Question for my College Class...

[HistoryBuff27BC]

I realize this isn't directly related to Theology, but I need help on this really bad -- I'm looking for help with this question for my college history class (I'm trying to get as many opinions as I can in sort of a survey fashion): In your opinion, what is (or has been) the critical issue behind the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict? Religions? Ethnic differences? Territory? History? Etc. Just a sentence or several sentence will do. Heck, even just a couple of words if that's what you want to put down. But, please, I need help with this question My term paper is due tomorrow and I found myself short on the necessary amount of opinions (doh)! Thanks for your time.

 

[Tamara224]

I realize this isn't directly related to Theology, but I need help on this really bad -- I'm looking for help with this question for my college history class (I'm trying to get as many opinions as I can in sort of a survey fashion): In your opinion, what is (or has been) the critical issue behind the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict? Religions? Ethnic differences? Territory? History? Etc. Just a sentence or several sentence will do. Heck, even just a couple of words if that's what you want to put down. But, please, I need help with this question My term paper is due tomorrow and I found myself short on the necessary amount of opinions (doh)! Thanks for your time.

My opinion of the cause of the conflict is, I guess, anti-semitism. The problem arises from people like those in the PLO who have decided they want to push all the Jews into the sea and finish what Hitler started. Granted, I don't necessarily agree with everything the Israeli government has done in response... However, I believe the land belongs to the Jews and the Muslims hate Jews so they pretend to want the land in order to have a cause to kill them.

 

[HistoryBuff27BC]

My opinion of the cause of the conflict is, I guess, anti-semitism. The problem arises from people like those in the PLO who have decided they want to push all the Jews into the sea and finish what Hitler started. Granted, I don't necessarily agree with everything the Israeli government has done in response... However, I believe the land belongs to the Jews and the Muslims hate Jews so they pretend to want the land in order to have a cause to kill them.

Thanks Tamarra, that's exactly the type of reply I need. Surely there are others who'd like to weigh in on this, too? ;-) I'm sure there are alot of differing opinions about this from CF'ers.

 

[WolfBitnGodSmittn]

Hi
Thats a very good question. First of all when israel became a nation, may 14th 1948, it was protested by many of the arab nations, as syria and egypt. There were several reasons. Much has been made of the relocation of paleatinian arabs at that time, but it often isnt mentioned that Israel BOUGHT most of the land they then occupied and they took the west bank and gaza strip in the 1967 war for defense purposes... much like the US took much of her land....

Most of the problem came from what was then the communist block, backing the arab nations because Israel gave the western world a foothold in the mid-east.

Part of the animosity is due to militant muslims, and not all are miltant but the muslim religion is militant in intent and end result.

Jerusalem itself is a huge stumbling block because it holds the 3rd most holy muslim shrine and it also the home of Solomons temple... both want control over the temple mount and both sides have up til now been willing to fight for it

Right now though we have the roadmap to peace... this roadmap is splitting israel to create a new palestinian state... Israel has been withdrawing from the west bank for over a yr, its signed sealed and delivered and the palestinians even have their own govt now. The remaining sticking point is 'who gets control over Jerusalem?' It seems that the most likely end will be that Jerusalem will become a UN or international city...

God bless

 

[HistoryBuff27BC]

Hi
Thats a very good question. First of all when israel became a nation, may 14th 1948, it was protested by many of the arab nations, as syria and egypt. There were several reasons. Much has been made of the relocation of paleatinian arabs at that time, but it often isnt mentioned that Israel BOUGHT most of the land they then occupied and they took the west bank and gaza strip in the 1967 war for defense purposes... much like the US took much of her land....

Most of the problem came from what was then the communist block, backing the arab nations because Israel gave the western world a foothold in the mid-east.

Part of the animosity is due to militant muslims, and not all are miltant but the muslim religion is militant in intent and end result.

Jerusalem itself is a huge stumbling block because it holds the 3rd most holy muslim shrine and it also the home of Solomons temple... both want control over the temple mount and both sides have up til now been willing to fight for it

Right now though we have the roadmap to peace... this roadmap is splitting israel to create a new palestinian state... Israel has been withdrawing from the west bank for over a yr, its signed sealed and delivered and the palestinians even have their own govt now. The remaining sticking point is 'who gets control over Jerusalem?' It seems that the most likely end will be that Jerusalem will become a UN or international city...

God bless

Thanks, Wolf. You and Tamarra both give honest replies and that's what I need If anyone has the exact same views or views that are diametrically opposed to them, please post anyway. I'm looking for a solid, honest representation of views I might quote you guys in my paper, trying to get a better feel for the views on this topic...

 

[BarbB]

What WolfBitn posted is pretty much prophesied in the OT. That's what tells me that God has a dog in this fight and that the Palestinians would be smart to pay attention.

The Palestinians were "convinced" to leave Israel in 1948 and are now protesting that they aren't allowed back in. Well, sorry! As for the West Bank and Gaza, Israel won them back fair and square, but the UN for some reason doesn't see it that way (probably so that prophecy can be fulfilled).

Anyway, opposition to Israel is anti-semitism, pure and simple. Palestinians had any number of other muslim countries they could have settled in but those countries would not assimilate them. There are still 60 year old refugee camps in Syria. Never have refugee camps lasted much over 10 years - some country has always accepted the refugees. And now the palestinians have voted in a terrorist organization to govern them and wonder why the world objects. As someone said, "the palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity!"

