OK, here goes nothing:
I have been studying this conflict for about two (almost 3) years now...
First, I think we can all admit that this is a very emotional topic. When people are getting blown up in malls everday or having their homes knocked down it naturually causes a lot of pain. I think its good that we, as Americans, care enough to discuss this issue. However, when I read all of your debates, I usually see nothing but partisan, zealous assertions: "This side is good, this side is bad, etc" The truth is, both sides have done a LOT Of bad things in this conflict, and both sides are motivated by a combination of fear, greed, pride, religion, and confusion.
That being said, I have often been accused of not choosing sides. Well, let me say this-- I think, ultimately, Israel is more "right" than the Palestinians are. However, it is a *very* slight margin, and I think its important that everyone- regardless of what side they are on, know a few facts that I have picked up before they continue making radical, and ultimately problematic, judgements:
-Israel's creation was planned by Zionists starting in the late 1800s. They started buying up land and slowly moving Jews to the Palestine region.
-Around 1916 the Zionists were promised a piece of Palestine by the British Crown and their activities became somewhat more organized.
-Between the world wars, the Jews and Arabs "fought" a series of minor terrorist battles- with the British caught in the middle -and became more antagonistic. The Jews began an organized effort to really encourage the Arabs to leave the land, and the Arabs began to get more violent in their resistance to the "mostly" peaceful Jewish "buy-out".
-In '47 '48 It all went to Hell. The UN offered the Arabs a division, they said "no way", and declared "war" on the Jewish inhabitants who were living there. The Jews won, and carved out a little area on the coast.
-In 1967, the Arabs massed large forces on the border. The Jews, fearing the likely attack, destroyed the Arab armies and captured a large area.
-1973- The Arabs launch an attack, but lose yet again. Egypt and Jordan sign peace treaties.
Then starting in basically, 1975 or so, the Jews decide to build homes in some of the areas they had captured in 1967. In theory, this was land that they had never formally taken over-- its as if the US started building homes in Afganistan right now. We *could*, but it would not be clearly *right* or even smart.
One thing to keep in mind:
The AVERAGE JEW and the AVERAGE PALESTINIAN is a
PAWN
(read my paper on this "pawn" subject:
This is the LINK to my term paper I got an A+ on it from my Sociology prof at UCLA)
Basically, the rich Israels are totally manipulating the 1 million Russian immigrants who have come- starting with 200k in 1989. The high ranking Muslim clerics are totaly manipulating the 4 million Palestinians who are too poor to even feed themselves (they make about 1,800 a year)
Specifically, the rich Israels, who have economic/religios interests in developing the West Bank, have fallen to the Yisrael B'Aliya Party of Russian Jews. This powerful center right party controls the important "Construction and Assimilation" Ministry. This Ministry is responsible for placing the 1+ million Slavic Jews who have come in 1989. To do this cheaply, they are offering $100,000 in grants, loans and subsidies to new immigrants--- PROVIDING they are willing to live in the disputed West Bank!
On the other side of the coin, the freak/evil "Muslim Clerics" manipulate the average Palestinian-- who barely has a grade school education-- into believing that they will get virgins if they blow themselves up--- THIS was NEVER A MUSLIM BELIEF before the mid 20th century when these freaks came to power. They are manipulating the sexual/economic frustration of young men, and they are using it to create killing machines. The vast majority of the palestinians do not want do die, and they dont want to kill-- but they *are* frustrated.
I have met and spoken the the mayor of the largest Israel settlement. He doesnt give a rats about what happens to anyone. All he cares about is his own personal power. Look at his webpage: ?Approximately half of the city's population are (sic) immigrants from the former Soviet Union?.Projections for the growth of the city show that Ariel should triple in size to a population of 60,000 within the next twenty years, in line with the *original plans* [1978] of the founders of Ariel.? The bottom line is this- he doesnt care what happens to the Palis so long as they leave his precious Russian Jews alone.
I have also spoken to some prominent LA Muslims. They pretty much think Israel is a evil, awful place, and they dont care about it much either. They think Jew = Robber.
Both views are sad.
I know about 100 Jews and about 15 Muslims. I talk a lot of them about this-- you know the common response?? TEARS
Some of these people are really powerful (and smart- UCLA, USC, STANFORD, HARVARD, etc degrees) men and women. Yet they CRY about this stuff.
We need to confront the fact that this is a human tragedy and that only a carful, slow process (not violence) is going to stop this.
I really think you should read my paper if you are interested in this-- I try to be fair.
Segan
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