Thick and thin book review.
Some year," JK Galbraith once wrote, "like some poets, and politicians and some lovely women, are singled out for fame far beyond the common lot." For the Middle East in general, and for the people of Palestine in particular, 1948 was clearly such a year. It was the year in which the British-Mandate for Palestine terminated, a Jewish state was established, thousands of Arab Palestinians became refugees, and regular armed forces of Trans-Jordan, Egypt, Syria and other Arab countries entered Palestine - Israel and clashed with Israeli forces." (Bregman, 2000) In the same way, some land masses seem to carry a higher level of importance than others. Such is the case with a small strip of land lying along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel, or Palestine depending on the year the map was published, has been a place of conflict since first recorded histories of the region over 6000 years ago. The Arab peoples claim it as their homeland, and the Israelis' claim the same. The land has no significant amounts of natural resources, as the oil resided in nations to the south. There are not deposits of gold, or other natural resources to spark the debate. No, the significance of this patch of land has only one measurable value. The land of Israel is the symbol of one nation's right to exist. To the Isrealis, Israel is their homeland and a symbol of how a small group of people can overcome centuries of persecution and trial and still has a place to call home. For the Arab people, on the other hand, the land belonged to them before a tribe of slaved transmigrated out of Egypt across the desert, and thus it should still be theirs.
Bregman's book is a history of the conflict. Beginning in 1948 when in a few short days Israel became a country by United Nations mandate through the present, Bregman outline both the 'what' of Israel's fight for a nation to call their own, and the 'why' of national heritage. The Israeli's fight as if their very existence depends on it, because it does. Without a land to call their own, the Israeli's would...
Middle East Conflict As an Israeli citizen, I often find myself awestruck at our present situation. The needs and desires of people in my country are not unlike those of most people. We desire to live and work in safety; we want have peace with those around us; but we also want to maintain our traditions and our heritage as we see fit. Israel has again and again suffered attacks because
It is hoped that less politically incendiary issues that are of equal significance to the Palestinians will be conceded, quietly by the Israelis. For example: "a new Palestinian city waiting to be built needs Israeli agreement for a key access road and that will probably now come, they [the Israelis] said; more roadblocks and checkpoints can be removed and more responsibility handed over to Palestinian security forces" (Bronner 2010:1). The
Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy Defining the U.S. President Doctrine presidential doctrines refer to the stances, goals, policies, and attitudes that are acted by the country's foreign affairs. Moreover, the President of the U.S. outlines them. They are often referred to as "doctrines" since they elicit the country's sovereignty and stance in various policies, internal and external. Most American doctrines have touched on cold war and other foreign matters. The presidents who
All neighboring countries, except Iran closed their borders to the Afghan refugees, hoping that they will return and come to terms with the Taliban regime. The U.S., British and NATO troops that fight the Taliban in Afghanistan are up against an enemy that has proven to have the resources to regenerate itself almost incessantly. Although the former uses technological means that change the relationship between combatants as it has never
While on one hand, the Nile gets the highest discharge from rainfall on the highlands of Ethiopia and upland plateau of East Africa, located well outside the Middle East region; on the other hand, discharge points of the other two rivers, Euphrates and Tigris, are positioned well within the Middle East region, prevailing mostly in Turkey, Syria along with Iraq. In other areas, recurrent river systems are restricted to
Christianity was born in the Middle East, the religion has become globalized with a relatively sparse and scattered Christian presence in the region today. Currently, Christians suffer from frequent persecution, especially at the hands of terrorist groups like ISIS/ISIL. As Thomas (2014), points out, "members of the Islamic State have targeted Christian churches, destroyed symbols of Christian faith and killed Christians because of their beliefs." Current events echo the roots
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