some restrictions, they still warn that they will stop all attempts by the Hamas to rearm. The comments by Israeli defence forces chief of staff Lieut Gen Benny Gantz followed reports in the British Sunday Times that Israeli spy satellites had detected a cargo ship, docked at an Iranian port, being loaded with missiles, presumably bound for the Gaza Strip.(3) Who knows what could happen next as even more countries get involved, and the two countries attempt to sort out their own internal problems.
Israel and the Iron Dome Due to the large amounts of rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip, Israel has been forced to develop an extensive missile defense system. In between 2001 and January 2009 more than 8600 rockets have been fired and hit southern Israel, killing 28 people and injuring many more. During the current conflict Israel’s Iron Dome has stopped 245 rockets in 3 days.(1) Israel’s missile defense systems are extremely important in protecting Israel and its people, especially the innocent civilians. The new faction of their missile defense system, David’s Sling is designed to stop mid-range missiles with ranges of up to 180 miles.(2) The importance of these systems shows the desperate state of affairs within Israel and their relations with Palestine especially. The Iron Dome currently has an 85% success rate(3) which leads some to believe that the Israeli people will become so enamored by The Iron Dome that they will do things that are wrong, knowing that they will be well protected in the case of any repercussions.
In an attempt to analyze this issue to the most accurate of my ability, I thought it would be appropriate to familiarize myself with the history of this ongoing conflict between two neighbouring states. Upon research, I discovered what my local news station had reported the previously was in fact tremendously bias and did not at all identify the hardships of the Palestinians in the previous decades. I would like to bring those underlying issues to light in my weekly post. On May 14,1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed, but many communities of people rejected this new existence. (1) Armies in all surrounding states revolted in a movement of military violence against the Israeli militia, but with the economic and military support of the United nations all 7 other armies were defeated by this indestructible force. Throughout this time of this tremendously important war, at least 750 000 people were driven out of the ’new Israel’. A vast majority of the opposing forces were ethnically cleansed, and didn’t make it out to have an opportunity to be refugees. Once the new Israel was established, they began taking precaution and making attempts to weaken any existing opposition forces. In 1967, they simultaneously attacked Egypt, Syria and Jordan in a “pre-emptive strike” against the Arab troops along it’s boarders. (1) With this effort, Israel was able to gain more than double what it had previously owned in a six-day span where this war took place. In 1978, 11 years later, Israel attacked and invaded Lebanon where many Palestinian refugees were still staying. It was a bloody exchange followed by Israeli forces being accused of massacres on several occasions. In 1996, they bombed Lebanon again for 17 days. Throughout this attack a UN refugee shelter was attacked, killing approximately 100 of 800 people sheltering there. Israelis have killed over 3,500 Palestinians in "defence" operations and reprisals. (2) The exchanges between the two opposing forces maintained the same, using extremely violent tactics to allow progress in achieving what they individually wanted. This process proves to be horrifically tragic with casualties falling on the shoulders of all citizens even children, and women of all ethic origins. To make everything worse, Palestinian people have been under a military occupation for a number of decades now. They do not have the right to vote, suffer from poverty, are given limited rights, all while paying taxes and loosing more and more land every year to Israel. The police force within Palestinian is armed by the Israelis, who are rather unfair to the civilians of their control, enforcing critical and unusual rules. They also hold the power in settling the land where they please, resulting in Palestinians usually left with the less usable land. With this power, Israelis also control their water sources. It is very important to give the Palestinians the justice they so rightfully deserve. Their citizens deserve to be free of all military occupation and control, and the right to obtain the humans rights they need to move forward as an independent state. The international understanding that the media, including news sources have a censored, bias reports within them and that research is required to understand the true, dual-sided story is also very important. Both things I took out of researching the decade-long conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Refrences:
(1) A Bried Background to the Modern Conflict by Anup Shah
Both Israelis and Palestinians conceive of the future in terms of ideas and concepts from the past, when the mutual ignorance of each other's realities and problems led to distorted images of each other's national aspirations. In debating a solution to the conflict, it is also necessary to strip from it the elements of propaganda which have brainwashed and poisoned the minds of both peoples to an extent where leaders and decision makers have become its prisoners and the people its victims. A good example of this was former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir's famous saying: “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people... It is not as if we came and threw them out and took their country. They didn't exist." The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people has become the central and decisive issue influencing the prospects for peace and the future of the whole region. There is no doubt the major factor of this conflict is: the claim of both peoples to the same territory, Palestine, as an exclusive base for their national