Israel and Terrorism Essay - 5164 Words

Introduction: The Conflict, Cause for Optimism, and Skepticism Over the past 55 years conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has led to three wars, years of terrorism, and decades of poverty and displacement resulting in thousands upon thousands of deaths among both peoples. Despite the conflict, Israel has managed to develop its economy thanks in large part to generous foreign aid. Palestinians, however, have largely been living in poverty, under the rule of a corrupt government and in fear of Israeli strength. These harsh conditions have no doubt exacerbated the conflict sparked by the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. The establishment of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel is supported by many world†¦show more content†¦This incitement has largely led Palestinians to hate Jews for religious, racist and social reasons, as opposed to feeling anger because of political grievances. The PA has also educated its people, regarding the conflict with Israel, that the state of Israel is evil, vicious, and aggressive and that they are required by Allah to fight the Israelis through any means possible until Israel is gone. Finally, the PA has glorified terrorists and terrorism throughout its culture as noble and heroic. The combination of these three forms of education has created a culture among Palestinians that has harmed and continues to harm the prospects for progress toward peace. I will argue first that PA allegations that Jews are subhuman and enemies of Muslims lead to a culture of hatred and violence that conflicts with the development of a two-state solution. Second, the PA education regarding the illegitimacy, aggression and brutality of the state of Israel makes it even less likely that Palestinians will accept its continued existence. Third I will argue that PA incitement to and glorification of suicide terrorism adds further to the difficulty of getting Palestinians to seek and support a peaceful coexistence. Finally, I will offer suggestions for what changes need to be made by both Israel and the PA to foster change in Palestinian society and begin planting the seeds of peaceShow MoreRelatedTerrorism Paper1425 Words   |  6 Pages(What Is Terrorism? Pg. 1). Ladies and gentlemen, I am of course talking about the agonizing issue of terrorism. Although this issue has existed for centuries, the word terrorism has only begun being used in the second par t of the 19th century (What Is Terrorism? Pg. 1). The earliest account of a terrorist act in the second part of the 19th century was in 1968 when a Palestinian terrorist hijacked an Israeli airliner (What Is Terrorism? Pg. 4). 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The goal of this article by Pape is to discuss suicide terrorism and how it â€Å"follows a strategic logic, one specifically designed to co erce modern liberal democracies to make significant territorial concessions† (343). Similar to Pape,Read MoreThe History Of Israel1705 Words   |  7 PagesIsrael, a country of only 8.38 million people, has been thriving since its independence in the year 1948. It runs as a vibrant democracy and the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has successfully lead a coalition government consisting of right-leaning and religious parties. This 8,019 square mile country, â€Å"has a modern market economy with a thriving high-technology sector that attracts considerable foreign investment† (heritage.org, 1). Israel is surrounded by much larger and hateful countriesRead MoreThe Peace Of The Middle East1445 Words   |  6 PagesEver since the establishment of an Israeli state in the Middle East, there has been no time of peace between the many nations. After Israel was declared a nation, it was immediately rejected by the Palestinians and they rejected the partition of Palestine. E ver since then, Israel has been at war with its surrounding Middle Eastern neighbors multiple times. There has been a multitude of attempts to try and broker a peace throughout the Middle East and not a single plan has stood the test of time.