РефератыИностранный языкIsIsrael And Future Of Palestinian State Essay

Israel And Future Of Palestinian State Essay

, Research Paper


Kean University


Israel and the Future of a Palestinian State


?


Emergence of the Modern World


Chaim H. Respes


Sunday, November 26, 2000


OUTLINE


Israel and the Future of a Palestinian State


Introduction: Video – A Search For Solid Ground


I. The Palestinians claims to the region


A. Brief oral description of Palestinian biblical claims


B. Description on how Palestinians lost their land


C. Outside influence that shaped today for Palestinians


II. The Historical components


A. A look at the land under Arab conquest


B. A look at Arab nationalism and local population


C. The British Mandate and its Effects


III. The Modern past


A. W.W.I and its effects


B. Arab Palestine, the Christian Community, and State of Israel


C. American and Russia?s foreign policy


IV. Peace vs. Identity


A. The role of the PLO


C. How much land can the Palestinians identify as a homeland


V. The Leadership


A. A look at the Arab populations leaders


B. Other Leaders within the Palestinian people


Conclusion: A brief description of how I feel things will shape out in the future


The topic that I discussed today is entitled Israel and the future of a Palestinian State.


What I plan to do is give a little insight on a subject that has been fought over or discussed since


Biblical times. With tools like the video and handouts I wanted to show opposing views, ideas,


hopes, and oppositions. I hope to have given historical background, information about Israeli?s


control and clues about American involvement among other things. By the end of my


presentation and paper I hope to have accomplished two things:


to give a more factual understanding of what is going on.


to have seamlessly pieced together all of the factors into


one cohesive report.


The Palestinian problem has presented itself as a problem globally since W.W.I, roughly


the past 70 years. Since the Independence War of 1948 the conflict between Arabs-Israel has


culminated in a major war almost every decade thereafter. The plight of the Palestinians is a


sympathetic one on international tables, as the United States, the Pacific Rim, and the European


Union vie for economic domination of the emerging world. It is a problem I feel will never be


resolved because of the emotional entanglements and the money making propensity that lie


within the regions borders. It must be pointed out that prior to 1947 Palestine was not a very holy


land. Governed by the British under the League of Nations Mandate, the country was dominated


by violence and terrorism. The Palestinian problem was, is, and probably forever will be a


conflict of rights as well as a complexity of wrongs. For the purpose of this report I will examine


several key factors in this issue


Historical background


American Foreign Policy


Failed attempts at peace


Key leaders/mitigating factors


To say that the Palestinians lost their homeland is a factual point that most Israeli?s will


not argue against. This is a problem that the Palestinians, Jews, Bedouins, Druze all share. You


see this is bigger than just the Jews and the Palestinians. A misconception that is held however is


that the Palestinians controlled the land then lost it because of treachery/bribery between the


British government, Zionist political leaders, & Western influences. The truth is the Palestinians


rejected the original two-state partition plan that the United Nations, Great Britain, & Zionist


political leaders all agreed to. The Palestinians trace their claim Biblically like the Jews in more


recent times they stake a claim in the once Ottoman controlled territory.


Once the Ottoman Empire was defeated Palestine and its people served as the bridge


geographically, economically, and socially between the Mashreq (Arab East) and Maghreb (Arab


West). The Palestinian people are related to the people of Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan


and Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the southeast, and Egypt to the West. It should be noted that


in times of peace and war only Lebanon & Jordan have allowed Palestinians other than political


figures across their borders for extended periods of refuge. All Arab led countries in the region


(with the exception of Anwar Sadat after a defeat in battle) had made some denouncing


statement when it came to the Palestinians making peace with Israel.


Prior to 1917 the area of Palestine was controlled by eight different political factions.


From 1917 to 1948 the British governed the area. It is interesting that the British wanted to hand


over their power to anyone but the French after 1933. The British government courted


propositions and ideas from Arabs living in Palestine, outside of Palestine, and European Jewry


repeatedly from 1933 to 1948. The British government upon suggestion from the Peel


Commission wanted and planned to partition Palestine into a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a


British zone in and around Jerusalem for 3-5 years or until the two people could live


harmoniously with one another.1 For whatever reason the Palestinians rejected the agreement.


Up until the last minute the British tried to negotiate a fair deal with the Palestinians. In 1939 the


British repealed a part of the Balfour Declaration that called for unchecked immigration of


Palestine by the Jews. Instead the ?White Paper? put limits on how many Jews could immigrate


to the land2.


The Arab population of Palestine was small and limited until Jewish resettlement


restored the barren land and drew to it Arabs from neighboring countries. When organized


Jewish colonization began there were fewer than 150,000 Arabs in the land. In the twelve and a


half centuries between the Muslim conquest in the seventh century and the beginning of the


organized Jewish return to Palestine was laid waste.