development and sovereignty. From this point of view, there is an astounding similarity in the attributes and policies of both peoples, despite the enormous differences between their cultures, their social and economic structures, and their problems of national revival. Both have refused to view each other as a people with a right to national self-determination. Both deny the right of the other to have a state in Palestine. Both sides justify the use of force and violence for the achievement of their aims-indiscriminate acts of terror on one side, massive retaliation by armed forces on the other-with the innocent civilians the victims of both. Both were ready to offer to the other side only personal-cultural, and not national, autonomy. The difference is, however, that the Palestinians in 1946-47 were ready to give the Jewish minority proportional representation in the legislative and executive bodies of a Palestinian state. Israeli leaders, striving to annex and incorporate the West Bank and Gaza into the state of Israel, offer neither citizenship nor representation in the Knesset to the Palestinians living there The above comparisons, however, should not obscure the massive differences in the objective situations of the two peoples. The Jewish people have realized its right to self-determination. It has a dynamic, powerful state, whose development is marked by impressive achievements in economy, technology, science, and military capability. The Palestinians are a people dispersed throughout the Middle East, without a national home or self- government. They are mistreated, discriminated against, and oppressed by both Israel and the Arab regimes. The Palestinians want to find a way of living with their adversary, Israel. But at the same time they insist on their national rights: they want to live in peace but also in dignity. They are calling not for the destruction of the state of Israel, but rather for an end to the Israeli occupation of the territories seized in the 1967 war and for a Palestinian state: in other words, partition, a two-state solution. However, on November 14, 2012 Israeli launched a counter attack in Gaza against Hamas (who have governed Gaza since 2007). This conflict was once again at the forefront of every media source. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he could no longer: “accept a situation in which Israeli citizens are threatened by the terror of rockets” A cease fire was reached after much condemnation towards Israel as their response was not seen as a proportional response by many other leaders around the world. This conflict not only sees this territory as a divided area but it divides the globalized world as well. Peace is achievable, but only if the rights of both peoples are recognized. references: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-assault Golda Meir, statement to The Sunday Times, 15 June, 1969.
Many religions look upon the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea as their homeland. In 1947 , the United Nations decided to divide Palestine into two states, being Israel for the Jews and Palestine for the Arabs. The Jews accepted the plan but the Arabs didn’t want the Jews to take over their country. When the British left Palestine in 1948, Israel declared its independence.
ReplyDeleteAt once, Arab countries started to attack the new state, but Israel fought back and won. It also expanded its territory and occupied more land than the UN gave it. Other Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria and Jordan took over the Arab part of Palestine. [1] Over 700,000 Palestinians became refugees. Since the war of 1948, Israel has had to fight three more wars against its Arab neighbors. When Egypt took control of the Suez Canal from Great Britain and France, together with Israel, they attacked Egypt and, for a short time, Israel took control of the Sinai peninsula. [2] Israel then invaded Lebanon in 1982. The PLO, an organization that fought for the rights of the Palestinians, continued to attack Israel from southern Lebanon. Israel's soldiers stayed in Lebanon until 2000.
Towards the end of the 1980’s, Palestinians in the occupied lands started to protest against Israel’s rule. This was known as the first Intifada. At the beginning of the 1990s, the PLO realized that its only hope was to make peace with Israel. But when the peace talks slowed down in 2000, the second Intifada began. Palestinian suicide bombers started blowing themselves up in Israeli towns , killing many. In return, Israel’s army took control of most parts of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Almost all conflicts revolve around some sort of religious disagreement. The Gaza conflict is an ongoing dispute within the frame of the long-term Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in the territory of the Gaza Strip. On Nov 14, 2012, Israel launched an air campaign against targets associated with Hamas, the Palestinian party that has ruled Gaza since 2007. They targeted 1,500 sites, in which over 160 people were killed in Israeli air strikes and shelling, more than half of them civilians, 37 of them children. [3] Israel and Hamas agreed to cease fire after eight days of lethal fighting, which was aimed to avert the escalating battle that had threatened to turn into a wider war.
1)http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/History/Facts+about+Israel-+History.htm
2) http://www.economist.com/node/21563272
3)http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/israel/index.html
Erika, congrats on still having the only post, even though it's Saturday!
DeleteAnyway, I have a question for you. There have been ceasefires all over the world, in all kinds of war, in all time periods. Some have held out, and some haven't. [1]
I want to know if you personally think that this ceasefire will last indefinitely. There has been war, as we know, in the land of Israel for some millenia, now, [2] and with such a history for violence, murder, terrorism, conquest, hatred, AND when the Israeli hold such current military power, do you think that a lasting peace can be worked out?
