US Security Concern from Israel-Palestine Conflict - Essay Example

U.S. Security Concern from Israel/Palestine Conflict Introduction Violence amid Israel and Palestine has lead towards a number of unfortunate deaths, as well as it has torpedoed the peace procedure and has converted the streets of Gaza Strip and West Bank into a battle field. Reconsideration of the United States to promote the peace process for a final settlement has converted into worse than ever. U.S. has undermined the peace process to help Israel by providing military assistance for further more conflict with Palestine. They have, however, increased threats for its national security. Therefore, tensions have been increased in the region, re-igniting previous fears and hatred of war. Background of Israel/Palestine Conflict Looking up at the conflict amid the Israel and Palestine as a nation, major problem occurred by the involvement of the United States. Before 1948, Jews and Palestine both used to live in the similar land, known to be Palestine. After the war of 1948 and 1949, the land, Palestine, was divided into three main parts, therefore, the West Bank, sate of Israel and the Gaza Strip. The division of land was done due to the decision made by the United Nations. In the beginning, the land was supposed to be divided into two parts, Arabs and the Jewish. After the unfortunate war of 1949, forces of Israel achieved control over the lands and a peace agreement was signed which created borders according to the decision of UN. Although, peace have never settled on the lands and there have been a variety of disputes over who control what parts of the land. Since 1967, Israel took control over Jerusalem and used its control to establish settlements and supported its civilians to move or inhabit the country. After the outbreak of the war in 1949, solution was never found and on the other hand, the Israel feels that they are the ones who should rule the lands but their status is yet to be determined. United States Supporting Israel In June 1945 accompanied with an indirect rebelliousness of the British White Paper, restricted the Jewish immigration into the state for over 75,000 people and after that the President Truman send a proposal which stated that 100,000 European Jewish should be admitted at very instance. Truman was warned by the British that it would anger the Arabs but however, they accepted the proposal anyway. After few years, in 1948, Truman was advised to distinguish the State of Israel. After few minutes of the announcement, the United States recognized the newly formed Nation. According to Arabs, at that time, they thought that the United States was on the side of the Israel and this perception due to the actions taken by the United States has made it difficult to find a solution for the Israel and Palestine conflict. At first, the United States was very slow to provide military help to the new nation of Israel. After the Second World War, the attention of the United States directed towards the rising world power known to be Soviet Union. The problems and conflict of the Israel at that time were not of too much concern for the U.S. However, when Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula in 1958 from Egypt, the United States did not take side of the Israel but pressurized them to call back their troops from there. Apart from U.S. pressurization, there were a lot of many other threats that influenced Israel to move back. All through the 1950s and 1960s, level of assistance from United States was very low but in 1967, financial help for Israel went up to $13 million but however, it was soon altered. In the sixth day of war in 1968, the United States provided $76 million which increased for more than $800 by the end of 1971. In 2001, $2.82 billion plus with the military assistance was offered to the Israel. Additionally, $60 million was given for the resettlement of the refugees and $250 million for stabilizing the budget of Department of Defense as well as $85 million for accused interest. "Unquestionably, Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. aid since World War II. Estimates for total U.S. aid to Israel vary, however, because of the uncertainties and ambiguities described above. An Oct. 27, 2000 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, using available and verifiable numbers, gives cumulative aid to Israel from 1949 through FY 2000 (which ended Sept. 30, 2000) at $81.38 billion. On the other hand, last year the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs estimated total aid to Israel through FY 2000 at $91.82 billion." (1) A subtle change occurred in the U.S. policy due to administration of Eisenhower in 1958. The Middle East started to recognize that Israel can be a considered asset to the United States. Previously, the United States took Israel as a burden but than the United States begin to see Israel as a powerful supporter in the state. However, as a number of nations who shifted to become anti American, United States thought that Israel can become a strong ally including its location in Middle East. During 1962 under the government of Kennedy, providing arms to Israel and change under Eisenhower proved for everyone to see clearly. The importance of Israel grew to the Unites States. In the past, there were a lot of ups and downs for the Israel policies but now from this point the Israel became most powerful ally of the U.S. