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Post by Orange Team Admin on Jan 31, 2014 18:05:47 GMT
What led to the conflict between the Israelites and the Arabs?
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Post by lynnpham on Feb 1, 2014 8:16:18 GMT
Hi!
I believe there are 3 main causes of this conflict: religion, political ideologies and the vested interest of western nations in Middle East's natural resources
1) Religious reasons
The first and most important reason would be because of conflicting religious ideologies and the unanswered question of who has the rights to the land of Israel. After World War II, the United Nations gave land to the Jewish people of the world so they could live together in peace. This land, Israel, includes holy places for the Jewish religion and is surrounded by Muslim countries. Palestinian Muslims lived on the land at the time that the United Nations gave it to the Jewish people. The Palestinians and neighboring Arabic nations did not accept the creation of Israel and portions of the land given to the Jewish people, or taken over by them when they won wars when Arab states attacked, are also holy for Muslims. Certain portions of Jerusalem controlled by Israel, called "East Jerusalem," are very important to Muslims. For religious reasons, Palestinian Muslims believe that they must gain control of East Jerusalem as part of any lasting peace settlement.
2) Political reasons
Zionism, or Jewish nationalism, is a modern political movement. Zionism drew on Jewish religious attachment to Jerusalem and the Land of Israel. Its core beliefs are that all Jews constitute one nation (not simply a religious or ethnic community) and that the only solution to anti-Semitism is the concentration of as many Jews as possible in Palestine/Israel and the establishment of a Jewish state there. The Arabs who've lived there for over a thousand years are being severely repressed by the Israeli government. Also, a number of Palestinians are resorting to terrorism to combat Israel, which of course doesn't help resolve the issue.
3) The vested interests of the super powers
The third source of instability and war in the Middle East is the involvement of the Great Powers, namely France, Britain, USA and the former Soviet Union in the affairs of the region. Two features of the Middle East help to account for the interest and rivalry it has evoked among the Great Powers in the twentieth century: its geostrategic importance and its oil reserves. The foreigners interfere in the Arab-Israeli conflict in order to exploit and control the vast petroleum resources in the region. If there were no oil, there would be no petrodollars to recycle; the foreigners would have no reason to exercise its domination in the region.
Just my 2 cents of thoughts, what do you guys think are the other main causes of the conflict?
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Post by wenqing on Feb 2, 2014 10:18:00 GMT
I believe one of the main causes of the Israel-Arab conflict is the opposing religious ideologies between the citizens of the two countries. When I was researching on the history of the conflict, one of the most salient causes that popped up was that the Israelis believed that they should be given the land as it was promised to them by God. As the Israel-Palestinian conflict has spiritual causes, a political resolution would be quite impossible. I found a website explaining a biblical case for Israel's right to the land. I'll try to summarize the website as best as I can, and include the link at the bottom if anyone is interested in reading further. It all began about 4000 years ago when God promised Abraham a land, a nation, a great name and protection. God appeared to Abraham six additional times to reaffirm his promise and also established that the land encompassed what is referred to today as the Middle East. However, this promise came with some conditions: The Jews' use and enjoyment of the land depended on their faithfulness to God. If they were faithful, they would be blessed and allowed to continue using the land. But if they were unfaithful, they would be 'cursed in many different way.' The Jews' entered the land and occupied it for a period of time before they intermarried with the Canaanites. They quickly lost their faith in God and began to worship the Canaanites' false gods. In response, God raised foreign armies to conquer the Jews and take them into captivity. However, a crucial point to keep in mind is that the Jews did not lose their title to the land, only their enjoyment of the land (They were deterred from enjoyment from the constant Arab attacks) Regardless, there was a promise of regathering - In the Land Covenant, God promised that if the Jews were ever dispersed from their land due to disobedience, they would one day be regathered. This promise of restoration to the land is the most prolific prophecy in the Hebrew Scriptures, mentioned more times than any other prophecy. God set to raise up prophetic voices among the Jews in Europe, calling them to return to their homeland. He knew that the Holocaust was coming, so He called the Jewish people to return to their homeland. By 1900, there were 40,000 Jews in Palestine. The two wold wars were the key events that led to the return of the Jews to their homeland. World War I prepared the land for the people; World War II prepared the people for the land. In November 1917 the British announced that they intended to create a homeland for the Jews in the territory of Palestine that had been allotted to them. At that time, Palestine consisted of all of modern day Israel and Jordan - an area of 45,000 square miles. However, the British quickly changed their mind and decided to give just two-thirds of Palestine to the Arabs creating a Palestinian state called Transjordan. Jewish leaders were terribly disappointed by this decision and many felt betrayed by the British. But they still looked forward to establishing a Jewish state within the part of Palestine that