1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceasefire
2: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107652.html
Post-Script: I really enjoyed your usage of the word "wider war", well played.
DeleteI will be discussing the links between Albert Einstein and Israel, as this is a part of the topic that interests me!
ReplyDeleteThough Einstein’s religious views wavered in his later life, he identified as a Jew. After the death of Israel’s first president Chaim Weizman in 1952, many citizens called for a new great leader, and all directions pointed to Einstein. Though Einstein was not an Israeli citizen, the Israelis called him: “The greatest Jew alive.” (1) The citizens hoped Einstein’s great mathematic skills and overall genius would help their nation prosper.
Einstein declined the offer though. He stated he was deeply moved by the offer, but felt he did have the aptitude or experience to fill this role. (2) These were valid concerns since Einstein had no experience in politics, other than offering his two cents once and awhile.
To sum up Einstein’s views on Israel he agreed there should be a Jewish homeland, but one without borders or an army. (3) He was called a “cultural Zionist” which is someone who supports the idea of a Jewish homeland, but disagreed on the independence of the state. Einstein made a speech in 1938 saying, “I should much rather see reasonable agreement with the Arabs on the basis of living together in peace than the creation of a Jewish state” (4)
I think Albert made a very good point there, though I feel interjecting my opinion on the conflict concerning Israel is inappropriate considering I am not fully versed on the subject. Also it is hard to form an opinion as a stranger looking in on the situation. I’m sure if I was Jewish, or if I was living in the Middle East I’d have different and more informed opinions.
1) http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,817454,00.html
2) http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Quote/Einstein_On_Presidency.html
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein's_political_views
4) http://einsteinonisrael.com/
I love this new way of showing this topic kailey ! I never thought of doing it with the contributions of another specific person. Maybe some more points about the issues at hand now , but overall very good insight.
DeleteMany thanks Mimi. I didn't make any comments on the current issues because I thought a lot of other people would speak on it. Plus I just like Einstein
DeleteFor decades, the effects of the Israel-Palestinian conflict have caused violence resulting from conflicts that have prompted international action. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict began in the early twentieth century and is still in our headlines today. The main issues between the two people, are mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, the Israeli settlements, as well as the Palestinian freedom movement. There have been many attempts to create a two-state solution, in which they create an independent Palestinian state alongside the independent Jewish state. In 2007 a majority, including both Palestinians and Israelis, claimed that they preferred the creation of the two states as a means of the resolution of the conflicts. (1) There are issues still facing us today that have not yet been resolved. There is the fact that they are trying to maintain an ethically preferred state. The original population of what is now Israel used to be 96 percent Muslim and Christian however now these refugees are prohibited from returning to their homes because their state is described as a "Jewish State". (2)
ReplyDeleteCanada and many other countries around the globe are increasing the attempts of security for all of the people, and to bring back the peace that was once upon these people. Canada is supporting the right of Israel to live in peace with all of its neighbors, we also recognize that Israel's right to assure its own security as well. Israel has the right under the international law to make necessary measures as long as it accords with human rights and international humanitarian law. (3) Canada also supports Palestinians however. We recognize their right to self-determination and the creation of a sovereign, independent, democratic state. As we work with the United Nations we continue to support and respond to the development and humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. (3)
A current event that has occurred on October 13, 2012 was the the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had announced that "he would be ready to resume talks with Israel immediately after the UN General Assembly votes to upgrade 'Palestine' to nonmember status at the end of the month." (4) In the General Assemnbly the Palestinians are assured a majority. The upgrade however, would give Palestine upgraded status in various legal and UN institutions. Palestinian officials have stated that they intend to utilize that status to "contest the legality of Israel's policies in the West Bank."
Our world has come to a cross roads on this who issue between the Israeli and Palestinians. The thought and debate on whether we should be able to enter their country and tell them what to do is also something that does not come naturally. Our world has the right to impose another countries views on other people just because we think that we know best. These two people should have the right to create their own countries if they desire, as well as creating any rights that they so see fit. However, on the opposite side of the spectrum, it is very difficult to see this when the line has been drawn and human rights have been broken. Our world needs to come together with these people and not try and tell them everything that we want them to do, but to simply work together to find a reasonable view for all. We are all one world, why break it apart now?
