World Issues Paper- The Israeli-Palestinian ConflictWhen thinking of terrorist actions, what exactly do you think of? Just imagine yourself in a place where

Peter Pentz Pentz 1 Global Perspectives Instructor Tom Belt 1-1-05 World Issues Paper- The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict When thinking of terrorist actions, what exactly do you think of? Just imagine yourself in a place where bombs can turn up inside the strangest of places like inside a watermelon on the seat of a bus or inside a drink bottle being hurled at a pub. Malls getting bombed everyday and having to keep your child inside at all times because it seems to be the safest places, but it can still be bombed as well. This may not be an everyday thing in the United States but lately they happen to the people of Israel and Palestine almost every day. Let us travel back not to long ago, with what started out as a disagreement regarding land became violent. The countries' leaders had made attempts at armistice, but both sides were unable to agree on anything. My paper is going to cover three major points: one, where the United States stands in this war that is being waged. Two, how this whole thing started and why, and finally how I believe this dispute is going to end. First and foremost, I am going to speak about where the United States stands amidst all this. Both the United States and the European Union believe that they share a common vision of the two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security. President Bush spoke at

  • Word count: 1438
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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To what extent do the Israelis and the Palestinians each have history on their Side?

To what extent do the Israelis and the Palestinians each have history on their Side? The question of who has a legitimate claim to the nation of Israel is one which has incited much violence, anger and debate in the 20th Century and will undoubtedly be a point of speculation for many years to come. Either side has attempted to use history as evidence to support their claim to nationhood, however inherent in the process of historical analysis of the situation, are the problems associated with the rich history of Arab Israeli conflict. The question of a legitimate historical claim is often settled by the side with the historical source which dates back further, or which source is more credible, a myopic interpretation of historical data could easily lend itself to the establishment of a historical claim to the land which is currently occupied by the people of Israel. In answering this question of legitimacy the origins of Israel and its modern history must be examined and contrasted with the laws of historical precdent. The first element of determining either party's historical claim to land is to examine the ancient history of the region of Palestine. Veritable evidence regarding the earliest settling of the Palestinian area begins at around 3,000 BC a people called the Canaanites, direct descendants of today's Palestinian people, migrated from the Arabian Peninsula and

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Why was the State of Israel successfully established in 1948?

Why was the State of Israel successfully established in 1948? The State of Israel was formally established in May 1948. The creation of a Jewish homeland fulfilled an ancient desire within the Jewish community for their own independent state, however its creation was largely due to a culmination of a series of factors during the first half of the 20th century that lead to the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948, identifying these factors will form the first part of this essay. The second part of this essay will focus on Israel's continued successful establishment as an autonomous state through 1948 following the Declaration of Independence as Israel faced attack from its Arab neighbours. It is necessary to examine Israel's actions during this time as its survival during this period is the best example of Israel having been successfully established. The Zionist movement was integral to the establishment of Israel, scholar Michael Wolffsohn arguing that its creation was primarily due to the political, economic, social and military achievements of its founders. (1) They were responsible for bringing the issue of a Jewish homeland to the forefront of global politics in the 20th century. The Zionists believed that the Jews were so different from other races that they could not live with other people and therefore needed their own independent Jewish state to live in,

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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What are the long term Jewish and Palestinian claims to the land of Israel?

What are the long term Jewish and Palestinian claims to the land of Israel? The Jews and Arabs both believed that Palestine (Israel) was their land. The Jews believed that Palestine was their land over the Arabs. The claim the Jewish had was that God had given them the land, and so it was their destiny to live there, for as Dr. Weizmann, the first president of Israel said, "We cannot deny our history and begin afresh". Also, the Jews thought that seeing as they lived there before, and left involuntarily; they should be allowed to have their land back. Lastly, the Jews had wanted the land the land for 2000 years, and so they felt that they deserved it after all the discrimination from other counties. However, the Arabs believed that Palestine was their land over the Jews. The claim the Arabs had was their idea of 'continuous settlement', where they would say that they had lived there for 2000 years and farmed the land, built towns etc, even when the Jews has left, and so they felt the Jews had no right to jut take it after so long. Due to both of the cultures wanting this land, we can see that the Jews and Arabs are not going to live together peacefully. The Jews and Arabs both believed that Palestine should be their own independent nation. The Jews had been a minority in all other countries since they were kicked out of Palestine by the Romans, and had been discriminated in

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Why was the State of Israel Declared in 1948?

Hozefa Master Why was the State of Israel Declared in 1948? This essay is going to discuss how and why the new state of Israel came to be declared in 1948 it will take in to account the declaration and show why the Jews chose that date. On the 14th for May 1948 the British were leaving Palestine, the Jews thought of this opportunity and decided to snatch it away from the Arabs and to announce the new state of Israel. David Ben Gurion who was aged 62 at the time wrought a declaration saying all the reasons of why to declare a Jewish National Homeland. But there was another problem the King of Jordan who ruled Palestine, Sheikh Abdullah said if they where to declare a National Homeland he would rapid fire and wipe out the Jewish community, not just in Palestine in the whole world. On the 29th of November 1947 the United Nations passed a resolution of the calling of Jews around the world to re-establish their own state. But the British were cheating both the Jews and the Arabs because they said that were going to help the Jews to re-establish their homeland and also said to the Arabs (Palestinians) that they were going to help them defeat the Jews and take them out of Palestine. But when the British could not handle it in Palestine to stop the two sides from fighting they said that they where going to leave Palestine and hand over the problems to the United Nations. The

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Why did the events of 1948 and 1967 lead to the creation of Palestinian refugee problem?

