Illegal Israeli Settlements Of Palestinian Lands example essay topic

The Israeli and Palestinian Conflict Unless the Israelis and Palestinians could not compromise, negotiate and come to an agreement, peace is impossible in the Middle East and even the so-called security fence that Israel is now building will not solve the conflict nor stop terrorist actions by Palestinian extremists. The Israelis and Palestinians need to compromise and negotiate, as suggested by the words written on that wall, "Peace comes (with) agreement not separation". The leaders of both sides of the conflict should think of the future generations. They should agree to disagree -meaning that they should come to terms and pour out all their grievances, the cause and root of their anger and go beyond that anger to think of a solution that both sides would agree upon. They should decide what is best for their people and the land they would both like and wish to call home. Historically, the land being fought by the Israelis and Palestinians never experienced any peace at all.

Palestine was occupied and fought by different groups, Ottoman and the Roman Empires, and the Crusaders. In late 19th century, the population of Palestine was mostly Arabs, nomads, and some Jews but that soon changed. In Europe, Jews were being persecuted so leaders of European Jews gathered in Switzerland to form the Zionist movement. The goal of Zionism was to "create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law". The slogan, "A land without people for a people without land" by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, a Zionist leader successfully helped support the Zionist movement's goal. And under the British government who occupied and governed Palestine at that time and with the Balfour Declaration, a Jewish homeland was established in Palestine.

The Balfour Declaration allowed migration of Jews to Palestine during World War I, which led to anti-Jewish riots by the Palestinians. The Palestinians felt more betrayed and reacted badly when more European Jews who were escaping Nazi persecution, were allowed to migrate to Palestine during and after the World War II. They demanded an independent Palestinian state. They attacked British troops and posts, as well as Jewish settlements. The settlers counterattacked and retaliated while at the same time, the British escalated its oppressive measures against the Palestinians by destroying their homes and sentencing the Arab leaders of the attackers to death.

The British government recognized the injustices done to the Palestinians but they rejected their demand for independence. In order to pacify the Arabs, they instead limited the number of immigrants and then totally stop Jewish immigration to Palestine. They also disclaimed any intentions to create a Jewish state, which infuriated the Zionist movement. They proposed the partition of Palestine into two states, Arab and Jews. They would give the Palestinians, accounting for 70% of the population, 47% of the country and the rest to the Jewish people. Both the Palestinians and the Jews rejected the British decision and proposal.

The Zionists response was to increase the Jewish immigration illegally and assassinate leaders of the British government. A small group of Zionist extremists committed series of politically motivated murders against British leaders. They also massacred Arab villagers without any provocation. They increased their offensive tactics, terrorizing the Arabs and destroying their mosques.

With all the violence in Palestine, Great Britain decided to end its mandatory role in Palestine and handed over the Palestine problem to the United Nation. A United Nations resolution had the same proposal as Great Britain, to partition Palestine into two states, Arab and Jewish, with an economic union and a government to be administered by the United Nations. But months before the envisioned partition and the end of British mandatory role, the Zionist movement moved to establish control over more territory. They increased their offensive attacks, which made the Arabs fled their homes and lands. Some went to territories within Palestine not under Jewish control while others became refugees and went to neighboring countries such as in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and other Middle East countries.

On May 14, 1948, Palestine became Israel, a Jewish state, one day before the end of the British mandatory role. Both the United States and the Soviet Union recognized Israel. The neighboring Arab countries wouldn't recognize the existence of Israel and illegal forces entered the new state resulting in the first Middle East war. The support of an Arab state in Palestine was impossible in the face of the Israeli military superiority. The Israeli forces occupied most of Palestine territories during this war except the West Bank, which was under Jordan and the Gaza Strip, which was under Egypt. They also took control of the western part of Jerusalem by destroying Arab villages in that area, which again forced the Arabs to flee and leave their homes, and properties.

The Israeli forces occupied these abandoned lands and claimed them as their own. The occupation of Palestinian territories, their humiliation by Israeli occupiers, the unprovoked attacks, the illegal settlement of their lands, the destitution among the people, and the suppression of their rights by the Israeli forces aggravated the hatred and vengeance by Palestinians and resulting on some of them to turn into terrorist extremists. Both the Palestinians and Israelis are provoking and killing each other senselessly. Israel, since its existence has never experienced any peace at all. Both sides would not compromise and their motto is "An eye for an eye".

They justify their actions because both are filled with hatred, intolerance, prejudice and vengeance. Most of the so-called leaders in Palestine and Israel and some here at the US don't want peace in that land at all. They have their own agenda and interest to protect at all cost. The Palestinians' hatred of Jews would extend even beyond Israel.

Palestinian supporters from the Arab and Muslim world saw the biases, prejudice and injustice done to the Palestinian people. The United States with its support of Israel became a victim of this hatred and vengeance with the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Thousands of lives and billions of dollars of properties were lost. Is peace possible in the Middle East?

Would the wall being built by the Israeli government protect its people from Palestinians violence and terrorism? Is there a possibility of independent Palestinian state? Could there be a solution to the Palestinian problem and its refugees? Could the illegal Israeli settlements of Palestinian lands be ever resolved or removed? Could the Palestinians and Israelis ever live together in peace? Would there be a leader on both sides who could lead their people to make peace to each other?

These are the questions that are hard to answer with the ongoing situation in the Middle East.