Apartheid - "Any system or practice that separates people according to race, caste, etc...."
I will be one of the first to admit that I do not know much about many of the situations that have arisen in the Middle East over the last few decades. I am sure that there are many others just as ignorant as me in this subject, which is probably why there are so many misunderstandings about Arab/Israeli relations. Jimmy Carter's Book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid is very informative, and while I am still not an expert on this subject, I know a great deal more about the current situations in the Middle East than I did before.
One thing I tried to remember while reading this book is that it is a personal perspective, and a good selection is part of Carter's recollection of the events during his presidency.
PLO - Palestine Liberation Organization....In other words, the group that serves as the voice of the Palestinian people.
Resolution 242 - Recognized sovereignty and political independence of every state in the Middle East including Israel.
According to Carter, during his presidency, he attempted to make peace between the Arab and Israeli nations. The Camp David Accords were negations that took place between Palestinian and Israeli leaders in effort to resolve the following problems: Israeli troop withdrawal from Arab countries, the rights of Palestinians, the rights of Israelis, respect for Jewish holy spots and the sharing of Jerusalem, which is a religious land mark for Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Carter also gives several statics about Gaza, and since the withdrawal of Jewish Israelites, the poverty rate of the Gaza strip has soared. More than half of its population is under 15 years-old, and the per capital income has decreased 40% in the last three years.(176)
I really liked the introduction of the book that listed the chronological events of Middle East turmoil. It gave a nice over view of what even the earliest of times were like. The conflict between the Israelis and Arabs dates back to biblical time, when the Israelis were forced to flee Egypt under Moses' command. Several of the maps throughout the reading we helpful to understand the exact location that was being discussed. The issues between people of Arab and Israeli descent has been present for centuries, and it has only been made a world issue over the last half a century or so. The stubbornness, portrayed by Carter in the book, sounds like it is an issue that can be traced back to hurt ego's and the inability for peace in a world that will never truly understand the meaning of "peace" The idea of a Zionist country almost seems unattainable. A nation based purely on religion would never succeed because there will always be someone who questions beliefs or values or falls out of the religion and follows different views. In seeking a safe-haven for their descendants, Israeli people have cause more conflict than resolve persecuting Arabs who inhabit their country, and Arabs who persecute Jews living outside of Israel have mounted to this growing tension, that has no positive ending in sight.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I am intrigued by your comments about a religious state. There are many different beliefs in Judaism and there is certainly debate and disagreement in Israel...
Good idea writing out what some of the vocab was...I was tempted to do that myself. I also agree with your comment that a country based on religion is unattainable- the religion should be allowed, but a secular, democratic government, seperate from religion, is the only way to have a successful country.
Post a Comment