Why did the events of 1948 and 1967 lead to the creation of Palestinian refugee problem? After the First World War both the Arabs and the Jews were upset with the British after their promises to them, and how they contradicted each other. After the First World War the lands of the Turkish Empire were taken from the Turkish and given to the League of Nations. The League of Nations asked the British to control and govern Palestine and prepare the area for Independence. The land of Palestine was only under British control till it was thought that Palestine could govern the land well enough on their own. But also the Jews were handed to the British who were now to work with the Zionists to set up a national home for the Jews in Palestine. This was sure to create problems and tension between the Arabs and Jews as now they both wanted the land all for themselves, and the rivalry was bound to ignite between the two sides. There was bound to be some anger left in the Jews and Arabs toward the British after they had betrayed them during the war with the ownership of the land, and supporting both sides. But the main problem for the British was "what could they actually do?" They were apposed to the partition idea, as they were sure this wouldn't work. This left them with very few ideas. The British were finding the area harder and harder to govern, there were often great out breaks of

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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There has been a significant Palestinian refugee problem over the last 50 years. Do sources A-F allow you to come to a firm conclusion about who or what is responsible for this problem?

Modern World Study: The Arab-Israeli Conflict There has been a significant Palestinian refugee problem over the last 50 years. Do sources A-F allow you to come to a firm conclusion about who or what is responsible for this problem? Sources A-G give us very mixed answers to this question. Almost all of the sources include a biased view. This is partly because most of the time, the people writing the sources are on conflicting sides. The Palestinians are going to stand up for the Palestinian 'side of the argument', and the Israelis are going to stand up for the Israeli 'side of the argument'. We could go along with the journalists version of events, (Source C), but again, it is possible for the information to be very biased. This is unlikely, however, as the journalist is Irish, and has no apparent reason to favour either side. However, as none of the sources are entirely trustworthy, I shall study all of them, and come to my own conclusions. 'Source A' gives us a Palestinian view of why the Arabs fled from Palestine in 1948. Because the Jews were the reason for the Palestinians leaving, this source is likely to favour the Palestinians. The source tells us that because of the Palestinian 'Law of Return', it was illegal for Palestinians, to return home on a route through Israel once they had left Palestine. It says that the Jews had 'scared the Palestinians away',

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Beliefs - "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

Beliefs. "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." Peace is a word you do not hear that often in today's society. Every morning there is new headline, whether it be conflict in the Middle East, or terrorist threats on the US, it is very rarely you can pick up a newspaper and read that all is well with the world. It was a peaceful Sunday morning. I was up early; the sun was bright and warm, although the air was cold. All was silent and I was contemplating on what I should have for breakfast, and what I would do for the rest of the day. Then a slam of the letterbox broke the silence, and the thud of the Sunday paper ended the peace. It was one single headline that inspired me to write this essay. "Suicide bomb hits Haifa's Heart" One new story that proved that there is no such thing as peace, and nothing could ever be well with world. It was the Sabbath before Yom Kippur - the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Families were packed in the Maxim restaurant in the costal town of Haifa, Israel. It was a pleasant scene, the place was packed as it was every Saturday, and children were still in their swimsuits after an enjoyable day at the beach. There were football players gathering as they would every week to celebrate their victories. The place was bustling with families, all enthusiastic and optimistic. They could have been contemplating what they

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Israel, Palestine, Jews and Muslims.

Israel, Palestine, Jews and

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Justice and Hope for the Forgotten - The Amos Trust finds its calling in the words of the 8th Century Hebrew Prophet Amos

Justice and Hope for the Forgotten. The Amos Trust finds its calling in the words of the 8th Century Hebrew Prophet Amos 'But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream' (Amos chapter 5 vrs 24). Founded by singer and songwriter Rev Garth Hewitt (Priest In Charge of All Hallow's on the Wall, in the city of London) in 1985, the organisation is committed to 'justice and hope for the forgotten' and seeks to encourage and support the oppressed and those living in forgotten situations. It also aims to inspire and motivate others around the world through hosting events, and through story and song. Amos' theology has been sharpened by its links with partners and friends around the world as part of a developing international community dedicated to justice and peace. The organisation has specific partnerships with six communities, in South Africa, Nicaragua, Palestine-Israel, Uganda, The Philippines and Honduruas. Alongside these partnerships Amos is actively involved in campaigning for human rights. Amos Trust gives direct financial support to two initiatives in Palestine - Israel, (reflecting directly its name- sake's concerns for the Holy Land, albeit 2800 or so years later). The Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, founded by the Christian Mission Society (CMS) in 1882 is a front line hospital that plays a huge role in the provision of

  • Word count: 657
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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