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed in 1981 by the Secretary of Defense, Casper Weinberger which stated: "The main objective was to deter Soviet threats in the Middle East. There would be joint military exercises, land, sea, and air; there would also be planning for the establishment and maintenance of joint readiness activities. Joint working teams will deal with specific military issues." Until the Cold War, Israel was known to be the second option of interest for the United States. Although, for how much strong the friendship of the United States and Israel was, main concern of the United States remained was Russia and Europe. Due to the collapse of Communism and Soviet Republics, Middle East became the point of interest for the U.S. However, until 1960s, Britain became the dominant western power in the Middle East, accompanied with the United States and Soviet Union but however, today the Middle East is the focal point for the United States and its National Security. Problems with the Current Policy of the United States Currently, there have been some of the changes in the policy of how U.S. approaches the conflict in the area plus how it has influenced the players who are involved init. As mentioned before, United States, for many years supported a little to Israel but as the U.S. interest grew of the Middle East; their interest in Israel also grew. They began to support Israel by providing economic and military help with the ongoing conflict with the Palestine while simultaneously they also negotiated on the peace process to settle both Israel and Palestine conflict. (2) However, when the administration of President George W. Bush started, there seemed to be more shift in the policy to support Israel. George W. Bush stated in the National Security Strategy: "The reversal of Iraq's aggression against Kuwait was a watershed event. Nonetheless, our basic policy toward the region shows powerful continuity. American strategic concerns still include promoting stability and the security of our friends, maintaining a free flow of oil, curbing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, discouraging destabilizing conventional arms sales, countering terrorism and encouraging a peace process that brings about reconciliation between Israel and the Arab states as well as between Palestinians and Israel in a manner consonant with our enduring commitment to Israel's security." However, the main problem started when the United States began to provide military, economic and informational support to Israel. United States continuously opposed the United Nations resolution proposals that would have helped to bring peace and justice in Palestine. Since 1972, United States has banned around thirty two United Nations proposals for peace against Israel which also included condemning Israel for slaughtering more than hundred Lebanese at the compound of United Nation in Oana. Therefore, United States was the only country that banned the installation of Secretary General Burtus Ghali of United Nations for a second term by making a decision to publish the report which confirmed that the strike of Oana was intentionally done by the Israel. A question is raised for the United States due to its own sense of integrity that the U.S. policy makers have missed the chance at the end of the Cold War to bring peace and harmony in the land due to the absence of any political moral imagination on their side. Hence, the peace process includes a number of inequalities and reflects towards the favor of the Israel. (3) Threat to the National Security of the United States Conflict amid Israel and Palestine creates friction for the United States and the local population. Most often, the United States helps the government of Israel on which the national security of the U.S. suffers. Therefore, the conflict amid Israel and Palestine is damaging the national security of the United States. However, firstly, many years of negotiations have made it quite clear that the both sides should remain in peace but none of them accepted. Now, most of the Israelis and Palestinians do agree on the peace process. According to a study, in December 2004 and January 2005, about fifty four Palestinians and sixty four Israelis endorse the considerations for the settlement as proposed by President Clinton. However, the government of both the parties did not accept it. Ultimately, Israel now has to face threat from Al Qaeda due to which they are now getting more interested to settle on peace with the Palestine. Before that, Al Qaeda mainly focused on to create violence in the United States while leaving Israel on a side. After 9/11, Al Qaeda has now targeted Israel. This major issue now threatens the Israeli nation security as well along with U.S. national security by assisting Al Qaeda to find sanctuary and by obstructing U.S. attempts against Al Qaeda. This is another reason for which Israel now seeks peace. Now if the United States forces both the side for peace with an open door is not possible because range acceptable for them is very constricted. Throughout all these years, about four major peace plans has been widely discussed but however these proposal condense to four major elements: 1) Control of Israel would be distributed along ethnic lines. 