Topic:Israel Hamas Conflict
"No two historians ever agree on what happened, and the damn thing is they both think they're telling the truth." Harry S. Truman.
History, and different perceptions of history, are perhaps the most important factors in the Arab-Israeli conflict.Its not the full version but an attempt to highlight most important points .Its not as simple as it seems its much more complicated than what is visible to us as a third party. This article is solely from the point of view as what is important for a bschool GD or interview.The land variously called Israel and Palestine is a small, (10,000 square miles at present) land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.In 1967 was Israel occupied most of the part and rest 141 square miles was left for Palestine .Now currently in 2008-09 there's no exact count on how much territory is controlled by Hamas.
Israel - Hamas History!
Its strange that history of this issue goes back to 1000 BCClick here>> to check the whole time line.Well if you do not know why is there a conflict, some key questions and their answers might help you out. (keep in mind its not the full version)
Why is Jerusalem Very important to Jews and Muslim community?
For the Jews Jerusalem is the birth place of Jews.According to the Bible, Moses led the Israelites, or a portion of them, out of Egypt. Under Joshua, they conquered the tribes and city states of Canaan.For the Muslim community the prophet Mohammed died in Jerusalem (300 A.D) there by making it a religious place for Muslims as well.The name Palestine was created by Romans.
Key Factors in History:
World WAR I-> Palestine was governed by Ottoman empire of Turks ,which supported Germans.After losing the empire to Britain and France Palestine was under British rule and Syria and other Arab countries under France.
The Balfour Declaration: Since Britishers feared that Germans(Hitler) would try and employ a plan where they would attract Jews to support them in Europe British made this declaration which supported a separate Jewish homeland in Palestine.
UN Partition Plan: After Second World war Britain declared that it was unable to rule the country and gave the territory to UN under which a map was decided where Jerusalem was to be kept under UN observance.
The 1948 WAR: But soon after British all the Arab countries(Syria,Jordan,Egypt,Iraq,Iran) attacked Israel but Israel defeated all of the Arab nations ,ironically all battles were fought on Palestine land.
The 1967 6 day WAR: This time Arabs were well prepared with Soviet aids,but still due to tactics and good strategies Israel won the battles and captured whole of the Palestine leaving only the Gaza strip(141 miles Square).CLick Here to see full Account and MAP>>
Aftermath: Israel's continued military occupation and confiscation of privately owned land in the West Bank, and control over Gaza, are extremely oppressive, with Palestinians having minimal control over their lives. Over 10,000 Palestinian men, women, and children are held in Israeli prisons. Few of them have had a legitimate trial; Physical abuse and torture are frequent. Palestinian borders (even internal ones) are controlled by Israeli forces.
US Involvement:U.S. taxpayers give Israel an average of $7 million per day, and since its creation have given more U.S. funds to Israel than to any other nation.This is so because Jews have always been the plutocrats and powerfull class in the US and other European countries.There was a time when Muslim rulers let the Cristians and Jews to perform their rituals in palestine which was blocked after Britain's occupation.
Questions to be answered:
Is Isreal Doing the right thing just to prove the wrong doing by the Arabs in the past?
Is is justified now to be on the repressive if you the power now, what makes you different from them?
Is religion higher than Humanity? Is man for religion or religion for Man?
Things to be learned:
Compare this with the Hindutva Vandalism all across India, the domolition of Babri masjid by Hindu groups and their justification is just an example for the same issue.The Manglore vandalism by the Ram sena(An article Shortly).
Lot of more things can be connected with this issue.
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