A second misconception that needs to be looked at is Israeli occupation of Palestine.


There are those who would have us believe that Great Britain just moved out and Israel seized


power. Facts however unpleasant for some, show us a different picture. In fact the British


government handed over the issue of Palestine to the UN in February of 1947. The General


Assembly appointed the UN Special Committee on Palestine – UNSCOP – to investigate the


entire problem and make recommendations toward a solution.


Appointed in May 1947, UNSCOP, included eleven ?middle powers? and smaller


nations: Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, Holland, India, Iran, Peru, Sweden,


Uruguay, and Yugoslavia. Its report, prepared after three months of investigation in Europe,


Palestine, and the Arab states, listed eleven unanimous recommendations, the most important of


which emphasized the need


to terminate the Mandate at the earliest practical date


to preserve the ?economic unity of Palestine as a whole?


to safeguard ?the character of the Holy Places.?


On September 25th of that year the report was submitted to the General revisions a


majority view was adopted on November 29th of that year3. The Arab League which included


Palestinian leaders voted unanimously to reject this proposal. The Arabs went so far as to send


military units into Palestine to disrupt communications and attack Jewish settlements.


When the British began to withdraw from Palestine the Arab countries encouraged the


chance for a jihad4 to destroy the new Jewish state. It was at this time that large of Palestinians


began to leave their home and the country. These refugees were told to do so by their community


leaders and the global Arab leaders at the time. Throughout its times of trying to gain recognition


to modern day, Israel has garnered some type of support from America. Every President since


Wilson has acknowledged the need for an Israeli state. It is paramount in reviewing all


information about this subject that one use history as a guide to what probably would occur in


the future. it is key to note that the Arab countries of power Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and


Lebanon only sought peace or traces with Israel after the 1967 war. Their military debacle


brought shame and harsh realization to the Arab sword.


When Egypt and later on Jordan signed their treaties with Israel nothing was mentioned


on

their part about the plight of the Palestinians or the situation of Palestine. The countries that


were at the forefront of all previous political discussions and who represented the Palestinian


people along with the leaders such as Yasser Arafat only negotiated for what their countries had


lost. Is this the fault of the Jews? In fact, Yasser Arafat criticized these countries when they


accepted peace with Israel and told their leaders and people that they would be dealt with.


Clearly, there are questions that need to be answered regarding who has the Palestinian people?s


true interests in mind. Palestinian political leaders from the beginning have spoken from both


sides of their mouths. Claiming on the one hand to want to be a neighboring state with Israel and


blaming Israel for countless delays. In fact, the PLO, PNC, PPP, nor the PNF have fulfilled step I


of the Oslo Accords which states ? Israel should be recognized; and also calls for and


amendment in the Palestinian Declaration of Principles which calls for the destruction of the


Jewish state and annihilation of its people.


Unlike the Palestinians, Israel?s Proclamation of Independence promises social and


political equality to all of its citizens, regardless of faith or heritage. Arabs who remained in the


country after in the country after both wars became full citizens. Moreover, most of the Arab


refugees who return to Israel, whether by legal or illegal means have been granted full


citizenship rights. Arabs have the right to vote and hold political offices of the government at any


level. They have a right to freedom of the press. Arabic, their official language is an official


language in the Knesset,5 government publications, and all forms of media. It is the language of


instruction in Arab public schools. Today more than 90 percent of Arab children attend school as


against 45 percent prior to the establishment of Israel. Has the Israeli majority then been cruel or


unusually harsh to the Palestinian/Arab population.


While the Israeli government has taken positive steps Palestinian leaders have made


questionable ones. Despite the global stance towards education Palestinian leaders continuously


tell their people to forsake the school system and keep their children at home or in jobs.


Knowing that the U.S. is a democracy and showing Democratic ideals would gain favor in global


relations with other countries Yasser Arafat has turned his cheek. Arafat instead is a devout


follower of Communist principles. His rise to power included Marxist strategies and tactics.


Leaders under Yasser Arafat have done even worse. These unchecked leaders have established a


branch of police similar to the secret police of Russia and Germany.


They seek out and execute males who they believe to be sympathetic to Israeli rules and


ideals. Harsher things happen to women who have sought more independence in Israeli culture.


These groups once controlled and backed by the upper echelon of Palestinian government have


sprung out on their own to create a more complex picture. These groups founded by extremists


in the Arab world some seeking to overthrow Yasser Arafat began strategized terrorist attacks on


Jews, Israeli?s, and Palestinians. It is these groups and their Intifada6 which has caused most of


the schism between the Palestinian people and the Israeli people.