Resources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli%E2%80%93Palestinian_conflict
2. http://www.ifamericansknew.org/history/
3. http://www.international.gc.ca/name-anmo/peace_process-processus_paix/canadian_policy-politique_canadienne.aspx?lang=eng&view=d
4. http://www.timesofisrael.com/abbas-announces-date-for-un-bid/
This war or conflict is millenia old. It's been "in the family" for thousands of years. I'm going to, for my weekly post, briefly elucidate the history of CONFLICT between the Israelite and their neighbours.
ReplyDeleteAbraham, Isaac and Jacob showed up in the "Promised Land" with their one God in the 17th Century BCE (before common era) [1]. Famine therein forced them and their new "Israelite" people back to Egypt, where Jacob's family was reduced to slavery.
Moses leads them back into Israel some 40 years later, with the Torah (new "bible") and in the 13th Century BCE the Israelite officially settle Israel. "A Hebrew kingdom established in 1000 B.C. was later split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel; they were subsequently invaded by Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and Alexander the Great of Macedonia." [2]
Few Jews were left in Palestine after all this, and yet Palestine was attacked more. The Romans took it again (on account of Constantine switching faiths), then the Byzantine, then the Arabs, then the Muslims, then the Turks, then the Brits. The Mamelukes and the Ottoman also had a piece of it for a while, too. [3] People kept conquering this little nation.
The Brits, in and around WWI, made Palestine two parts, one of which is known as Israel. [4] After this, 600,000 Jews entered Israel from close countries, for protection, and 750,000 Arabs left Israel, out of hatred OR to gather power to attack. [5]
Egypt, Syria, Trans-jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are the "Arab States". They have waged 5 FULL-SCALE wars against Israel. 1948-War of Independence. 1956-Sinai War. 1967-Six Day War. 1973-Yom Kippur War.
The Israelite have been bloodied, but not beaten. And I don't believe a cease-fire, or any measure of peace, will solve such long-lasting hatred. People conquer the Jews, through war. Or the Jews defend themselves,, through war. That, I think, is the only way. Maybe the UN should just let the Arab States learn their lesson?
1. http://contenderministries.org/middleeast/timeline.php
2. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107652.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel
4. http://www.science.co.il/israel-history.php
5. http://www.levitt.com/misc/israel_history
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI enjoyed your post Foster, I would just like to throw my two cents in, I think that all this war waging, bloody massacre of another's nation is getting old. We as humans like to think and fancy ourselves the most intellectual and civilized life forms, when this isn't the slightest bit true. We have all these conflicts in our world and even within our own nations, because of (What seems to me) small differences. We are all human, we get so offended and feel the need to in many cases go to war over these differences. If we are so civilized and intellectual then we would see that killing and slaughtering another human doesn't solve any of our problems; it only adds to whichever conflict is occurring at the time. You don't see one species of fish trying to wipe out a whole other species of fish based on its fin colour and what not. Now I know it may seem naive or whatever you want to call it, but that's my opinion. I think Will Ferrell said it best in his movie with Mark Wahlberg "The Other Guys" with the acronym E.L.E which means everybody love everybody. [1] It may sound silly and childish, but that's what it comes down to. It'll probably never happen because not everyone on this earth will ever completely forget about their differences, which is unfortunate but one can hope, can't I?
DeleteSources:
1 - The Other Guys (I watched it last night.)
Thanks for the response :).
DeleteYou can sure hope Benjii. If nothing else, we as humans hope. As my 3-cents, I'd like to say that maybe, just maybe, somewhere deep in our sub-sub-conscious, or even maybe in our genetic coding, we are created to defend ourselves. Every other human, at this point, is a threat (under current circumstances). Maybe we're just being subconsciously Malthusian. Maybe we're population checking without even knowing? Some people think humanity is doomed, but I think it all makes sense. Maybe that's childish, but I can hope, can't I?
I don't think that the reason behind war is because everybody is secretly a Malthusian. We are humans, yes, but before that we are animals. We wear clothes and brush our hair and can act civilized all we want, but we're beasts! Let's look at Lord of The Flies, a prime example of how brutal we truly are. It's natural for humans to want to conquer and protect their land and young, so war makes sense. I think as long as we're alive there will be war- that's just how it works.
DeleteThank you for being in principal agreement with my opinion. Though I would think before using a fictional source when speaking about civilization, next time it comes up.
DeleteI see that, I see the need to defend ourselves when a threat is presented and I see the need for population check. I personally am a bit of a humanitarian, it'd be nice if the only reason people died was because of old age or natural causes but I see the reason for war. If and when a war is going on and it has a valid cause and can be justified then there is nothing we can do but let it happen sometimes. That being said, it comes down to an individuals opinions. I personally don't see a reason for war in Israel but I'm an outsider, I have no side in the matter, that is why I think there should be peace, but I'm sure to others they feel the need to go to war. Again it'd be nice if it wasn't happening but I respect both sides views and I understand that war is necessary.
