Pre-Israeli terror

When the British mandate was still in effect, there were groups of Jewish terror groups. They were called Hagana, Etzel, and Lechi. These groups ranged from passive resistance and strictly defense, to violent attacks on individuals and army outposts. How does this terrorism differ from the modern Arab terror? Where do we draw the line between fighting for a homeland, and outright barbarism? One thing I've noticed here is that many Jews and Israelis are quick to condemn the Palestinians and the Arabs. Again, in order to really understand the conflict, we have to turn the mirror on ourselves.

Maps

First, let me point out that these posts are somewhat out of order, so I'll try to make it as coherent as possible.

Yesterday in class, Sharona made a great point about the recognition that Arab countries give to Israel. We were discussing whether or not we should return the Golan Heights to Syria, and a student was arguing that we shouldn't trust the Arabs because they don't recognize the existence of Israel. She said that their maps don't say "Israel", they say "Palestina". Sharona dropped this diamond of knowledge, saying that maps made in Israel label the borders of Israel as extending all the way to the Jordan river, but aren't the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the Golan occupied territories? Can we really complain of the unfairness without holding a mirror to ourselves?

Ziad's answers

Again, reproduced exactly as he wrote them.

Dear Peter

Here are my responces:

1. I have been interested in politics since i became sixteen years old. The situation of the place which i live in and the situation of my people made me become interested in politics. Therefore, i started to learn more and ask more about the conflict and the political situation of the area.

2. I study international relations in the hebrew university and i am active in student movements inside the university. However, i am not a part of any political organization but i do have my own beliefs and write about what i believe in regarding the political situation of my people.

3. My cousin was killed, another one lost his eye, and me myself have been imprisoned because of a demonstration which i participated in against the separation wall.

4. Yes, there MUST be a Palestinian state if both sides of the conflict want real peace. As a Palestinian, i believe that Israel should agree on the existence of a Palestinian state on the 1967 occupied lands with East jerusalem as a capital. Beside this the refugees case should be solved fairly, the settlements in the West bank and jerusalem must be removed. This will assure peace and security between israel and more than 28 Arab countries. Beside this, the Arabs and the Palestinians will declare the end a historical conflcit with Israel.

5. The Security fence is the worse solution which Israel chose for obtaining security for its people. The International Law declines with this wall and even decided in an international court that it is unlawful. It is forbiden to punish people in groups because of the actions of few others. Beside this real peace and security can never be achieved by the use of force. Force will result in more violence. Only agreements and negotiations can solve conflcits and bring real security.

6. This question is complicated and cannot be replied easily. First of all i cannot answer you regarding Hezballah since they represent people who i am not one of them. however, regarding Hamas...although i may disagree with their system and beliefs, I am telling you again that Israel should stop the siege on Gaza, reach a real solution with Arabs and only by doing this, Hamas will have to stop any kind of hostilities against Israel.

7. This is an internal issue which concerns the lebanese people. If Israel is ready to comrpomise a little more concerning the Arabs right since the latter was ready to sacrifice its right in the 1948 lands, then a solution can be made.

8. Instead of telling you information from my sources, and asking you questions such as the mother land of the majority of the Jews who were brought to this land in order to make a state on the lands of people who were living in Palestine before them...i suggest that you look forward and at the current situation...there are two peoples living on this land and the old claim about the non existence of the Palestinian identity sounds rediculous. Therefore, the whole world is convinced now in the importance of makign a Palestinian state and ending the last biggest occupation, This people has the right to rule himself and contorl its lands with no occupier in the middle. Before 1948 there was no state called Israel and the majority of the population in Palestine was Arabs.However, the arranged immigration to the land, and the 1948 war on the citizens of lands made them run away or get killed. Therefore, and since Arabs are ready to admit Israel's existence on the 1948 lands of Palestine, Israel should make its move and make peace with them because this opportunity wont last for ever especially with the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East.

Yours
Ziad

Fawaz's first response

Janelle gave me the contact information for two Palestinian men, and both agreed to answer my questions. We have been corresponding through email, and these are Fawaz's responses, reproduced exactly as he wrote them.

well
i would love to answer all of your questions but that will take me more than 10 pages
so i dont think its that easy

for the first one my political affiliation i am Palestinian and that is more than enough for me
for the involvement i dont know what u mean cuz every one is involved and effected by politic if u find one is not effected let me know please
and the third one u have to come and see i cant tell u how much my life is effected by the Israelis violence and terror
and should we have a Palestinian state what u mean by that ?
its our land and home and u offend all the Palestinians by even ask this including me and when i meet u i will tell u what areas it should be
5 how Israel safeguard against terror ?
woke up please
6 what we should do against Israeli terror
7 its democracy and its the Lebanon issue
8 the Palestinian national identity ?
its since the history

but that make me ask u

How would you describe your political affiliation?
How would you describe your political involvement?
1. do u describe your self as a settler ?
2. do u think that we (Palestinians) r terrorist ?
   if yes why ?
   
3. do u think we have the right to have our own country or not ?

yours

He invited Janelle and me to meet him in Hebron, but that might be a problem because I have little free time, and Hebron is across the green line. I hope I can manage to meet with him, because his answers were very interesting and I think I could learn a lot from him, especially face to face.

Interview Questions

This is the first set of interview questions:

1. How would you describe your political affiliation?
2. How would you describe your political involvement?
3. How has your life been affected by violence/war?
4. Should there be a Palestinian state?
1. If yes, why and how should it come about? What areas should be established?
2. If no, why not?
5. How should Israel safeguard against terror? Is the security fence the best solution?
6. What steps should Israel take against Hamas and Hizbullah?
7. What do the upcoming elections in Lebanon mean for the future of Israel?
8. How and when did a Palestinian national identity form?

