Since 1947, Israel and Palestine have been involved in an ongoing struggle over land, particularly two regions - Gaza Strip and West Bank. History reveals the cause of the conflict in the region.
In the 19th century the land of Palestine was inhabited by a multicultural population – approximately 86 percent Muslim, 10 percent Christian, and 4 percent Jewish. In the late 1800s, an extremist minority among the Jewish population - Zionists, from Europe decided to create an exclusive Jewish state. They considered locations in Africa and the Americas, before settling on Palestine. At first, this migration created no major problems. Hitler's rise to power and several other factors led to increased Jewish migration to Palestine, and conflict grew. Finally, when the United Nations intervened in 1947, under considerable influence from West, particularly US, it recommended giving more than 50% of Palestine to a group that was only 30% of the total population to form Jewish state. Subsequently, at the end of the 1947-49 war with the Arab nations, Israel captured more than 75% of Palestine and Palestinians were made refugees in their own land. In 1967, with a surprise & successful attack on Egypt, Israel occupied the final piece of Palestine - the West Bank and Gaza Strip. And that's the core of this continuing conflict.
Israel's continued military occupation is extremely oppressive. Over 10,000 Palestinian men, women, and children are held in prisons, most without fair trial. Palestinian borders are controlled by Israeli forces leading to escalated humanitarian crisis. At the end of 80's, Palestinians sparked a series of protests and riots. The same became known as "Intifada" or "Uprising" and resulted in the deaths of over 1000 Palestinians and 100 Israelis. The Second Intifada during the beginning of this century claimed the lives of around 3000 Palestinians and over 1000 Israelis.
Both sides of the conflict have been guilty of war crimes. Israel has indulged in killing of civilians, forced evictions, illegal detention and torture of prisoners. Palestine has also it's share of violations like torture and executions without trial. The deepest tragedy of the whole situation is the death of children, which neither side of the conflict seems to worry about. While Hamas soldiers are using children as human shields Israeli soldiers are shooting down teenagers in the streets. Both sides are staging their war with complete disregard of the innocent people around them. Stories of orphaned children and families ripped apart resonate to the core of the human conscience.
If you look at the conflict, casting aside all political and territorial disputes, it is the most basic human right of all that is being violated - THE RIGHT TO LIVE.
Both sides of the conflict have been guilty of war crimes. Israel has indulged in killing of civilians, forced evictions, illegal detention and torture of prisoners. Palestine has also it's share of violations like torture and executions without trial. The deepest tragedy of the whole situation is the death of children, which neither side of the conflict seems to worry about. While Hamas soldiers are using children as human shields Israeli soldiers are shooting down teenagers in the streets. Both sides are staging their war with complete disregard of the innocent people around them. Stories of orphaned children and families ripped apart resonate to the core of the human conscience.
If you look at the conflict, casting aside all political and territorial disputes, it is the most basic human right of all that is being violated - THE RIGHT TO LIVE.