DeleteFoster let me tell you something I'll reference that book and any other until I'm blue in the face if I please. And I don't agree with your opinion, thinking everyone is Malthusian in their "deep sub-sub-conscious" is ridiculous and white-washes pretty much the entire human race. I don't think that's right, so when it comes down to it, nope, I don't agree with your opinion.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI see Kaileyeinstein's point as well. Lord of the Flies may be a work of fiction but she raises a good point; war makes sense, with good reason too. I totally agree with the idea that as long as we are here and we embrace the animals we really are, then there will always be war.
DeleteThe Arab-Israeli conflict over the land of Israel, or Palestine, has been going on for over 4,000 years, and still remains unresolved. The original causes to it lie in the Old Testament, where God promised the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants, however the term 'descendants' has been defined differently by both sides of the conflict, and the causes changed in May 1948 as the Jews declared independence and the Arabs' war turned from a war of conquest to a war of liberation (1).
ReplyDeleteThe Arab-Israeli War of 1948 broke out when five Arab nations Egypt, Syria, Transjordan (later Jordan), Lebanon, and Iraq invaded territory in the former Palestinian mandate immediately following the announcement of the independence of the state of Israel on May 14, 1948. In 1947, and again on May 14, 1948, the United States had offered de facto recognition of the Israeli Provisional Government, but during the war, the United States maintained an arms embargo against all belligerents (2).
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Arab Legion (the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century) attempted to capture the entire city of Jerusalem; they protected it and cut off its Jewish residents from its coastal plain (3). Israeli broke the siege of the city. Israeli had control of some western proportions of Jerusalem.
The Egyptians gained some territory in the south and the Jordanians took Jerusalem's Old City, but the other Arab forces were soon halted. In June the United Nations succeeded in establishing a four-week truce. This was followed in July by significant Israeli advances before another truce. Fighting erupted again in August and continued sporadically until the end of 1948. An Israeli advance in Jan., 1949, isolated Egyptian forces and led to a cease-fire (Jan. 7, 1949) (4).
As a result of the war, Israel won. However, no treaties were made only truces between the two. This means that war can break out at anytime again. The Israeli people gained back their land which they were given to since the bible days. Palestinians weren't happy about this which is why there is still conflict between the two. They each have their own beliefs why Israel belongs to them, which is why conflict still exists today with the holy land, Israel.
(1)http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2004/6/18/11121/2388/
(2)http://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/ArabIsraeliWar
(3)http://www.sixdaywar.org/content/Jerusalem1948arabisraeliwar.asp
(4)http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/arab-israeli-wars-the-1948-49-war.html
For my weekly post I decide to discuss the law of Chametz. 55% of respondents would like to keep their present religious laws. Chametz laws state that during Passover stores, restaurants or anywhere are not aloud to sell Chametz, Chametz is any food that is made of grain and water and is raised, and for example any processed food. Bread, cereal, cake and beer all fall under the category of Chametz. (1) “Chametz is the antithesis of matzah, the unleavened bread we eat on Passover to recall the haste in which we left Egypt, and the humble faith by which we merited redemption. Matzah is the symbol of the Exodus, a central component of the Seder rituals, and the heart of the "Festival of Matzot" (as Passover is called in the Torah). And the flip-side of eating matzah is getting rid of Chametz -- and the egotism and spiritual coarseness it represents.”. While others beg to differ saying that this law is going against social norms and peoples rights.
ReplyDeleteThe attorney general stated that the law of Chametz only applies to “public places”. He stated that the purpose of this law was (2)"Preservation of the character of the public space in the Jewish state as a Jewish state during the Pesach holiday, without overly damaging the individual's right to freedom of occupation and freedom of religion." The law of Chametz does not state that during Passover no one is aloud to consume Chametz it just states that public places are not aloud to display it or sell it.
In my opinion passing this law is going to create many issues that result in violence. Seeing 55% of respondents believe this law is worth appealing is a statement. The attorney general said that this law isn’t worth appealing because it will not be changed. This is a statement that is asking for violet issues!!!! I believe passing this law is going to be just the beginning of violent crimes
(1) http://www.chabad.org/library/howto/wizard_cdo/aid/1755/jewish/1-What-is-Chametz.htm
(2) http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/legal-analysis-chametz-law-makes-sense-1.244042
(3) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4304712,00.html
Laura, as I was reading through this I was wondering where this applies to?
