For centuries there was no conflict. In the 19th century Palestine was inhabited by a multicultural population – approximately 86 percent Muslim, 10 percent Christian, and 4 percent Jewish – living in peace. In the beginning this immigration didn't cause any conflicts ; however, as more Zionists immigrated to Palestine – many with the express wish of taking over the land for a Jewish State — the indigenous population became alarmed. In 1947 the United Nations decided to intervene. However, rather than following the principle of “self-determination of peoples,” where the people create their own state and system of government, the UN chose to revert to the strategy where an outside power divides up other people’s land. The UN recommended giving away 55% of Palestine to a Jewish state – despite the fact that this group represented only about 30% of the total population, and owned under 7% of the land. 1947-1949 War It is widely reported that the war eventually included five Arab armies, a less well known is the fact that throughout this war Zionist forces outnumbered all Arab and Palestinian combatants combined – often by a factor of two to three. It is significant to note that Arab armies entered the conflict only after Zionist forces had committed 16 massacres, including the grisly massacre of over 100 men, women, and children at Deir Yasmin. Zionist forces committed 33 massacres altogether. By the end of the war, Israel had conquered 78 percent of Palestine; three-quarters of a million Palestinians had been made refugees; over 500 towns and villages had been demolished; and a new map was drawn up, in which every city and river received a new, Hebrew name, as all remainders of the Palestinian culture were to be erased. 1967 War In 1967, Israel conquered still more land. Following the “Six Day War,” in which Israeli forces launched a highly successful surprise attack on Egypt, Israel occupied the final 22% of Palestine that had eluded it in 1948 – the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Also during the Six Day War, Israel attacked a US Navy ship, the USS Liberty, killing and injuring over 200 American servicemen. Current Conflict There are two primary issues at the core of this continuing conflict. First, there is the effect of trying to maintain an ethnically preferential state, particularly when it is largely of foreign origin. The original population of what is now Israel was 96 percent Muslim and Christian, yet, these refugees are prohibited from returning to their homes in the self-described Jewish State.Second, Israel’s continued military occupation and confiscation of privately owned land in the West Bank, and control over Gaza, are extremely oppressive, with Palestinians having minimal control over their lives. Thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children are held in Israeli prisons. Few of them have had a legitimate trial; Physical abuse and torture are frequent.
1.) John W. Mulhall, CSP, America and the Founding of Israel: an Investigation of the Morality of America’s Role 2.) Qumsiyeh, Palestinian Refugees Right to Return and Repatriation 3.) Donald Neff, The Six Days War, Simon & Schuster 4.) Addameer, Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association 5.) Samidoun, Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network