Jerusalem’s long history and religious meaning in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faith has culminated in it being a holy and coveted place for all three of these major religions. For centuries this city has been fought after and endured numerous wars and rulers. The most recent disagreement over Jerusalem is generally between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The height of this disagreement was marked by Israel moving their capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This caused Muslims to fear having their access limited, difficulties visiting, or even plainly being barred from entering their second most holy city. Palestinians also maintain that Jerusalem should be the capital of an independent Palestine state.
One way to settle the conflict between Israel and Palestine would be for the Israelis to relocate their capital back to Tel Aviv to assuage the Muslim qualms, but since that resolution is unlikely the problem has to be dealt with differently. The most practical solution to Jerusalem’s troubles, and the least drastic, would be to declare the city an independent state, or independent...
Chronicle of the First Crusade is an excerpt from Gesta Francorum Jherusalem peregrinantium, written in three installments, 1101, 1106, and 1124–27, by Fulcher of Chartres, a French chaplain and chronicler of the First Crusade. Born in approximately 1059, and educated for the priesthood in Chartres, in what is now France, Fulcher attended the Council of Clermont, accompanying his overlord, Stephen of Blois, to southern Italy, Bulgaria, and Constantinople in 1096, following the call to action instigated by Pope Urban II as response to a request for assistance from the Byzantine emperor Alexius I. In June 1097, Fulcher became chaplain to Baldwin of Flanders, with whom he remained, traveling with him to Jerusalem in the winter of 1099. Fulcher, who remained in Jerusalem for the remainder of his life, dying there in approximately 1127, provides, as an eyewitness to the events, the Christian perspective of the Siege of Jerusalem.
The Israeli-Palestine conflict is an event that has been well documented throughout the course of Middle-Eastern history. The conflict dates back as far as the nineteenth century where Palestine and Zionist, will later be known as Israel, are two communities each with different ideologies had the same overwhelming desire to acquire land. However, what makes this clash what it is, is the fact that both of these up and coming communities are after the same piece of land. The lengths that both sides went to in order obtain they believed was theirs has shaped the current relationship between the two nations today.
This marked the beginning of the Palestine armed conflict, one of its kinds to be witnessed in centuries since the fall of the Ottoman Empire and World War 1. Characterized by a chronology of endless confrontations, this conflict has since affected not only the Middle East relations, but also the gl...
While it was a sovereign state, Palestine was involved in three wars with Israel, and many Palestinians today still share Yasser Arafat’s goal, where “The victory march will continue until the Palestinian flag flies in Jerusalem and in all of Palestine”(Document D). This is further proven by the number of suicide bombings that Israel has been subject to at the hands of Palestinian extremists, of which there have been 149 since the turn of the century (Src2). In light of this, there is a very real threat that if Palestine were to be given full sovereignty when relations are as poor as they are now that terror attacks would increase greatly, and that Israel could potentially be invaded through the west bank. In addition to that, the borders of the west bank are also very close to Jerusalem, which is sacred to both Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims, providing a very strong motive for a fully fledged Palestine to Invade and cross the short distance to Jerusalem and attempt to take the city by force. By barring access to Jerusalem to the majority of Palestinians, this motive is only intensified. If Israel has a right to Jerusalem through religion, then so does Palestine, and Palestinians should have reasonably free access to Jerusalem, else Palestinian perception of Israelis will continue to
The Palestinian and Israeli conflict can be resolved only if both countries agree to internationalize Jerusalem: this holy city is the home of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The city has important religious connections with all three faiths; the Jews and the Christians see it as has a land of prophets and a promised land for all children of Abraham, the Christians see it also as the birthplace of Jesus, and the Muslim have the al Aqsa Intifada. This has been an on going war between Palestinians who are Muslims and Israelis who are Jews caused by conflicting religious and historical claims to the city, the desire of displaced Jews for a homeland and Palestinian anger at the British and U.S backed takeover of the city by the Israeli Jews. The effects of the conflict have been terrorist attacks around the world by both sides and the deaths of many soldiers and civilians.