DeleteI do not believe that something like this would have too much of an effect when there is so many other, larger issues to be disputed and focused on. Although these individuals are known to have a violent and barbaric nature, they focus this sort of behaviour towards things such as the land being stolen from them, the water rations of their people being under the control of a higher power and enduring continuous poverty for the past 4 000 years. I believe that creating a perception that the most sensitive of adjustment in law would upset the entirety of the community is a vast over exaggeration.
This is my weekly post it is on how Britain played a huge role in trying to create an artificial Arab majority.
ReplyDeleteFrom around 1920-1948 Britain played a huge role in trying to create an artificial Arab majority in Palestine. This Palestinian Mandate was created by The League of Nations to give the Jewish people a place to live in the early 1900’s. (1) This “homeland” was created in the area which is now called Israel and Jordan. Israel was considered ‘West Palestine’ and Jordan was ‘East Palestine’ (2). This area had a stable population at around 600,000 people during the Ottoman empire.(1) With 550,000 being non-Jewish and 50,000 being Jewish.(1) Large amounts of money were used to purchase land near the coast of Israel for Jewish settlements, yet massive numbers of Syrian, Egyptians, Trans-Jordanian and Iraqi migrant Arabs set up camps around the settlements. In some places there were as many as 10 Arabs settlers to 1 Jewish settler. (1) After the fall of the Ottoman Empire Britain was given responsibility of facilitating Jewish Immigration in Palestine. (1) In 1920 the British set up quotas to restrict the amount of Jewish immigrates, and told the French to stop monitoring illegal Arab immigrates. (1)
Between the years of 1922 and 1947 the Jewish population grew by 470,000, while non-Jewish grew by 588, 000. (3) The Arab population increased by 120 percent. (3) In 1928 Jordan (East Palestine) was closed to Jewish settlements; Britain placed the Arab Legion in charge of monitoring Arab immigration from Eastern Palestine into Western Palestine. (Jordan to Israel). (1)(2) In just 55 years (1890 to 1945) 500,000 Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi, and Eastern Palestine (Jordan) Arabs had settled into West Palestine (Israel). (1)
In 1929 British Shaw Commission says that Jewish immigration is “excessive” and suggested to put a restriction on the amount of immigration and land sales. (1) For the Jewish population to purchase land now in 1934 it would cost them between $1,000 and $1,100 per acre. (3) Most of this land was arid (3), (arid is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and crops (4)). While rich black soil land in Iowa was being sold for $110 per acre in the same year. (3) This shows how the British were trying to force the Jewish population out to replace them with Arabs. In 1940 Britain Prohibited transfers of most land in Western Palestine "except to a Palestinian Arab" said Neville Chamberlain, Britain's Prime Minister in that most pivotal period of the shaping of British policy, (1937-1940). Chamberlain told his cabinet that "If we must offend one side, let us offend the Jews rather than the Arabs". (3)
As you can see Britain played a huge role in trying to force the Jewish people out and replacing them with Arabs. This is something I didn’t know happened and I felt it is an important part of Israel’s history that we should know.
1- http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/
2- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine
3- http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Arabs_in_Palestine.html
4- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arid
I would like to talk about how the nation of Israel was formed and the events leading up to today for my weekly post.
ReplyDeleteThe small piece of land (about 20,770 km^2), (1) of what we call Israel has had quite a history dating all the way back to the 13th century B.C. with Moses who lead Israelites from Egypt to the land of Israel. (2) But for the sake of time Ill jump to shortly after the first world war when the British decided to establish a "national home in Palestine" for the rights of Jewish people. (3) Because of the British Mandate, Palestine was divided into two administrative districts with the Jews only permitted in the West side.
Jumping ahead along the time line, in 1947 the UN had a General Assembly and voted with a 2/3 majority to partition western Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state. The Arabs of course, rejected it and hence the beginning of Israeli and Palestinian conflict. It so far it has not been resulted in peace. (1)
On the day of Israel's independence, surrounding Arab countries invaded Israel with intentions of destroying it, but luckily, the new Jewish state survived. In 1947 Israel signed armistice agreements with Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, but it didn't seem to help with anything as the Arab countries didn't accept Israel's existence as a Jewish state and in 1966, Israel is shelled by Syrians and invaded by Egyptians in 1967. (1) And of course, Israel having to defend themselves once again.