I heard a story today...

In 1973, Terrorists involved with the PLO sneaked across the Jordan border and took 85 students hostage in a school. The official policy of the Israeli government is not to negotiate with terrorists, but an exception was made this time. As negotiations progressed, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) prepared to attack the terrorists. They found the various entrances, located the hostages and opened fire on the terrorists. Instead of returning fire, the terrorists turned around and began shooting at the students. All told, 22 children died before the terrorists were neutralized. In some cases, multiple casualties were from the same family. We visited the graves today in Tsfat.

Memorial Day

This evening the class attended a service held in honor of Memorial Day. I didn't understand a lot of the service (as it was in Hebrew) but the point definitely struck home. A slideshow played showing the names and faces of all the soldiers and civilians who have died in combat and terrorist attacks. Various choirs sang, and wreaths were presented to families. An interesting fact: here, Memorial Day is the day before Independence Day. I really like the proximity; the mourning is still in the back of your mind as you celebrate independence, and we can't help but remember those we've lost. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. It's going to be very interesting to see the contrast between Independence Day here and in the USA.

A young Jewish man on the plane warned me to "Watch out for the Arabs"

Is it sensationalist, racist stereotyping? or is it a valid generalization?

Today my core studies teacher told us that there is no such thing as an objective Israeli. I think this applies to all people, regardless of race. Although it makes everything we do biased, that bias makes us human. Everything that happens around us stays with us. Our prior experiences form our opinions, create our perspective and are the driving force when we make decisions. I will try to keep an open mind here, and try to get as many sides of the story as possible.

Senior Project Proposal

Objective:

Current events in the Middle East are undeniably sectarian, and even more so in the religious capitol of three of the largest religions on Earth. Amid escalating violence between Palestinian Nationalists and Zionists, everybody is searching for a solution. My senior project will examine the relationship between these groups extending back to 1897 (the date of the formation of the World Zionist Organization). I will explore the causes for the creation of an Israeli state, and the opposition to the Zionist movement, and the reaction and backlash of the inhabitants of the region. I will study the tried and failed experiments for peace, and the efforts on both sides to live in harmony. The flip side of this is the groups that do not want peace, and I will study them too. I will compile my research, photos, videos and interviews into a web log (blog) and later, a magazine. 

Why I have chosen this for significant study:

When i was 8 years old I converted to Judaism with my brother and father.  For years after that I attended synagogue and a Jewish Day School, finally culminating at my Bar Mitzvah (a coming of age ceremony).  After the ceremony, I began to drift away from Judaism.  This was mostly fueled by the attitude I noticed towards other cultures.  The Jews I knew were strongly anti-Palestinian, mostly due to the suicide bombers.  I didn't understand how the "Chosen People" could undergo so much oppression but still be so blind to the struggle of their neighbors.  I have recently been offered the opportunity to travel to Israel and study the history of Judaism and Israel.  I found in this trip an unequaled opportunity to get a fresh perspective on Zionism and the struggle for a Palestinian homeland.  I will fully utilize my teachers, classmates and the residents of Israel to form as balanced an opinion as possible.  Through interviews, extensive research and photo-journaling, I will formulate an  in-depth idea of how violence has shaped the Holy Land, and what the most realistic plan for peace is.

Committee Members

1. Bart Berlin
2. Linda Stowman
3. Anni Bowers
4. Ray Devlin
5. Lauren Leith
6. Brett Campbell

What experts and resources I will use?

1. Bennis, Phyllis. Inside Israel-Palestine: The Conflict Explained. Cornwall: New Internationalist Publications Ltd, 2007.
2. Cohn-Sherbok, Dan, and Dawoud El-Alami. The Palestine-Israeli Conflict: A Beginner's Guide. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2001.
3. Galnoor, Itzhak. The Partition of Palestine: Decision Crossroads in the Zionist Movement. Albany: University of New York P, 1995. NetLibrary. Saint Paul Public Library. .
4. Gelvin, James L. The Israel-Palestine Conflict One Hundred Years of War. New York: Cambridge UP, 2007.
5. Kawar, Amal. Daughters of Palestine: Leading Women of the Palestinian National Movement. Albany: University of New York, 1996. NetLibrary. Saint Paul Public Library. .
6. Lerner, Michael. Healing Israel/Palestine A Path to Peace and Reconciliation. New York: North Atlantic Books, 2003.
7. Morris, Benny. One State, Two States: Resolving the Israel/Palestine Conflict. Yale UP, 2009.
8. Oz, Amos. Israel, Palestine, and Peace: Essays. New York: Harvest Books, 1995.
9. Reinhart, Tanya. Israel/Palestine how to end the War of 1948. New York: Seven Stories P, 2005.
10. "Arab-Israeli Conflict." Historyteacher.net. .
11. "Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to frequently asked questions." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. .
12. Isseroff, Ami. "Israel and Palestine: A Brief History." Mideast Web. .
13. "Research Guide to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict." Robin Miller, a progressive freelance writer. .
14. US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation�:�Index. .

Questions I will ask:

1.What are the root causes of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? 
2.How have other countries played a role in the formation of a Jewish state? 
3.What was the Palestinian (and world) reaction to the creation of Israel in 1948? 
4.How have Palestinians and Palestinian movements worked toward peace? 
5.How have Israelis worked toward peace? 
6.How have both groups prevented peace? 
7.What steps to peace in Israel have been taken so far? 
8.What is a realistic plan for peace? 
9.Is a two-state solution the best idea? 
10.How does the Israeli political process prevent or facilitate Palestinian involvement? 
11.What organizations play key roles in the conflict? 
12.What steps have past Prime Ministers taken towards peace? 
13.What is the current Prime Minister doing to facilitate peace?