[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3022″ alignment=”center”][nd_options_text nd_options_text_tag=”h1″ nd_options_text_align=”center” nd_options_text=”REFLECTION FROM A SUMMER STUDENT @ CRRIC ON ISRAEL & PALESTINE CONFLICT AND PEACE”][vc_separator css=”.vc_custom_1592076377183{padding-top: 15px !important;}”][vc_column_text]“You know it’s not fair, that you know a country is peaceful, be in a situation we have to be threatened.” “Being an Arab girl and living inside Israeli state, it’s pretty hard for me to find exactly who I am.” “We are the Palestinian people. We still live under the occupation Forces; we have no power.” “I believe that Jews, Christians, Muslims should be full equal citizen under Israeli sovereignty.” “We don’t need the other generation to live the life that we live in.”, are the common desire of both Israeli and Palestinian inhabitants.
Israel and Palestine, if I just call them as the two nations overlooking the history after and before 1948, under a specific range of border, is the divine land of many Jews, Christians and Muslims. Jerusalem is a city located in modern-day Israel and is considered by many to be one of the holiest places in the world. Jerusalem is a site of major significance for the three largest monotheistic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and both Israel and Palestine have claimed Jerusalem as a capital city. Because of these strong, age-old associations, bloody conflicts to control the city and sites within it have been waged for thousands of years. Some key events with religious implications that took place in Jerusalem during this period include:
• In 37 B.C., King Herod restructured the second Temple and added retaining walls to it.
• Jesus was crucified in the city of Jerusalem around 30 A.D.
• The Romans destroyed the second Temple in 70 A.D.
• In 632 A.D., Muhammad(PBUH), the Islamic prophet, died and was said to have ascended to heaven from Jerusalem.
• Many European Christians started pilgrimages to Jerusalem in the 1st century A.D. From about 1099 to 1187, Christian crusaders occupied Jerusalem and deemed the city a major religious site.
The Temple Mount is a compound located on a hill in Jerusalem that is comprised of about 35 acres of land. It contains religious structures such as the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. This ancient landmark is the holiest place in Judaism. The Temple Mount is thought to be the third holiest site in Islam (after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia) and where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ascended to heaven. Christians also believe the site is significant to their faith. It is a place that prophets mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible and was visited by Jesus according to the New Testament. (Source: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/history-of-jerusalem#:~:text=Jerusalem%20is%20a%20city%20located,Jerusalem%20as%20a%20capital%20city.)
None here is fighting over Abraham’s son Issac or Ibrahim (AS)’s son Ismael (AS) was an important Prophet or whether to fast during Ramadan or Yam Kippur. The dispute is totally political, over a land. Some might take the advantage of inclining one, towards their own interested party by trying to bring an issue that concerns religion and being delusional one has high chances of being misguided.
It was 1948 right after the second world war when the British were leaving their colonised land. Before leaving the Jewish people wanted a state of their own but the Palestinians only wanted independence. The British did not miss the opportunity and did what they always do, “Divide and rule.”
They did give the Jews their cherished state Israel which also confirms Palestinians their independence but under a territory so that the Palestinians can become a headache of the newly formed nation Israel. This was like to kill two birds with a single stone. Palestine comprises of two land: the Gaza strip and the West Bank, surrounded by the territory of Israel.
Today many might just inquire whether the Palestinian and the Israeli see eye to eye if they were brought on the same platform on TV Talk shows. There has been a quite a lot of them and there was this one, where the presenter asked the same questions to both the following parties, commonly to be specific. Like if they believed in a two-state solution. They both agree to some conditions more or less. The Palestinians wanted their own state under the same country. Even wanted to get rid of the walls, no check posts. The Israeli representatives agree under conditions that apply one sate under Israel’s sovereignty and everyone’s full equal citizenship. But if the Palestinians throw the same conditions under their authority which the Israelis disagrees. The Palestinians claim the land as their predecessors dwelled there for thousands of years. With that logic they leaves the claim on their behalf as well. So, in order to become a complete state, you need to fulfil 4 criteria. There should be 1) Population 2) Territory 3) Government 4) Sovereignty which Palestine does not have so they cannot fulfil their conditions to become a state. The Israelis are not willing to give up their identity on the other hand. There arose a question whether they were afraid of the other side. Some agreed that they are scared they might get shot in they went to Gaza especially because of the gap that was created. None of sides wants to see the violence. They both only want to see kites flying over the head of their loved little ones in schools instead of flying missiles in mass annihilation. Both agrees that their social media has been quite biased. A song composed by Swedish singer Maher Zain, titled “Palestine Tomorrow Will be Free” gained quite a lot of popularity globally. If you have not listened, would suggest you give a listening to this one with following the lyrics. They were asked then whether they want their political leaders from their side to make compromises to make peace. The Palestinian people disagrees as they say that our authority does not exercise the power or do have to power to do that. That’s on the other side. The two Intifada which in English means the uprising caused over a thousand lives. They were even asked where they see themselves if all their demands are met. Most agreed to live peacefully together in the same land, hand in hand. Whatever they agree or disagree, they are together when it comes to the same idea which says,” WE DON’T WANT A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS PEACE. WE WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE.”
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