Development of the Palestinian Crisis - Essay Example

? Palestine Crisis Palestine Crisis Introduction Conflict can be referred to as the struggle of power property and other things that are highly upheld by different individuals in the society. It is a form of a disagreement where all the parties involved strive to find a solution based on their interest or concerns (El-Hasan, 2010). This paper examines the development of the Palestine crisis and also assesses the main challenges faced in the process of finding a peaceful solution for the region. Development of the Palestinian Crisis The development of the Palestine Crisis can be traced in the following literature. The crisis was a result of the conflict experienced between Palestine and Israel. It developed as result of the hallowed land which was sacredly viewed by the two opposing sides, Israel and Palestine. The Jewish at the time were very spiritual and they considered Israel, which is currently a nation to be a sacred place for worshipping God. They were further promoted by the biblical writings which argued that Jerusalem was a city of God. They believed that this land was promised to them by God and that the land was them as an eternal gift from God. Therefore, they did not take it lightly when strangers visited the land or possessed possession within it (Selby, 2003). Even after they came out of the country, many amongst them always longed to return to the land. The idea is still being nurtured by a sect amongst the Jewish like the religious Zionist who view the current resettlement process as part of God’s wider plan to see it become a reality (Forenede, 2004). They also believe that the country contains religious and historical symbols and sites which they hold dear especially to their religion and these include the old city of Jerusalem and the western wall. Conversely, Muslim also consider the same place a holly ground for their people as they associate their famous prophet Mohammed to have used the same location, Jerusalem’s temple Mount to ascend to heaven (Lonergan & Brooks, 1994). This has led to conflict between the two cultures as both of them wants to have access and maintain the sites with each sides viewing the other side to be a barrier to the process. In the process, the Jews started spreading false claim that the Jordanians were not making religious use of the western wall rather they were using it as a landfill. Moreover, the Arabs argued that Israel without rhyme or reason had denied them access to their religious worship sites which were on the region. This included the Al-Assa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock (Brynen & El-Rifai, 2007). The notion spread abroad and some Jews living abroad developed a feeling that they were being excluded from specific parts in the society because of the presence of anti-Semitism forms in their midst. In addition, they believed that equality could not exist between them and the other European tribes since tribes which were not theirs were totally not interested in the issues that were affecting them. They, therefore, considered themselves to be second class citizens compared to other citizens coming from other European States. The hatred they felt amongst themselves drove them to form a political apparatus where they could freely stand up for their civil rights. Their intentions and ideologies in the begging were pure with secular connotations, but when religious Zionism was introduced, they joined as one and changed their ideology with their sole intention geared towards provoking conflict in the land. However, Zionism was strongly opposed by many for different purposes. Their objective was to acquire land for the Jews to be considered as country and they used different approaches to make this a success. Initially, the Zionist tried to figure out different ways to make the Jews leave the country for them. They knew that by constructing a building in the land of Israel, the Jews would be quickly attracted to the region and they partially succeeded in this because some Jews had started to purchase lands in the present day Israel. However, the Jews buying new tracts of land in the current Israel did not get initial consent from the indigenous who had occupied the territory (Hilal, 2007). They began developing it without permission and this irritated the indigenous who were offended with the migration of the Jewish Pioneers into their land, which was legitimately purchased by these Jews. However, the indigenous who were the Palestinian had little they could do about the issue as they lacked resources to expand or protect themselves against the Jews arrival in their territory. The occupation of the Jews in the lands was therefore, not fully accepted by the indigenous Palestinians who saw themselves losing everything that was in the region and in the process resulting to the conflict that has existed to date. The European climatic condition was also a promising factor that drove the Zionist to build a Jewish State in the Middle East as they predicted that it would restrain the movement of Jews from Europe, therefore, ceasing to a be a European problem. Moreover, Britain affirmed its intention of creating a Jewish States in the Middle East. This became a reality during the Holocaust that proved that Europe was not a safe haven for Jews; therefore, they were forced to support Britain plans of making Palestine both a Jewish and an Arab state. Arabs have however opposed this decision to date as they believe that they were few in numbers to oppose the plan that was largely promoted by Britain. The end result has led to the severe conflict known as the Palestine conflict which has resulted to Israeli soldiers driving away the Palestine’s from their homes because of the numerous counterattacks they have conducted on the Jews as revenge. The Conflict has further been promoted by the Arab leaders who were encouraging the exodus of the Jews with the intention that they would confuse or eliminate Israel and at the same time spare the Palestinians from the aftermath of the conflict. The plan by the politicians was not successful and the end results were that a large number of the Palestinian population were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge at different refugee camps and they have also carried along the grudge with Israel for not allowing them return to their homes after the unsuccessful wars they waged on Israel. The land areas which were confiscated from them have remained