2) Israel would have to withdraw from all its lands on which they gained control in 1967 war for full and final peace. 3) Gaza and the West Bank would form a state within Palestine in order to ensure the Israel's security. 4) Palestine will not insist for a return of Palestinian immigrants to Israel. Neither both the side will accept anything outside there for key elements. Israel will not agree to return refugees to Israel and Palestine will not accept any other deal that they cannot claim full involvement of Israeli removal from its gained territories. (4) Overall Result of the United States Supporting Israel The United States supporting Israel has directed some of the Arabs to call the "Americael." Involvement of U.S. has made complicated for the future of Palestine and Israel even for the interest of the American people. Effect on Palestine due to the endorsement of the United States has been shocking which resulted into 3000 Palestinian children from the age of 8 to 15 who have suffered in the attack on Gaza. Allies of American and Arabs are puzzled due to the behavior of the United States. Due to this reason, now, America cannot see eye to eye with the British and Middle East any more. According to the experts, this behavior of the United States will bring more hopelessness in the region which will direct towards more terrorism, violence and extremism. Position of the United States has brought mistrust among their Arab allies and has even justified the behavior of the people who already opposed them. Inconsistently, the position of the United States in the region would be best interest of the Israel although yet they are going through some great obstacles to solve the problems created before. Additionally, the American tax payers are under the burden of Israeli's war machine, loans, and funds that were borrowed to provide Israel. All of this resulted devastating into the region and the United States. Proposed Recommendations To reverse all of the negative pattern, several of the recommendations are made that would help the United Stated to improve it's position in the Middle East along with all the other players in the region. Firstly, to avoid more complications, the United States should seek advice from the Arab allies for the cause of Palestine. Secondly, peace process should become one of the first priorities for the United States instead of other regional economic conglomerates. The simplest bargain amid unequal rivals is the self determination of the Palestine. This will finish of all the threats to the national security of the United States from the extremists and would even help to produce economic growth plus development of the entire region. Other most important recommendation for the United States is to share its responsibilities and burden of the peace process with various countries who are interested in the Middle East, therefore, Japan or Europe. In this way, they can share their financial dilemma and will achieve peace. On the other hand, allies of United States can help to promote peace that would prevent war. Sovereignty and national interests of the countries should be recognized by the United States. It is also necessary for the foreign relations officers of the United States to sort over fifty years of misleading and fake information led by the current disaster. (5) Conclusion In the conclusion, I would like add that the United States should focus on the efforts of reaching out both Israel and Palestine to understand their historical conflicts. However, the policy of the United States has always been in the interest of the Israel in its approach to resolve the conflict but now it must reach out towards Palestine to show that policy of the United States are made to peace, stability and for the Palestine state including for the betterment of all the region. The United States should not end up for hostilities in the state with an approach of pro-Israel. Everyone around the globe is willing to hear some positive understandings from both the side and to support Israel and Palestine for a peaceful solution with the conditions that are acceptable for both of them and secure the national security of the United States and Israel both. Bibliography (1) Yackley, Joseph. U.S. Security Assistance to Israel. June 2001. IRC & IPS. 3 April 2009 (2) US Involvement in the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Solution or Complication A Study by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed F. Abo-Sak. 1999. Al-Hewar. 3 April 2009 (3) Reveron, Derek S. & Murer, Jeffrey Stevenson. Flashpoints in the War on Terrorism. 2006. CRC Press. (4) Natanyahu Embraces Threat to US Security. 18 March 2009. Press TV. 4 April 2009 (5) Brom, Sholomo. From Rejection to Acceptance: Israeli National Security Thinking and Palestinian Statehood. February 2009. United States Institutes of Peace. 4 April 2009 Read More