The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been one of the defining political issues in the Middle East for decades. The conflict itself can be dated to 1948, when the state of Israel established independence, but the underlying problems responsible for the creation of Israel, and as a result, the conflict, can be traced back as far as the 19th century. While these days, the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict takes place at a domestic level, its roots, as well as the frequent failed attempts at peace that spanned the 20th century, stemmed from international interference and mismanagement.
Anti-Semitic sentiments were alive in well in Eastern Europe as far back as the late 1800s. In his book, Strong Societies and Weak States: State-Society Relations and State Capabilities in the Third World, in a chapter entitled “Laying the Basis for a Strong State: The British and Zionists in Palestine,” Joel Migdal describes the hardships that Jews experienced. Many European states were experiencing a Nationalist phase, which, as Migdal writes, “effectively excluded the Jews.” (Migdal 52). Jews were denied citizenship in countries such as Romania, despite having lived there for centuries. Other acts of open hostility were practiced not only at a personal level, where attacks and anti-Semitic comments were the norm, but also at the state level, which allowed policies that discriminated against the Jewish population.
It was in this atmosphere that Zionist thought took root and began to grow. Theodor Herzl, the leader of early Zionism, visualized a society in which Jews would not be a minority desperately trying to fit into other cultures, but rather be the cultural norm with their own territory. Migdal writes, “After some arguing within Herzl’s...
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...rights, and therefore, the conflict itself. Had the British powers of the early 20th century been more clear in their language regarding the inherent rights of Palestinian Arabs, more closely monitored levels of immigration, or even paid more attention to the needs of the Palestinians, perhaps the conflict could have been nipped in the bud. As it grew, and other nations threw their hats into the ring, stronger action could have been taken against the settlement-building and subsequent refugee problem in the Palestinian territories. However, very little was done during the time when change could have been more easily exacted in the region; at this point, two very strong viewpoints have been established, it is now left up to the Israelis and Palestinians themselves to reconcile their differences, compromise their viewpoints, and restore amiable relations to the region.
Anti-Semitism is the hatred and discrimination of those with a Jewish heritage. It is generally connected to the Holocaust, but the book by Helmut Walser Smith, The Butcher’s Tale shows the rise of anti-Semitism from a grassroots effect. Smith uses newspapers, court orders, and written accounts to write the history and growth of anti-Semitism in a small German town. The book focuses on how anti-Semitism was spread by fear mongering, the conflict between classes, and also the role of the government.
Throughout history, Jews have been persecuted in just about every place they have settled. Here I have provided just a small ...
Throughout history Jewish people have been discriminated against relentlessly and while one may think that the world has finally become an accepting place to live in, unfortunately the battle against discrimination still exists even in countries such as the USA. Different opposing groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and the Knights Party have not only discriminated against people of non-white races, but they have helped promote anti-Semitism in the United States. Anti-Semitism is the hatred of or discrimination of against Jews, which according to Efron et al. “anti-Semitism was born of modern racial theories and political ideas, or for that matter with Christian anti-Semitism, fueled by distinctive theological ideas unique to Christianity” (Efron et al. Pg. 68).
Bob Hawke once said; “Unless and until something concrete is done about addressing the Israeli-Palestinian issue you won't get a real start on the war against terrorism.” Perhaps Hawke put into a few simple words one of the most complicated issues within our world today, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Israel continues to strip the Palestinians of their land and fears it’s very existence because of the Palestinians terrorist acts, there seems to be no solution in sight. The world appears to be split and all over the place when it comes to this matter. According to The Middle East Institute for Understanding approximately 129 countries recognize Palestine as a state while many others do not. Over all the political matters within this issue not only affect Palestine and Israel but the world as a whole, as the Middle East and the West seem to disagree. This has had and will continue to have an enormous impact on many political affairs all over the world particularly in the current fight against terrorism. Personally I feel that the Israeli Palestinian conflict while being a very complicated matter has a simple solution. Within this issue I am a firm believer that the occupation of the West Bank by Israeli forces is extremely unjust and must come to an end. Once this is achieved a two state solution will be the most effective way to bring peace to the area. The occupation of the West Bank violates political and legal rights, human rights, and illegally forces Palestinians who have lived in the area for hundreds of years from their land. This conflict is at the height of its importance and a solution is of dire need as nuclear issues arise in the Middle East due to the tension between Israel and it’s surrounding neighbors, and the...
The Middle East has since time immemorial been on the global scope because of its explosive disposition. The Arab Israeli conflict has not been an exception as it has stood out to be one of the major endless conflicts not only in the region but also in the world. Its impact continues to be felt all over the world while a satisfying solution still remains intangible. A lot has also been said and written on the conflict, both factual and fallacious with some allegations being obviously evocative. All these allegations offer an array of disparate views on the conflict. This essay presents an overview of some of the major literature on the controversial conflict by offering precise and clear insights into the cause, nature, evolution and future of the Israel Arab conflict.
Theodor Herzl is often referred to today as the Father of Zionism, a man known for his role in the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people. His most famous pamphlet, The Jewish State, inspired thousands of Jewish men and women from across the world, although particularly in Europe, to leave their homes to realize the glory of creating their own homeland in Palestine. While Herzl was originally a believer in the gradual assimilation of German and Austrian Jews into the European cultural world, the growing anti-Semitism within Europe led him to believe that the only solution to Jewish ostracism was the creation of a separate state for Jews in Palestine. Although Theodor Herzl became, over the course of his lifetime, a man who held a crucial role in the creation of a state that Jews across the world could take pride in and refuge from the prejudice they faced throughout the European world, he was never truly a believer in the traditions of Judaism and was primarily concerned with the necessity for the “reformation” of the Jewish culture instead of the founding of a prejudice-free environment.
