Palestine and Israel Essays -- Threats to World Peace

Background The issue of Palestine and Israel is one that has been hotly contested for over a thousand years. The last fifty years have been especially important in the history of the Jewish people and Palestinians. Since the death of Yasser Arafat on the 11th of November 2004 , and the election of Mahmoud Abbas as his successor as leader of the Palestinian Authority, significant steps have been taken towards a lasting peace. This will hopefully lead to a conclusion of the second Palestinian intifada, which began in late September 2000, and to an end of the oppression of the Palestinian people by the Israeli Defense Forces. Both Jews and Arabs have suffered heavily from the conflict, thousands of innocent civilians have died on both sides, and peace is in the interests of all. History of the Conflict The disputed territory that has been alternately referred to as Palestine and Israel is relatively small, the total area is only roughly 22 000 square kilometers. It is bordered by Jordan on the East, Lebanon on the North, Egypt and the Mediterranean Ocean on the West, and shares 76 kilometers of border with Syria in the North East. The two disputed territories that are occupied by the Israeli Army but under the autonomous control of the Palestinian Authority are the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. These two territories amount to roughly 6400 square kilometers, the West Bank makes up the majority of this area – it amounts to 6000 square kilometers in the Eastern part of the country and borders the nation of Jordan. Jews have long considered Israel to be their national home. They consider it to be a Holy Land, or a Promised Land – they believe it to be their right from God to live in the region. The area is also considered... ... - http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Israel/Overview_IsraeliPalestinian_Relations/Intifada_I/Intifada2.htm Israeli Defense Force - www.idf.il The Socio-economic Impact of Settlements on Land, Water, and the Palestinian Economy - http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/cahier/proche-orient/colonies BBC News – What is the West Bank barrier? - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3111159.stm Books: Beitler, Ruth Margolies – The Path to Mass Rebellion: An analysis of two intifadas B’Tselem: The Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories - Information Sheet: May 1993 – House Demolition During Operations Against Wanted Persons. Human Rights Watch – Israel, the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Authority Territories Series: In a dark hour: the use of civilians during IDF arrest operations