The Arab-Israeli conflict……today. V.

Is there a name missing from this map?

Geography: Israel is a small but developed country on land to the East of the Mediterranean Sea. It has its own religion – Judaism - and is a recently formed country (formed in1948). It is surrounded by Muslim (Arabic) countries on three sides - Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria. It has a powerful friend in the USA. The land itself is fertile – if you have water. There are major cities - Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv. The land has a long history of war and bloodshed.

Jerusalem- the main city. Jerusalem is an ancient city that has been fought over for thousands of years. This is partly because it is a place of fundamental religious importance for Christians, Muslims and Jews. Each group is highly suspicious of the other. Conflict has been violent and each group lives uneasily guarding its own space. Jerusalem is also a modern city and an economic centre of Israel. Whoever controls Jerusalem controls the region.

Israel - coast With enormous investment Israel has become very prosperous. The coastline has fabulous hotels and a super climate. Once desert land now features luxurious golf courses.

Israel - cities. The Jewish people have been very industrious. They have built up large modern cities with efficient infrastructures. At the same time they have not neglected their traditions. They see these as major reasons why they have survived as a people.

Israel-the countryside. The land itself has been a cradle of human civilisation. It formed the western end of the ‘fertile crescent’ that stretched from Persia to the Mediterranean. Water is the key element here. If you have a well then your land will produce wonderful crops. Otherwise it will be desert.

Israel - the people Because of its location, and long history, Israel has a large mixture of peoples. They are different faiths, appearance, skin colour, etc.

Imagine: your brother or sister moved out, to go flatting or go to Uni, and you were given their room, then your parents had another child, who was given your room. However, your older brother/sister suddenly came back and said you had to move so they could have their room back. Who should get the room? What would you do if you couldn’t keep your room? Are there any alternative solutions?

So what is the problem? The land called ‘Israel’ is also a land called ‘Palestine’. 60 years ago the land was under British protection. The British had occupied it after the First World war. The local people of this land were Arabs. They were called Palestinians, and the region was called ‘Palestine’ (or Filistin in Arabic). After WWII Jewish people were escaping from Europe. They sought refuge in the land of their ancestors.

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 Population %: % 65% 2% 98%

Jewish people started to migrate to Palestine (Judea) in large numbers. The British at first encouraged immigration and then were unable to stop it. The Jews pushed the Palestinian Arabs to the east and claimed Palestine as their own territory by religious right. They were merely coming home. They renamed it ‘Israel’. In 1947 the UN proposed a partition of Palestine that would give Jewish settlers 65% of the land even though they only formed 37% of the population In 1948 Israel declared its independence with US support This led to a war with the neighbouring Arab states, as a result of which the Palestinians lost even more land

1948: Arab Israeli War VS 90,000 European-trained Jewish soldiers possessing modern weaponry 30,000 ill-equipped, poorly trained Arab soldiers

Brief Historical Background

The two sides were now set up for war- and have been sparring ever since. On one side is a well-equipped, modern, conventional Israeli army. On the other side is a modern, not so well-equipped but innovative Muslim terrorist armies Hamas and Fatah. Both sides are ruthless. The fight claims military and civilian deaths regularly on both sides.

Hamas - the Arabic Palestinian terror army, or Palestinian freedom fighters?

Familiar terror uniforms. If someone had stolen your home wouldn’t you fight back? BUT – what methods are justified?

Bus bombers and sniper These people are in disguise so that they, and their families, won’t be targeted by Israeli security forces.

Children as terrorists? Propaganda is rife from both sides. Are children really being used as terrorists? Or is this Israel trying to make the Palestinians look immoral? What do you think of this?

Muslim woman terrorist/freedom fighter. This person was a doctor. She decided she had to fight- and consequently die- for Palestine.

Bus bombers The idea is to blow up buses- and themselves- and disrupt Israel’s infrastructure. It attracts international attention to the Palestinian/Israeli problem.

The results-notice the bodies.

Another bus bomb- note the body.

US President George W.Bush. He is shown here as a puppeteer- controlling the Israeli prime Minister. The title shows the belief that Israel’s money comes from the USA.

The Israeli army. Returning violence for the terrorist violence…..

Even going to school can be dangerous for children on both sides.

This boy has wet himself he is so terrified. Soldiers have been known to break arms and legs to show their authority.

A victim of Israeli missiles that accidentally hit a UN school for Palestinian children in Gaza, Jan 2009

Soldiers are even fearful of children. What has the child got in the bags? Is he a terrorist?

But here is a child killed in the fighting. Does it matter if he is a Jew or a Muslim?

How does this lead to…

This?

Here is one possible solution to the problem……. A wall to separate the two peoples.

A Look at the Israeli Barrier from Space CLOSE UP: Qalqilyah was a relatively rich Palestinian town, nicknamed the ‘bread basket.’ After the Wall was constructed around it the cost of shipping goods has tripled. Consequently, 600 stores have been forced to close and now 75% of the town’s 40,000+ residents depend on humanitarian assistance from overseas. Before After

The Israeli Barrier on the Ground Archbishop Pietro Sambi, of Jerusalem said the wall, “cuts in half monasteries, convents, churches and cemeteries.” The pictures above are of the wall in Bethlehem

Do you think this is a good solution ?