Israel For Dummies
With so much discussion on the history of Israel, the right for it's existence, the Plight of the Palestinians, Israel foreign affairs and policy and just general discussion with any such reference to that region in the Middle East I felt it maybe best that I compile a bit of a document to basically put a few myths to rest. You're welcome to debate these or just have a read and hopefully it will clear up some unintentional ignorance.
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Excuse the fact that I'm just going to rattle on a bit.
Did Jews migrate to Israel before it was officially formed?
Prior to the State of Israel's formation, it was known as the British Mandate of Palestine, under British rule. After conquering Jerusalem, the British promised the Arabs an Arab Controlled region as well as a home for the Israelies (Research the Balfour Declaration). An influx of Jewish migration saw tension between Jewish persons and Arabs. In an effort to ease the tension British restriction on Jewish entrance was enforced and Jewish people started to enter illegaly escaping the Anti-Semitic times of Europe.
Early Jews formed underground groups deemed terrorist organisations, and to this day educated to Israeli children as terrorist organisations as they saw this restriction as going against the earlier made promise.
Soon after the British felt it too hard to control the Arabs or the Jews that they declared they would withdraw from the region, thus enabling the UN to declare land for the
State of Israel.
Why was Israel formed?
Israel was the product of the Zionist movement which sought the creation of a Jewish state as a solution to the dispersion of Jews across the world and the Anti-Jewish sentiment. (Commonly referred to as Anti-Semitism). It gained particular attention following World War II and the Holocaust which saw the systematic persecution of Jewish people. I'm sure you can all appreciate that people in numbers breed power and are less likely to be bullied, as that of a minority.
Previous to the State of Israel's creation in 1948 the region known as Palestine was under British rule. And in 1947 the United Nations carved Israel out of Palestine giving Jewish leaders 55% of the land.
How was Israel formed?
Israel was formed peacefully and diplomatically.
What happened as a result of it's formation?
The 1948 Arab-Israeli War for Independence. The armies of the nations surrounding including Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq converged on Jersualem. The UN declared a cease fire and it was at this stage that the Israel Defense Force (IDF) was formed.
What of the Palestinians living in Israel?
They were not asked to leave, they were not slaughtered. Under the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, they were offered "full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions". Despite this many fled, and some historians argue that this was as a result of Arabic leader's influence. 20% of Israeli citizens are Arabic, they enjoy equal benefits of Jewish citizens and do not have to serve in the IDF as a result of the conflict of interests in fighting their own brethren.
Where did the fleeing Palestinians go?
Despite apparent support for the Palestinians no Arab country accepted them. They now occupy the regions known commonly as the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel rightfully refused much of their re-entry into the State of Israel as they did not want hostile unsupportive citizens.
What happened to Jews following the formation of Israel?
Positive impacts include the ability to create a new home for Holocaust survivors and the security that their government would never persecute them for their religion given that it was a Jewish state.
Negatively, many Jews were expelled from Arabic nations. As many Jews were expelled as were Palestinians that left (not expelled) from the State of Israel.
Israel and International Relations Today
Today Israel shares diplomatic ties with most of the western world, with a particularly strong relationship with United States. It has also, with the assistance of the US signed peace treaties with both Jordan and Egypt. This has opened two land borders.
Within the Middle East persons with Israeli passports, or with passports stamped with an Israeli visa cannot travel to countries such as Lebanon, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Syria and others as these nations deny Israel's existence.
How are Palestinians treated today?
20% of the population are Gentiles. Aout 1.1 million are Muslims. Arabs living in Israel have equal voting rights, and it is one of the few places that women can vote in the entire middle east.
Because the Palestinian regions were controlled by Israel following the 1948 War of Independence, Israel often faces the possibility of violent insurrection it has had to place restrictions. It must be aknowledged that it is unplausable to think Palestinians can enjoy all the rights of the citizens of many western worlds because most western nations are not at war.