Over the years there has been continuous attempts at destroying Israel by the Arab countries. But, one of the most significant one was on October 6, 1973, when Egypt and Syria decided to attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, when many of the Jewish people would be praying and fasting. But as always Israel was forced to defend their existence once again. And even then, Israel still seeks for peace and has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan.
Sources:
1. http://www.levitt.com/misc/israel_history
2. http://contenderministries.org/middleeast/timeline.php
3. http://www.science.co.il/israel-history.php
For my weekly post i will be focusing on the recent events gripping the middle east. Since the early 2011’s the Arab Spring has caused quite an uproar in the Middle East. The region was, and still is, radically reforming, and Israel has been set in the middle. By the fall of 2011 their Cairo Embassy had been ransacked and their ambassador to Turkey expelled, all while the Palestinians were seeking statehood recognition at the UN. This left Israel feeling more isolated than ever, coupled with Iran's “peaceful” nuclear program that they had been urging other countries to halt. This left a concern of a preemptive military strike from Israel, that only added to the hard feelings between the two countries.(1) Following the Arab Spring Israel also had many internal conflicts, as its people looked for their own revolution.
ReplyDeleteIsrael soon launched an attack on Gaza, to out the Hamas, the hardline Palestinian party that has ruled Gaza since 2007. The Hamas in Gaza have responded forcefully to the new assault, sending more than 300 rockets into Israel over 24 hours, with several penetrating the heart of Israel’s population center around Tel Aviv. The air strikes continued from both, with new powerful allies picking their own sides. After many deaths, the two countries have reached a tentative ceasefire, but many “ask will it last?”
Now new problems are arising, as recently the EU have gotten involved. They have decided to impose restrictions on what they consider “known violent settlers” which are Israelis who have been violent towards Palestinian settlers. Of course the Israelis have said that this is not true, as none of these people have been punished by their law and therefore have not been violent towards any settlers, and that their government can handle internal issues without the involvement of outside parties who do not have any real reason to become involved.(2)
Although the recent ceasefire has Israel loosening some restrictions, they still warn that they will stop all attempts by the Hamas to rearm. The comments by Israeli defence forces chief of staff Lieut Gen Benny Gantz followed reports in the British Sunday Times that Israeli spy satellites had detected a cargo ship, docked at an Iranian port, being loaded with missiles, presumably bound for the Gaza Strip.(3) Who knows what could happen next as even more countries get involved, and the two countries attempt to sort out their own internal problems.
(1)http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/israel/index.html
(2)http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/eu-looks-to-compile-blacklist-barring-entry-to-known-violent-israeli-settlers.premium-1.480497
(3)http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/1126/1224327093999.html
Israel and the Iron Dome
ReplyDeleteDue to the large amounts of rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip, Israel has been forced to develop an extensive missile defense system. In between 2001 and January 2009 more than 8600 rockets have been fired and hit southern Israel, killing 28 people and injuring many more. During the current conflict Israel’s Iron Dome has stopped 245 rockets in 3 days.(1) Israel’s missile defense systems are extremely important in protecting Israel and its people, especially the innocent civilians. The new faction of their missile defense system, David’s Sling is designed to stop mid-range missiles with ranges of up to 180 miles.(2) The importance of these systems shows the desperate state of affairs within Israel and their relations with Palestine especially. The Iron Dome currently has an 85% success rate(3) which leads some to believe that the Israeli people will become so enamored by The Iron Dome that they will do things that are wrong, knowing that they will be well protected in the case of any repercussions.
(1)http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/apr/11/israel-iron-dome-missile-defence-interactive
(2) http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/25/israel-shoots-down-first-missile-with-david-sling-defense-system/
(3) http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/236734/how-hamas-rockets-and-israels-missile-defense-system-work
In an attempt to analyze this issue to the most accurate of my ability, I thought it would be appropriate to familiarize myself with the history of this ongoing conflict between two neighbouring states. Upon research, I discovered what my local news station had reported the previously was in fact tremendously bias and did not at all identify the hardships of the Palestinians in the previous decades. I would like to bring those underlying issues to light in my weekly post.