was left - a sliver of land only 10,000 square miles in size, smaller than the state of New Jersey. World War II produced the Holocaust, which, in turn, provided the motivation for the Jews to return home. In November 1947, Jews worldwide were elated when the United Nations voted to allow the establishment of a Jewish state. But they were severely disappointed when the United Nations decided to divide the remaining portion of Palestine. Half as given to the Jews for the creation of a Jew state. The other half was given to the Arabs for the creation of a second Palestinian state. Despite their disappointment, the Jews accepted the UN resolutions and proceeded to declare the existence of their new state on May 14, 1948. However, the Arabs rejected the UN vote and declared war on Israel. Since 1948 there has been war after war in the Middle East as the Arabs have repeatedly tried to destroy Israel. Source: www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_mepolitics6.php |
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Post by skippinghippo on Feb 3, 2014 16:05:18 GMT
I guess the question now is: Is it a territorial dispute, or is it simply just a war of religion, as this article (http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.542196) argues? "The conflict isn’t territorial (even though it has many territorial symptoms, and we fight over every acre and every house), but a war of religion, a clash of ideologies. And such a conflict can’t be solved by drawing lines on a map."
" The war between Jews and Arabs in the Land of Israel has been going on for more than 100 years, and most onlookers, analysts and mediators are convinced that it’s a territorial conflict: Jews and Arabs are fighting over the same piece of land, so the logical solution is to divide the land." True enough , then land has been divided and yet, the conflict has persisted. If you think about it, if it is simply a war of territory, then wouldn't the conflict have been settled by now instead of escalating and persisting for over 100 years?
I guess if it's a war between clashing religious ideologies, then it wouldn't be solved any time soon.
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Post by Si Hui on Feb 4, 2014 14:05:26 GMT
Another point to note about the Arab Israeli conflict is about the involvement of the superpowers during the Cold War period. This period saw the two superpowers supporting local conflicts on opposing ends to increase their power. Hence, during the conflict, both sides were well equipped with arms and money. For more information and background, you can take a look at this website. www.dhahranbritish.com/history/A16_superpower.htm I think it's because the involvement of the superpowers in the region, the conflicts could continue endlessly with the funding from both states and reach this point of no return. |
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Post by rutianrutian on Feb 25, 2014 12:39:47 GMT
I guess the question now is: Is it a territorial dispute, or is it simply just a war of religion, as this article (http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.542196) argues? "The conflict isn’t territorial (even though it has many territorial symptoms, and we fight over every acre and every house), but a war of religion, a clash of ideologies. And such a conflict can’t be solved by drawing lines on a map." " The war between Jews and Arabs in the Land of Israel has been going on for more than 100 years, and most onlookers, analysts and mediators are convinced that it’s a territorial conflict: Jews and Arabs are fighting over the same piece of land, so the logical solution is to divide the land." True enough , then land has been divided and yet, the conflict has persisted. If you think about it, if it is simply a war of territory, then wouldn't the conflict have been settled by now instead of escalating and persisting for over 100 years? I guess if it's a war between clashing religious ideologies, then it wouldn't be solved any time soon. I agree! I think that the dispute is rooted in the expansionist nature of Islam, a political movement that is corrupted by the intermingling of religion. One will find not only the persistent denigration and propagation of hatred against Jews codified within the venerated Qur'an, but also the belief that any land a Muslim sets foot on becomes possession of Islam - which therefore makes the mere existence of Israel, a Jewish state, in their midst insufferable. This entire fiasco is deeply problematic since both parties (and perhaps also the other international actors involved..?), consumed by a one-track mind to negotiate and resolve territorial issues such as a return to pre-1967 borders, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and the creation of an independent Palestinian state, have conspicuously failed to recognize these issues as outgrowths of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle and not its essence. In light of the wholly misplaced emphasis, does it then come as a surprise that nothing has changed? It really is no wonder that despite the countless peace talks between Israel and PLO, the situation remains depressingly deadlocked.. |
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Post by ycboy on Feb 28, 2014 4:19:31 GMT
yeah just like what some of the previous commenters have clearly pointed out, had the conflict arise due to a secular affray over matters or any other non-religious contention it could have looooong been settled years ago. there's no denying that time and time again overwhelming evidence has served to validate theocratic jewish hatred as its underpinning. if not for its religious nature why would the entire Islamic world be so vehement in not recognizing Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people?  |
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Post by Foopee on Mar 10, 2014 16:28:28 GMT
Firstly, when you say Arab Israeli conflict are you referring to the modern incarnation of this conflict?