 

[WolfBitnGodSmittn]

What WolfBitn posted is pretty much prophesied in the OT. That's what tells me that God has a dog in this fight and that the Palestinians would be smart to pay attention.

The Palestinians were "convinced" to leave Israel in 1948 and are now protesting that they aren't allowed back in. Well, sorry! As for the West Bank and Gaza, Israel won them back fair and square, but the UN for some reason doesn't see it that way (probably so that prophecy can be fulfilled).

Anyway, opposition to Israel is anti-semitism, pure and simple. Palestinians had any number of other muslim countries they could have settled in but those countries would not assimilate them. There are still 60 year old refugee camps in Syria. Never have refugee camps lasted much over 10 years - some country has always accepted the refugees. And now the palestinians have voted in a terrorist organization to govern them and wonder why the world objects. As someone said, "the palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity!"

Very good points i would say BarbB

I think its a significant point too that many of the 'new palestinians' are actually insurgents that moved there yrs ago to fight the established state of Israel and destroy it... many that are there now, their fathers and grandfathers were not...

 

[HistoryBuff27BC]

What WolfBitn posted is pretty much prophesied in the OT. That's what tells me that God has a dog in this fight and that the Palestinians would be smart to pay attention.

The Palestinians were "convinced" to leave Israel in 1948 and are now protesting that they aren't allowed back in. Well, sorry! As for the West Bank and Gaza, Israel won them back fair and square, but the UN for some reason doesn't see it that way (probably so that prophecy can be fulfilled).

Anyway, opposition to Israel is anti-semitism, pure and simple. Palestinians had any number of other muslim countries they could have settled in but those countries would not assimilate them. There are still 60 year old refugee camps in Syria. Never have refugee camps lasted much over 10 years - some country has always accepted the refugees. And now the palestinians have voted in a terrorist organization to govern them and wonder why the world objects. As someone said, "the palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity!"

Thanks for the post Barb - I really appreciate your opinion on this (not to say others' are less valuable of course), especially considering your unique perspective.

 

[HistoryBuff27BC]

Thanks for the post Barb - I really appreciate your opinion on this (not to say others' are less valuable of course), especially considering your unique perspective.

Why was my post moved to a relatively inactive forum? "Church History" is also far from the best category for it. It was generating good, creative discussion (yes, even applicable to the "General Theology" forum). EDIT: This post is unfortunately "time-sensitive" as well.

 

[davidoffinland]

From Finland.

Good responses so far. My personal opinion is that spiritual roots are behind the conflict which go back to YHWH`s revelation to Abraham. The conflict is unseen because all you see is the outward bombings and fighting. For example, some take has been that Allah is not the real God and YHWH is according to Hebrew Scriptures. Some scholars will debate Allah is, and the same amount of scholars will say he isn´t. The evidence is seen in the life-styles of the Arabs and Israelis. Even though most Israelis may believe there is a god somewhere, the majority do not practice religious faith. Some see the conflict here as the root of the conflict. Even studying the theology of both faiths show the difference.

I suppose I will be stoned for what I have said but it is only a private opinion. Out-ward practices of religious faith reveal what is at the heart level.

For now,
David.

 

[Tamara224]

From Finland.

Good responses so far. My personal opinion is that spiritual roots are behind the conflict which go back to YHWH`s revelation to Abraham. The conflict is unseen because all you see is the outward bombings and fighting. For example, some take has been that Allah is not the real God and YHWH is according to Hebrew Scriptures. Some scholars will debate Allah is, and the same amount of scholars will say he isn´t. The evidence is seen in the life-styles of the Arabs and Israelis. Even though most Israelis may believe there is a god somewhere, the majority do not practice religious faith. Some see the conflict here as the root of the conflict. Even studying the theology of both faiths show the difference.

I suppose I will be stoned for what I have said but it is only a private opinion. Out-ward practices of religious faith reveal what is at the heart level.

For now,
David.

Hi David, I might be tempted to stone you...except I don't really know what you said... (jk). I think we'll all agree that if you study the theology of Islam and Judaism you'll see differences...obviously. So what's your point? Are you saying that the cause of the conflict is the difference in theology? Or are you saying the cause is the difference in the number of religious people? And do you think one side is at fault, or both, or neither? Can you please clarify? Thanks!

 

[davidoffinland]

From Finland.

The point is that outward behaviour in a way reflects what is in the inside of man. Remember what Jesus says in MT 7:16ff..by their fruit you will recognize them. Much of the frustration of that goes inside of man´s mind and spirit is-when pressed and unsolved--is revealed in outward behavior. It is reflected individually as well as in a group social or religious pressures.

Are you a people watcher? Start observing people. I have been a people watcher most of my teen and adult life since I have worked mainly, in one way or another, having social contact with people. You can see by my bio in the top left corner my age and I stand by what I say. This, in part, is causing tensions in the middle East between Israelis and Arabs because, on a personal level, these unsolved problems are not solved. The heart needs to be changed.

There are alot of problems in the M.E.,and mainly what see is the violence. So what I am talking about is on a person´s spiritual and indivdual level. Take time and think about what I said. Start observing people and you´ll see what I am talking about.

For now,
Shalom, david.