under military control and this has locked the Palestinian from accessing them back as Israel using their military has placed numerous checkpoints which are used in accessing the lands. The Palestinians has always viewed the numerous checkpoints, military provisions and settlers who are being brought to occupy the land they were forced to leave to be a violation of their rights as a state as it has affected their productiveness within their own country. The new settlers in the region have also a different life approach from the Palestinians families in the region. In addition, the settlers are also stealing property belonging to the Palestinian s they protected by their military unlike the Palestinian who are not protected in the region (El-Hasan, 2010). Challenges Facing the Peaceful Resolution of the Palestine Crisis The Palestinian Crisis has however faced numerous challenges to a road to a peaceful solution to the conflicting sides. Some domestic concerns shared by both the Israeli and Palestinian have always perpetuated the conflict existing between the two groups. This has also negatively affected efforts placed by international organizations in solving the Crisis because the public have grown to have strong sentiments of their internal dynamics over each other (Salinas & Rabi, 2009). The concerns have varied and are ranging from state institutions-buildings and secular religious divides to coalition politics which both sides are afraid off. Peaceful solution to the crisis is also challenged by the citation of more violence in the region when the Israeli settlers are removed from their current location (Bassiouni & Ben-Ami, 2009). This has made parties involved to tread with caution in the issue as they fear that removing Israeli from the region they currently reside will lead to confrontation between them and the army leading to loss of more lives. Radical groups from the two sides have also incorporated violence to stop any agreement that would result to the resolution of the Palestinian Crisis. Violence is used a tool to prevent any agreements from being reached as the radicals groups deploy violence and rally the public to support them for or against critical issues affecting both Israel and Palestine as countries (Hilal, 2007). A good example of the challenges faced is the Jewish killing Muslim worshippers and Muslims bombing Jewish in their state. Israeli ideas have also have also been a challenge to the peaceful ending of the Palestine Crisis as majority believe that the settlement process was harmful to their unification process. They believe that resolution will unite the two countries and there would be no Palestinian State, therefore, lack of military rule amongst the millions of Palestinians in the region. Peace can not also prevail by moving settler from the West Bank. This is because the two states can not come to a solution without evacuating some of their citizens and this raise the level of conflict that might rise incase of evacuation in the states. The two sides are always confused on the type of settlement to apply as it has always been obvious that Israel is not always willing to allow for the removal of the settlers who had settled in the region (Peleg & Waxman, 2011). Negotiations on peace talks between the two groups have been crippled by lack of trust in both sides. The public’s faith of the possibility of reaching an agreement has been reduced because of the numerous failed negotiations that have happened between the two sides in the past. Trust is lost between the two sides because of the increased settlers which have happened over years, making radical groups on both sides to posses more political power that has been constantly used to sway the public to take sides (Salinas & Rabi, 2009). Tone between the two sides has also been a major challenge as the two sides can not accurately understand themselves in a conversation or argument. The existing languages between the two sides can not promote peace thus solution to the existing Palestine Crisis as language in most cases acts as tool that can be used to foster peace between opposing sides (Selby, 2003). In conclusion, the Palestine crisis has led to untold suffering amongst individuals who have kept the past to stick to their hearts. Finding a solution to the on going crisis will bring to an end the hatred that is felt by both conflicting sides and will lead to peace in the conflict torn region. The numerous peace negotiations between the two conflicting sides are symbol of hope for peace as different issues are addressed in these negotiations. In my opinion, because of the numerous challenges faced by the two sides in their attempts to find solutions, all sides should place an intense effort and should have an open and realistic mind during the negotiation process to find a peaceful solution for both Israel and Palestine (Great Britain., 2008). Bibliography Forenede Nationer. (2004). Survey of economic and social developments in the ESCWA region 2003-2004. New York, United Nations. Lonergan, S. C., & Brooks, D. B. (1994). Watershed the role of fresh water in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Ottawa, Ont, International Development Research Centre. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10128345. Brynen, R., & El-Rifai, R. (2007). Palestinian refugees challenges of repatriation and development. London, I.B. Tauris. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&A N=203506. Selby, J. (2003). Water, power and politics in the Middle East: the other Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. London [u.a.], Tauris. Great Britain. (2008). The humanitarian and development situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. London, TSO. Peleg, I., & Waxman, D. (2011). Israel's Palestinians: the conflict within. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Bassiouni, M. C., & Ben-Ami, S. (2009). A guide to documents on the Arab-Palestinian/Israeli conflict,1897-2008. Danvers, Mass, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Hilal, J. (2007). Where now for Palestine?: the demise of the two-state solution. London, Zed. Salinas, M. F., & Rabi, H. A. (2009). Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: perspectives on the peace process. Amherst, NY, Cambria Press. El-Hasan, H. A. (2010). Is the two-state solution already dead?: a political and military history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 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