It is clear to all parties involved that a fair settlement be reached. This conflict has


claimed too many lives in this century and hopefully will not drag to deep into the upcoming


one. The Palestinians view Israelis as oppressors. Arabs in general feel that Jews are dhimmi7


because of cultural differences. The Israelis and Jews not living in Israel want to ensure that


there is a safe place for all its inhabitants and Jews to call home. They seek to avoid events that


took place during W.W.II. At one point and time or another G.B. France, Russia, the U.S. and


the UN have played major roles in policies and failed attempts at peace. The Palestinians as well


as Jews have claims to the land. Historically, the Palestinians forfeited most of that right when


they chose not to accept a two-state solution proposed in 1947 and 1967. It was only in the late


80?s and 1990?s during the collapse of the S.U. that the PLO wanted to accept this plan.


After the 1967 war Israel doubled its size allotted by the Partition Plan. It was only


because of wars initiated by the surrounding Arab countries that they did so. Terrorist activities


and the probability of imminent danger has caused the need for Israeli control over certain


territories to preserve national security. These are the area in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that


were won during the war. it has been because of a great alliance with Democratic countries


especially the U.S. that Israel has been able to defend itself in times of crisis. It is possible U.S.


support has been so great because of its inaction towards Jews during W.W.II. Whatever the


reason U.S. economic support goes into the billions every year. What most don?t know is this


same money is distributed among Palestinians as equally as possible.


We must look carefully at the region in which we are talking about. As you can see Israel


is not a large piece of land to begin with. It becomes even smaller when you factor in the


cultural, religious, and economical ties that all parties share. For the Israelis to give up


everything they would surely be putting themselves in danger. For the Palestinians to receive


nothing would be a clear tragedy. From the beginning to the end trust is the underlying issue.


Despite the closeness in heritage peace hasn?t been achieved fully in this fragile region. The


process of peace has been very unstable and far from predictable. Steps have been taken by


governments such as Jordan, Russia, GB China, and the U.S. to bring the parties involved to an


amiable conclusion in which both parties compromise and gain.


A major step occurred in the middle 1990?s when then Prime Minister of Israel Yitzchak


Rabin met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and a conditional peace proposal was agreed


upon. They met in Washington, D.C. signed this agreement called the Oslo Accords, and shook


hands. This agreement was and is a paramount occurrence for any and all future settlements. It is


nearly impossible for any other nations to influence the leaders of the Israelis and Palestinians


because of their emotional ties to what they fight for.


Nearly every family whether they be Christian, Druze, Yemenite, Armenian, Palestinian,


Bedouin, or Jewish has experienced the loss of a family member be it father, brother, uncle, etc.


because of war or terrorist attack. There is no doubt that something needs to be done. it is


evident that Palestinians need an autonomous homeland. At the same time it is imperative the


threat of destruction be lifted by the Arab surrounding countries. The Israelis need to be given


assurances of safety. The key to all of this though is looking beyond the propaganda and


evaluating the facts. Trust is the determining factor that needs to be brought forth. Who can the


Palestinian people trust to look out for their wishes? Who can the Palestinian Leaders trust to


push onward without terrorism? Who can the Israelis trust in it all?


BIBLIOGRAPHY


O?Neill, Bard E. The Persian Gulf War: A Political – Military Assessment


Freedman, Robert O. The Middle East After Iraq?s Invasion of Kuwait


Encyclopedia Encarta 1996


Citizens Apart


Sapir, Dr. Shaul Historical Geography of Jerusalem Through the Ages


Nissan, Dr. Mordechai Contemporary Middle East


Bender, David L. Are Palestinian Rights Being Ignored


Abcarius, M. F. Palestine Through the Fog of Propaganda


Aronson, G. Creating Facts: Israel, Palestinians and the West Bank


Bethell, N. The Palestine Triangle: The Struggle Between the British, the Jews and the Arabs


Andrew Gowers and Tony Walker Behind the Myth: Yasser Arafat


Rishmawi, M. ?The Actions of the Palestinian Authority Under the Gaza/Jericho Agreements.?


The Palestine National Authority : A Critical Appraisal


Berger, Morroe The Arab World Today


Friedman, Robert, I. Zealots for Zion


Greenstein, Ran Genealogies of Conflict


Hart, Alan Arafat Terrorist or Peacemaker


Spiegel, Steven The Arab-Israeli Search for Peace


Becker, Jillian The PLO


Caplan, Gerald Arab & Jew in Jerusalem

Сохранить в соц. сетях:
Обсуждение:
comments powered by Disqus

Название реферата: Israel And Future Of Palestinian State Essay

Слов:2923
Символов:19471
Размер:38.03 Кб.