With the end of the British Empire and Great Britain granting land to the Jews in the Palestine this has led to this dispute for many years.
In my humble opinion I would say that the cause of the modern day Arab-Israeli conflict can be attributed to the decline of the British Empire and the rise of .
The British when carving up their empire as they slowly reined their ambitions and power, they gave land to the Jews for their 'homeland'.
During this period, it was the winding down of WWII and the beginning of the Cold War.
Israel then became a proxy for the democratic west. i.e. America, Britain, France etc
While the Arab nations were mainly supported by the Soviets.
The main cause of this conflict would be due to land. i.e. Jerusalem or the Holy Land
The Israelis are seen as defending their homeland and themselves from persecution and with the rise of Zionism and the identity of the Jew this has led to the current situation where Israel is aggressively defending their land from the Arabs.
Just my 2 cents. 
Let me know what you all think.
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Post by Bryan on Mar 10, 2014 17:18:09 GMT
I feel that too much pondering about the causes are a big part of its perpetuation. There's no conclusive proof as to who is definitely in the right and who definitely started it. The Jews also lived in that land centuries 2000 years ago after driving off the Canaanites. If you want to track back who's fault it really was, the conflict will never end and it will forever swing both ways. The combined might of the Arab nations will not be enough to secure a decisive victory over Israel (who have proven themselves many times to be stubborn fighters) so the blood will forever be spilled just like during the Crusades.
When 2 children fight and an adult separates them, both will point a finger and say the other started it. What does the rational adult do? Tell them that it doesn't matter who started, you both behave yourselves right now.
It is imperative that Israel be recognized as a state by everyone if peace is to be secured. Neither side will ever defeat each other so the killing will never stop. It it also in the interest of the free world to spread democracy (or at least a version of it, doesn't have to be the idealistic version espoused by Sodaro or Robert Dahl's polyarchy concept) in the Middle East. Nationalistic vitriol and hardline stances must give way to a drive for trade and economic prosperity.
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Post by Eugi on Mar 11, 2014 11:17:13 GMT
From a Christian perspective, biblical teachings refer to Jerusalem as the "promised land". Israel has been a struggling to attain ownership of the land for thousands of years. Their ability to do so in 1948 was through unbridled intervention by liberal states who are proponents of self-determination. The complication arises politically when one considers how the physical territories of Israel is completely surrounded by Islamic states who share the similar demands of ownership over the Holy land. Both civilizations have a strong case of possession accorded by their respective divine beings. Resulting in what Samuel Huntington identifies as "A clash of civilizations" which has been further exacerbated by Israel's highly militaristic policies and the Arab world's hostilities.
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Post by Zitong on Mar 15, 2014 15:39:28 GMT
I think if we focus only on the modern day Arab-Israeli conflict, its broad causes are relatively easy to identify. They arise from the actions of the British - who assumed control of modern day Israel/Palestine after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1920 - as well as the United Nations.
After WWII, Britain slowly began letting go of its colonial possessions around the world as it could no longer afford to maintain its vast empire. This included Palestine, which assumed special significance after the terrible atrocities committed against Jewish people during the Holocaust. Backed by UN Resolution 181 (1947), a plan was devised to partition Palestine into two separate and independent states, one Arab and one Jewish (similar to what the British would attempt in the case of India/Pakistan). The Jewish portion would serve as a "homeland" for Jews, to prevent their persecution in other states. However, the native Palestinians and other Arab states rejected this plan, not willing to surrender such an expanse of territory to the Jews, whom they felt would continue to emigrate to the region and try to take over even more territory.
Thus, after Israel declared its independence in May 1948, the surrounding Arab states - including Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Egypt - invaded. Not all the Arab states had the interests of the Palestinians at heart - in fact, there was a significant degree of intra-Arab rivalry and many of these countries simply wanted to conquer more land for themselves, rather than leave it to the Palestinians. Nevertheless, they were united in their opposition to Israel. However, the Israelis fought back - and not only managed to repel the Arab forces, but conquer for themselves the portion of territory that the British had originally allocated to the Palestinians in their partition plan. The subsequent wars, diplomatic conflicts and disputes over territory in the Arab-Israeli conflict have all arisen from this state of affairs.
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