As part of the Camp David negotiations, Israel proposed to grant Palestinians autonomy; the ability to hold greater control over their affairs. This was rejected by the Palestiniians. Attempts by Israel continued, but the intifiada (Uprisings by Palestinians against Israel) affected any possibility. Palestinian Arabs who wanted to cooperate and seek peace were intimidated and often murdered.
When Israel caputured the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967, it sought to improve the conditions of the Palestinians to its previous occupation by Jordan for 19 years, and Egypt's in Gaza. Universities were opened, modern conveniences introduced, Israeli agricultural practices educated and health care upgraded. More than 100,000 Palestinians were employed in Israel earning same wages as Israeli citizens.
What about Israeli Occupation of Palestinian regions?
Negotiations between Israel and Palestine have predominately needed to be done in secret for the sake of protection of Palestinian leaders who seek resolution. Israel has since withdrawn from the Gaza Strip and most of the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority now governs almost all civil affairs, for about 98% of the Palestinians in the territories. It is hoped by Israel that a Palestinian state be created in the areas once controlled by Israel. Unfortunately withdrawing from the regions has brought attacks on Israel by Palestinian terrorists.
Apartheid in Israel?
Apartheid exists in Jerusalem. It comes in the form of four distinct sectors each co-exist with one another peacefully and without conflict. These sectors are the Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Armenian sectors. This is the only place where Apartheid exists. David Ben-Gurion, who led the people into Israel said to a Palestinian nationalist Musa Alami in 1934:
"We do not want to create a situation like that which exists in South Africa, where the whites are the owners and rulers, and the blacks are the workers. If we do not do all kinds of work, easy and hard, skilled and unskilled, if we become merely landlords, then this will not be our homeland."
Arab citizens enjoy equal rights to Jewish citizens. They serve in the Knesset, Supreme Court and in high Foreign Ministry posts.
Apartheid in the West Bank and Gaza
Security situation has forced Israel to impose restrictions on Arab residents living in Palestinian regions. Israel has no intention of taking over the Palestinian regions and as such cannot provide the citizens with Israeli citizenship. It may soon be possible for Palestinians to become citizens of their own state. Whilst many Arabic countries show support of Palestine, they do in fact do little to assist it politically or humanitaringly, evident in their denial of allowing Palestinians who chose to leave Israel to go to their own respective countries.
Palestine's enemy is not Israel, it is extremists within itself who seek the destruction of Israel or who deny its right to exist.
Surveys show that 80% of Palestinians choose Israel as their preferred government because they observe the rights Israeli-Arabs enjoy, and the democracy Israel provides alternate to most of the Middle East.
Why does Israel enter Palestinian Refugee Camps?
Unfortunately, Palestinian Refugee Camps are rife sources of smuggling operations - particularly the smuggling of weaopnry, which is then used against the State of Israel. The tunnels link Palestinian regions to Egypt, and whilst originally the Palestinian Authority (the autonomous authority responsible for regulation in Palestinian regions) opposed the construction and stopped it, it now does not, this leaves Israeli Defense Forces to control it. To avoid detection tunnels are built in civillian homes.
Why is the welfare and health of the Palestinian people forgotten?
International Aid to Palestine has been in the billions. It is hoped by international donaters that it will be used for welfare and health of the population. The Palestinian Authority is corrupt - the money is alternately spent on those high in power within the authority. In the event of crisis, Israeli Defense Forces have been known to enter Palestinian regions and transport Palestinians to Israeli hospitals for treatment.
What is being done about Palestine's economy?
Palestine's economy has been severly damaged since the late 90s as a result to a surge in terrorist activities. Israeli actions on Palestine undoubtly effected the economy, whilst this was in no way the inntention of Israel it so happened in the interest and pursuit of a more secure Israel. Palestinians working in Israel also was lessened to prevent terrorists pretending to be workers from entering, rising the level of unemployment.
Palestine's biggest enemy are some of their own people, not Israel.
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Any questions, please ask!
