• Shaena Johnson
    Mrs. Anderson
    Freshman Honors World History
    Per. 2 April 9, 2009
    Take Home Essay Test
    On Middle East


    Nationalism: the desire for and support of independence for one’s nation. For

    some it just causes troubles. The Israelis and Palestinians both experience nationalism,

    most of it is from their conflict between each other. There have been a lot of problems

    with this. As these problems progress it stops them both from any agreement towards

    becoming independent nations. So why have these conflicts gone on for so long? Why is

    it so hard to find peace? Also, what issues must be resolved before achieving peace.

    Why have these conflicts gone on for so long? Palestinians have held diverse

    views and perceptions of the peace process. That means that they have different beliefs.

    A key starting point for understanding these views is an awareness of the differing

    objectives sought by advocates of the Palestinian and Israelis cause. The cause of the

    conflict from a Palestinian point of view, dates back to 1948 with the creation of Israel,

    because it was thought by the Palestinian’s that the land was given, when created, to them

    by Allah. The cause of the conflict from an Israeli point of view is that the land was

    given to them beforehand. Because of this there has been a fight to bring home refugees

    to a Palestinian state. For some, including the Hamas and Hezbollah, this has been the

    ultimate aim of the peace process. Their view is the destruction of Israel in order to

    regain Palestinian lands. The Oslo Accords demonstrated that the state of Israel

    recognizes Palestinian leadership and their right to exist in return for the withdrawal of

    Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and West Bank. However, the Palestinians feel that

    Israel offers too little and is mistrusted of its actions and motives.

    Why is it so hard to find peace? It’s been hard because they both are stubborn and

    believe they have the right of the land. Also they do not want to give up any land. They

    have to remember that land isn’t just suppose to be given to someone, it is suppose to be

    used for life, living, and inhabiting. There are people who are killing for this land. They

    are killing innocent people for land that they could share.

    What issues must be resolved before achieving peace? There are many issues that

    need to be resolved but not every one will. There is the one-state or two-state solution

    that would have helped but not when you can’t reach an agreement. Trying to create an

    independent Palestinian-state. Also an independent Jewish-state. To this day none of

    these problem have yet been fully fixed.

    From a documentary second hour watched, called “Promises” a few children

    that were documented, had an idea of what was going on and how they felt about their

    situation. For example, the twins Yarko and Daniel, they live in Jerusalem and are from a

    secular Jewish family. They question the existence of God, but still pray at the Western

    Wall for victory in an upcoming volleyball game. They both have strong feelings that the

    land should be shared and not fought over. Not only do they have to live with an unsafe

    situation, they are in fear of terrorist attacks and watch ever step they take because of the

    problems that anger terrorists to attack. It is sad to see a child in fear of his or her own

    nation.

    I’ve have concluded that the issues that have caused so much turmoil may never

    be resolved unless the two can reach some sort of agreement and/or treaty for their lands

    and people. If things continue the way they have I foresee another genocide like the

    genocides in Africa may occur.