In the late 19th century, Jews had legal equality in most places; however, having already endured anti-Semitism for hundreds of years, Jews began to see a rise in the persecution of their people. Jews had suffered pogrom, unfair imposes and were denied fair offices throughout Europe. Racists said that Jews were different, thereby inferior, physically, intellectually and spiritually (Perry 146). Hermann Ahlwardt, a member of the Reichstag, had strong views against the Jews and of...
The transition of Jews through history is one, which is complex and took place over a long period. There are many factors, which contributed to the change of the status of Jews within their world and changes in their status as well; these changes affected the religious and cultural values of European Jews, which lead to an alteration in their own perception, as well as the surrounding populace. There are several opinions as to how non- Jews perceive the issues that led to Emancipation of Jewish people. Prior to the period of Emancipation there were three main characteristics which defined the traditional Jewish communities of Europe. These three aspects are community, autonomy and torah (religion). In relation to Torah, there is a common yearning to return to their homeland in Eretz Yisrael. As it is known from the Greek era, the purpose of a state or community was to glorify one's own religion and as a result, Jews could not be members of a Christian state. Therefore, they had no choice but to form their own communities within the larger Christian State. A Jew is a member of the Jewish nation and people and religion is what defined your life and place in society. Virtually everything revolved around the community; decisions were made with the impact of the community in mind. An essential aspect of this community was the conceptions of ghettos; Jews lived, worked, and played in these ghettos. These ghettos kept the Jewish community contained, and also provided a sense of separatism from outside influences. "The point can also be made that separation was in fact a contributing factor to healthy relations (between Jews and non- Jews)" with their concern for l...
“There is no such thing as a Palestinian.” Stated former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir after three fourths of one million Palestinians had been made refugees, over five hundred towns and cities had been obliterated, and a new regional map was drawn. Every vestige of the Palestinian culture was to be erased. Resolution 181, adopted in 1947 by the United Nations declared the end of British rule over Palestine (the region between the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River) and it divided the area into two parts; a state for the Jewish and one for the Arab people, Palestine. While Israel was given statehood, Palestine was not. Since 1947, one of the most controversial issues in the Middle East, and of course the world, is the question of a Palestinian state. Because of what seems a simple question, there have been regional wars among Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, terrorist attacks that happen, sometimes daily, displacement of families from their homes, and growing numbers of people living in poverty. Granting Palestinian statehood would significantly reduce, or alleviate, tensions in the Middle East by defining, once and for all, the area that should be Palestine and eliminating the bloodshed and battles that has been going on for many years over this land.
The history of the Jewish people is one fraught with discrimination and persecution. No atrocity the Nazis did to the Jews in the Holocaust was original. In England in 1189, a bloody massacre of the Jews occurred for seemingly no reason. Later, the Fourth Lateran Council under Pope Innocent III required Jews to wear a badge so that all would know their race, and then had them put into walled, locked ghettos, where the Jewish community primarily remained until the middle of the eighteenth century. When the Black Death ravaged Europe in the medieval ages, many Europeans blamed the Jews (Taft 7). Yet, the one thing that could be more appalling than such brutal persecution could only be others’ failure and flat-out refusal to intervene. Such is the case with the non-Axis coutries of World War II; these nations failed miserably in their responsibility to grant basic human rights – even the right of life – to Jewish immigrants prior to World War II.
Ultimately despite their best intentions, the British had set themselves up for an inevitable failure by making opposing arrangements that could not be satisfied simultaneously. Hence, the British were doomed by their own ambivalence. The British promises based off a strategy of short-term military and political gains only led to disappointment on both sides, increasing tensions between the opposing parties. However, we must remember that the United States, Zionist terrorist groups, economic issues, and the United Nations all contributed to preventing Britain from fulfilling its promises and mending the conflict. These factors however only accelerated and confirmed the inevitable outcome of an Arab-Israeli war, which was spurred on due to tension created by Britain’s contradictory promises.
Anti-Semitism: Jews Face a Widening Web of Hate Abraham H. Foxman discusses what he believes is ever growing anti-Semitism in the United States, as well as the world. Foxman proposes that public view has become less concerned with anti-Semitism, and “such complacency is dangerous.” Foxman suggests there are new forms of anti-Semitism compared to 1930’s when the Nazi party targeted millions of Jews. Jews have been continually targets of violence since the Holocaust. Synagogues have been attacked, and communities have faced intimidation and vandalism through anti-Semitic graffiti.
Anti-Semitism, a hatred of Jews, has been present for centuries in many places. However, the term ‘Anti-Semitism’ itself only came into use in the nineteenth century, and along with it came an ideology which fuelled this deep psychological hatred to develop into a political movement which culminated in Nazism. Throughout history, the reasons for Anti-Semitism have differed and in Imperial Germany, it was a combination of religious, racial and political factors which led to such hostility toward Jews. However, the economic state of the nation is often thought to be the main reason behind the way in which Jews were treated during this period.
I have been interested in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for a long time, but the more I intend to study and learn about it, the more complex the issue becomes. The conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians involves great amounts of history and animosity from both involved parts that it is difficult to know what loose end to solve first.
No conflict has ever been quite as explosive or enduring as that between the Israelis and the Palestinians. With hundreds of years of alternating Israeli and Palestinian power within Palestine, the two cousins reach a conflict in the twentieth century. To whom does the land of Palestine truly belong to? This question has lead to years of bloodshed and terrorism. Solving an issue as complicated and intricate as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires an in-depth knowledge of the history of both sides. In my opinion, the best resolution to solve the conflict is to solve by the means of a peaceful, two state solution. Developing this solution can be described more easily if the conflict is broken down into solvable pieces.