The Christians and Muslims traded it back and forth during The Crusades, and the Jews control it now. The Israeli government still allows Arabs to utilize Jerusalem as a place of worship. Unlike when Jordan controlled this area Jews were forbidden to practice their religion worship on this ground. What is being afforded the Israeli government now, is an opportunity to show the rest of the world that it is truly a gracious government. Jerusalem as a shared space, must be a place for both peoples and religion to come together. This city has been passed from one owner to another throughout history, by forcible means. What if we were to pass this city one more time? Not to one set of people but to another kind of governing body, a blending of both Islam and
A possible solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the two-state solution. The two-state solution would become a peace agreement in which establishes a Palestinian state alongside the current state of Israel (Bourke). In the opinion of the Maghar Druze’s community, peace is the main objective in which the two-state solution could provide. As follows, most Israeli Druze’s would encourage the current peace talks in aim of a two-state agreement. Despite the fact that the two-state solution requires compromise in which it is believed the Palestinian are not able to accommodate. In particular, the Maghar Druze’s do not believe the Palestinians will ever be satisfied with a two-state agreement because of the need for retaliation fo...
First starting with the mutual recognition as political entities and through the interim period build trust and inter reliance needed for administrative and security arrangements. The hope was that through this process Israel and Palestine could build the momentum to tackle the more sensitive issues, referred to as “final status issues.” Among these difficult and complex issues were the borders and status of a Palestinian State, the claims and repatriation of Palestinian refugees, the fate of the Jewish settlements, and the disposition of East Jerusalem. While it may seem counter intuitive the Oslo Peace Accords did not actually address any of these issues. This was due to its purpose as a way to build the political framework that would allow for later negotiations and not as a permeant peace solution for the region.
“The sights and sounds testify to a kind of ongoing competition. Pressed tightly within the same small space, Muslim minarets rise above Christian bell towers, Israeli flags and rebuilt synagogues announce the renewed Jewish presence in their own historic quarter, while the peal of church bells clashes with the muezzin’s call to prayer. But there is more than the mere cacophony of sounds or blending of colors. Zealots, true believers, fanatics of all kinds thrive in this holy atmosphere. Religious extremism flourishes in Jerusalem’s clear air, and the merging of the ‘heavenly’ with the ‘earthly’ city continues to nourish conflicting sentiments and periodic outbursts of open conflict.”
In 1095, Jerusalem was a flourishing city that was the main powerhouse for three religions; all three religions wanted complete control over the holy land. These three religions were Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and all three religions were known to use Jerusalem as a place of religious reasons. But in turn, the best part about Jerusalem was the political power it held. Pope Urban’s demand for power and Jewish Israel’s desire to control Palestinians are the factors in the political conflict over the holy land.
First, a summary of the conflict history between Israel and Palestine since 1947 will be given. Second, the views regarding conflict/peace negotiations of several theorists will be discussed. This analysis also includes an inquiry of the position of the US regarding the conflict. Finally, the foregoing will be summarised in the conclusion.
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...
Jerusalem is a very old city, that well all know to be the capital of Israel. In fact Jerusalem is considered one of the oldest cities in the entire world. Having a past that traces back to the 4th millennium BCE (www.ancient.eu/jerusalem). Jerusalem has a very spiritual background, being the holiest city in Christianity and Judaism. The second king of Israel David, who was a very proficient military leader grew the city greatly. David battled Jebus during the year 1000 BC, later appointing it as the capital. The reason that David choose this location for his capitial was because it rested in between two territories, reason being so that neither tribe would gain too much power. Later, King Solomon in an act to bypass possible wars, married many royal familys.
For many centuries, Judaic and Arabian societies have engaged in one of the most complicated and lengthy conflicts known to mankind, the makings of a highly difficult peace process. Unfortunately for all the world’s peacemakers the Arab-Israeli conflict, particularly the war between Israel and the Palestinian Territories, is rooted in far more then ethnic tensions. Instead of drawing attention towards high-ranking officials of the Israeli government and Hamas, focus needs to be diverted towards the more suspect and subtle international relations theory of realism which, has imposed more problems than solutions.
“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.