ReplyDeleteOn May 14,1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed, but many communities of people rejected this new existence. (1) Armies in all surrounding states revolted in a movement of military violence against the Israeli militia, but with the economic and military support of the United nations all 7 other armies were defeated by this indestructible force. Throughout this time of this tremendously important war, at least 750 000 people were driven out of the ’new Israel’. A vast majority of the opposing forces were ethnically cleansed, and didn’t make it out to have an opportunity to be refugees. Once the new Israel was established, they began taking precaution and making attempts to weaken any existing opposition forces. In 1967, they simultaneously attacked Egypt, Syria and Jordan in a “pre-emptive strike” against the Arab troops along it’s boarders. (1) With this effort, Israel was able to gain more than double what it had previously owned in a six-day span where this war took place. In 1978, 11 years later, Israel attacked and invaded Lebanon where many Palestinian refugees were still staying. It was a bloody exchange followed by Israeli forces being accused of massacres on several occasions. In 1996, they bombed Lebanon again for 17 days. Throughout this attack a UN refugee shelter was attacked, killing approximately 100 of 800 people sheltering there. Israelis have killed over 3,500 Palestinians in "defence" operations and reprisals. (2) The exchanges between the two opposing forces maintained the same, using extremely violent tactics to allow progress in achieving what they individually wanted. This process proves to be horrifically tragic with casualties falling on the shoulders of all citizens even children, and women of all ethic origins.
To make everything worse, Palestinian people have been under a military occupation for a number of decades now. They do not have the right to vote, suffer from poverty, are given limited rights, all while paying taxes and loosing more and more land every year to Israel. The police force within Palestinian is armed by the Israelis, who are rather unfair to the civilians of their control, enforcing critical and unusual rules. They also hold the power in settling the land where they please, resulting in Palestinians usually left with the less usable land. With this power, Israelis also control their water sources.
It is very important to give the Palestinians the justice they so rightfully deserve. Their citizens deserve to be free of all military occupation and control, and the right to obtain the humans rights they need to move forward as an independent state. The international understanding that the media, including news sources have a censored, bias reports within them and that research is required to understand the true, dual-sided story is also very important. Both things I took out of researching the decade-long conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Refrences:
(1) A Bried Background to the Modern Conflict by Anup Shah
(2) http://www.mideastweb.org/nutshell.htm
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBoth Israelis and Palestinians conceive of the future in terms of ideas and concepts from the past, when the mutual ignorance of each other's realities and problems led to distorted images of each other's national aspirations. In debating a solution to the conflict, it is also necessary to strip from it the elements of propaganda which have brainwashed and poisoned the minds of both peoples to an extent where leaders and decision makers have become its prisoners and the people its victims. A good example of this was former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir's famous saying: “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people... It is not as if we came and threw them out and took their country. They didn't exist." The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people has become the central and decisive issue influencing the prospects for peace and the future of the whole region. There is no doubt the major factor of this conflict is: the claim of both peoples to the same territory, Palestine, as an exclusive base for their national development and sovereignty. From this point of view, there is an astounding similarity in the attributes and policies of both peoples, despite the enormous differences between their cultures, their social and economic structures, and their problems of national revival. Both have refused to view each other as a people with a right to national self-determination. Both deny the right of the other to have a state in Palestine. Both sides justify the use of force and violence for the achievement of their aims-indiscriminate acts of terror on one side, massive retaliation by armed forces on the other-with the innocent civilians the victims of both. Both were ready to offer to the other side only personal-cultural, and not national, autonomy. The difference is, however, that the Palestinians in 1946-47 were ready to give the Jewish minority proportional representation in the legislative and executive bodies of a Palestinian state. Israeli leaders, striving to annex and incorporate the West Bank and Gaza into the state of Israel, offer neither citizenship nor representation in the Knesset to the Palestinians living there
ReplyDeleteThe above comparisons, however, should not obscure the massive differences in the objective situations of the two peoples. The Jewish people have realized its right to self-determination. It has a dynamic, powerful state, whose development is marked by impressive achievements in economy, technology, science, and military capability. The Palestinians are a people dispersed throughout the Middle East, without a national home or self- government. They are mistreated, discriminated against, and oppressed by both Israel and the Arab regimes.
The Palestinians want to find a way of living with their adversary, Israel. But at the same time they insist on their national rights: they want to live in peace but also in dignity. They are calling not for the destruction of the state of Israel, but rather for an end to the Israeli occupation of the territories seized in the 1967 war and for a Palestinian state: in other words, partition, a two-state solution. However, on November 14, 2012 Israeli launched a counter attack in Gaza against Hamas (who have governed Gaza since 2007). This conflict was once again at the forefront of every media source. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he could no longer: “accept a situation in which Israeli citizens are threatened by the terror of rockets” A cease fire was reached after much condemnation towards Israel as their response was not seen as a proportional response by many other leaders around the world. This conflict not only sees this territory as a divided area but it divides the globalized world as well. Peace is achievable, but only if the rights of both peoples are recognized.
references:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-assault
Golda Meir, statement to The Sunday Times, 15 June, 1969.