Peculiarities of Arab-Israeli Conflict - Coursework Example

Arab-Israeli Conflict Facts Nationhood The land of Israel is claimed by two communities. Both claim rightful ownership. The same land is claimed to be Israel and at the same time Palestine. History indicates that Israel became a nation 2000 years before Islam was formed. The Jewish settled in the land more than 3000 years ago, established a kingdom with a capital known as Jerusalem. Events of old times led to the current conflict between the two groups. The Jews were driven out of their land by the Romans in the first century CE. After the Jews were driven out, Israel was ruled by Christian and Muslim crusaders, British Empire, Rome and Ottoman Empire. During the seventh century, a new religion was formed, and this led to the conquest of various areas including Israel. After the death of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, his followers conquered vast areas in the Middle East including Israel. They remained in control until the nineteenth century when the Jews started coming back to their home land. Major waves of immigration into Israel by the Jews were experienced in the early twentieth century. A new power was reestablished in 1948 which became modern Israel. Before reestablishment into Israel, there was no conflict between the Jews and Muslims, but after the Jews establishment into Israel and formation of the new nation, the struggle began (Worth, p, 12; Israel Science and Technology Directory). According to Israel Science and Technology Directory, the issue of a Palestinian nation is a myth. It was only created after the Jews re-inhabited their homeland. Palestinians are Arabs, and there is no language identified as Palestinian. There is no distinct Palestinian culture apart from the Arabic culture in the area. There has never existed Palestine as a land. Palestinians are Arabs that settled in Israel after the Jews were taken out of the land by the Romans (Israel Science and Technology Directory). Worth however shows that the current Israel is what is considered Palestine, and the source of conflict, is the right of the Palestinians to return home. As indicated earlier, this land is fought for by two communities, creating the Arab-Israeli Conflict (Worth, p, 12). Arab-Israeli wars There were five main wars against Israel. The war of independence, the six day war in 1967, the Sinai campaign of 1956, the war of attrition, the Yom Kippur war of 1973, and the Operation Peace for Galilee (1982).In all these wars, Israel defended itself and emerged the winner. Israeli army withdrew from areas previously captured each time they won. Wars, however, still continue to date due to conflicts caused by various political struggles (Bickerton, p, 66-138). What is Palestine and Palestinians? Palestine is the area that is currently Israel and Jordan. A big part of this area remained under the rule of Ottoman Empire from 1517 to 1917. After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was dissolved, and the Turkish took over. The republic transferred the land known as Palestine, under the Lausanne agreement, to the British Empire. In 1917, Great Britain decided to set up a public home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Nearly 80% of Palestine was allocated to Transjordan in 1922. This was the Arab portion of the Land known as Palestine. According to some authors, there was never any land called Palestine. History of the struggle between Israel and the Arabs, however, show that both groups occupied the lands at one time in history (Israel Science and Technology Directory). According to Kimmerling and Migdal, Palestine is a land of shifting boundaries: a political entity that vanished only to reemerge. Palestine is a home of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It has been the object of struggles and bitter wars through almost four millennia. Palestine borders have not always been well defined. They have always been changing and vague, while the center of Palestine has always been certain. It is located in the Judean Mountains and Jerusalem. Palestine has four regions that surround Jerusalem. The eastern region which was the center of ancient Jewish civilization, currently known as the west bank and was previously known as Judea and Samaria. The narrow strip forming the coastal plain that extends from Gaza to Lebanon through Haifa bay and past Carmel. The southern Negev, and the northern region that includes Acre to the hills of Al Jalil, Baysal and the valley of Marj Ibn Amir (Kimmerling & Migdal, p, 4). Jerusalem Jerusalem is an important city in various ways. It has been a city of artistic expressions and religious imagination. Jerusalem has also been a source of political struggle. Just like Israel and Jordan is considered Palestine and is struggled over by the Jews and the Arabs, Jerusalem holds some important features to both communities. Jerusalem was under foreign rule for two millennia before the middle of the twentieth century. According to Mayer, some people still consider the city under foreign rule. It has foreign domination and religious attributes that have shaped its history (Mayer, p, 8). Jerusalem became the capital city of the Jews during times of David. David was accepted as a legitimate monarch by the Jews, at the time divided as of Judah and Israel. He selected Jerusalem as a united capital. It is because Jerusalem was centrally located, was not inhabited by any of the twelve Jewish tribes, and was close to the boundaries that separated the two largest groups of tribes. It was considered a politically neutral place and a place of unification. Jerusalem was destroyed and conquered by King Nebuchadnerzzer of Babylon, and sent the inhabitants to exile and slavery. A series of conquering led to the destruction of Israel and the loss of the city to new inhabitants that conquered the land. The return of the Jews to Israel marked the reclaim of the city by its original inhabitants (Lazar & Schugt). Arab and Jewish Refugees Jewish refugees are Jews that lived in Arabic nations. When the UN partitioned a plan to have a Jewish part of Palestine, the Arabs refused and organized a Holy War against Israel. Arab leaders in Israel and those surrounding Israel encouraged Arabs to leave Israel, promising them that they will get back their lands after flushing out the Jews. This was not to be. During that period, however, there were so many Jews in Arab nations. They were forced to move out of those nations due to the war. Motivation to go back to original homeland could also have been a factor that pushed them to move in to Israel. These are the people who are referred to as Jewish refugees. It is indicated that there were more Jewish refugees moving into Israel that Arab refugees who left Israel. Arab refugees are Arabs that fled from Israel during the war of independence. They are considered Arab refugees because the introduction of a Jewish community led to economic growth causing Arabs to migrate to Israel in search of jobs. The group of Arabs that migrated into Israel during that time was considered Palestinian refugees by the UN (Israel Science and Technology Directory). Arab refugees are also Palestinians who left the area that became the state of Israel. Some of the Arabs left voluntarily fearing the effects of the war that broke out in 1948, while others were driven out by the Israeli army. Most Arabs left without their belongings with the intention of coming back. Israel proclaimed independence, and this led to an invasion by Arab countries, making it difficult for the Arabs to come back to Israel. These Arabs, who previously stayed in Israel, not as refugees, became refugees in other Arab nations (Worth, p, 12). Works Cited Bickerton. I, J. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: A History. London: Reaktion Books, 2009. Print. Israel Science and Technology Directory. Arab-Israeli Conflict: Basic Facts. 2012. Retrieved on 25th November 2012 from: http://www.science.co.il/arab-israeli-conflict.asp Kimmerling, Baruch., S. & Migdal, Joel., S. The Palestinian People: A History. Illinois: Harvard University Press, 2003. Print. Lazar, Caron., C. & Schugt, B. The Old City of Jerusalem: A Cultural Crossroad. eBookIt.com, 2012. Print. Mayer, T. Jerusalem: Idea and Reality. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2008. Print. Worth, R. The Arab-Israeli Conflict, Volume 4. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2006. Print. Read More