4N6 DNA

I like to stay on top of the news becasue I realize the importance in being globally aware and to know what is happening in the world around us. I am sure many of you agree. To be honest, although I read about politics and the war in Iraq, my interest is in more science and health based news. So I am a bit sheepish to admit that I don't know too much about the Israel and Palestine conflict. I used to avoid news about it becasue it seemed like too messy of a topic for me to understand and I did not grow up with any strong religious background. But reality is that this topic is becoming more and more impossible for me to ignore. It effects every corner of the world and my level of knowledge about it is unsatisfactory. I should know more about it and I regret that I do not.

So that being said, I was wondering if anyone knew any reliable news and information links on the history past to present on the conflict. I have searched to no avail for an unbiased history and the links that have so far come up were just the opposite: biased and confusing.

Thanks for any help

jerkstore

Well, it all started after WWII when the UN decided to create a country by granting land in the Palestian province of the former Ottoman Empire to a bunch of European refugees, who then drove the inhabitants off their land and rounded them up into internment camps where they've been living ever since.

sum1

That is false and misleading.

"A bunch of European refugees"
The Israelis, whether from Europe or elsewhere, were of Middle Eastern descent and many of them were not from Europe but from various Middle Eastern countries which they were driven out of by persecution and violence.

"who then drove the inhabitants off their land"
There was a war between the Israelis and various Arabs, which the Israelis did not start (rather the other side did). During that war many of the Palestinians chose to leave their land. In many cases Israelis tried to convince them to stay. Also, it's wrong to give a picture of the land all being inhabited by Palestinians who then get replaced by Israelis. When Jews moved to Israel they bought land there fairly. This resulted in much of the land being Jewish-inhabited/owned before any state was set up. This was not a result of anybody being driven off their land.

"and rounded them up into internment camps where they've been living ever since"
Nope, it wasn't the Israelis who put them in the camps. You're leaving out a whole lot about the mistreatment of the Palestinians by the goverments of the countries next to Israel, who controlled the Palestinian-inhabited areas for a significant period of time.

"it all started after WWII"
No it didn't. It started long before then. Quite apart from there being a continuous Jewish presence/population in Israel since ancient times, Jews were moving to Israel in significant numbers from the 19th century onwards and Israel had a large Jewish population long before the state of Israel was founded (and before WWII). These Jews who moved to Israel had no hostile intent of any sort and hoped to get along with their Palestinian neighbours, and they kept up that hope even after Jews started getting massacred by Palestinians. However, great Palestinian hostility toward Jews developed, long before the Israeli state was founded, with Jews getting massacred and many Palestinians becoming enthusiastic about the Nazis. The Palestinian leader Mohammad Amin al-Husayni was associated with Hitler and the Nazis and called for killing of Jews. All this before the state of Israel was founded. It happened before WWII ended and much of it happened long before then. The Hebron and Safed massacres of Jews happened in 1929, for example.

"when the UN decided to create a country by granting land in the Palestian province of the former Ottoman Empire"
A state there was promised to the Jews long before then. The UN didn't just decide to do this out of the blue. Two states were set up, one for the Jews and one for the Palestinians and then various Arabs started a war to put an end to the Jewish state. Also, as I've said, much of the land was Jewish-owned before the state was set up, as a result of Jews buying land fairly and legitimately.

sunnykerr

Well, to be fair, that land had been promised thousands of years prior. Obviously it's problematic when generations of the same people have been calling it home in the interim. And, let's face it, if the world had not, rightfully and quite belatedly so, been overtaken by the tremendous shame of what we all allowed to happen to the Jewish people (whether through the actual Holocaust or though the various forms of anti-Semitic harrasment), then it probably wouldn't have been as clean-cut a deal either.

That being said, Israel is the birthright of its citizens.

So, to me anyway, that's the crux of the problem. Two peoples, having equal right to perhaps not the exact same land, but very nigh on it. And two peoples who both have extremist factions who aren't particularly willing to compromise for the sake of peace. And two peoples who, rightfully so, are still mourning those who have been lost as a result of the ensuing conflict.

I mean, that particular region's been the site of religious wars literally since the dawn of time. I don't want to say that it's almost natural for it to still be the host of tremendous conflict, because I do believe peace is always an option. But I can certainly see why it's extremely complicated.

Maggie aka Sarah

Sunny: Nodding in agreement.

It is a very very complicated and complex situation... with both sides having valid claims and both sides having extemist factions. Sigh.

But I also am hopeful that at some point in time that a way will be found to achieve peace.

Maggie

alexgeo

I love Israel,is anybody here from Israel?

Jerry D

Sum1, I just wanted to say that I admire your consistent defense of Israel, and how you always back up what you say with facts. I’ve always admired Israel, and although I agree that the issue of Israel versus the Palestinians has always been, and will always be, complicated, and neither side is completely innocent, I do side with the Israelis due to the brutally terroristic tactics that the Palestinians have employed over the years, and also due to the fact that the leadership of the Palestinians have repeatedly stated that they want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

fetch

I am. I consider myself left-wing but I don't have an answer to the conflict. Sadly I think it will always exist.

alexgeo

shalom(this means hello,yes?)

fetch

Yep Hi.

sunnykerr

See, and I can't whole-heartedly side with either side because I am constantly reminded that not every Palestinian supports the terrorist acts done in their name. Just like not every Israeli supports the existece of the colonies.

I side with peace. And I know that sounds trite. But I don't think it's cut and dry and, till there's a resolution, that's what I'm supporting.

alexgeo

everything must be so as Israel wants

migamoo

Why?

sunnykerr

I don't think that's true.

alexgeo

becaouce of,Israel is civil country and only this is pro-west country in mideast