The Israel-Palestine conflict began in the mid-20th century, and there have been no successful attempts to resolve it. An abridged history of the conflict can be found here.
The recent wave of violence unfurled in the mostly Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah after evictions by the Israeli government. Although no one should be forcibly removed from their home, the matter involves complicated historical background. The neighborhood was conquered by the Arab Legion in 1948 after being settled as a Jewish neighborhood in 1891. Israel took the neighborhood over in 1967 after a committee purchased the land. Clashes recently broke out in Sheik Jarrah regarding a land dispute, and 17 police officers were injured, as well as 200 Palestinians.
Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, is an Israeli national holiday that commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City after the Six-Day War of 1967. In 2021, Yom Yerushalayim began on Sunday, May 9, and ended on the evening of Monday, May 10. During the celebrations, Hamas launched dozens of rockets from Gaza to Jerusalem and Central Israel. Children and parents scrambled upon hearing the sirens. Also, a video of Israelis dancing, singing, and cheering in front of the Kotel, or Western Wall, has circulated on social media. In the video, a fire blazes in the background. In the footage, trees are burning in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Many have attacked Israel for celebrating while Palestinians are brutalized. However, in reality, the fire was from firecrackers, and the celebration is an annual occurrence.
This is not to say that Israel or the Israeli government is necessarily in the right, but rather that this issue is much more complicated than some claim.
In addition, it must be noted that violence is coming from both sides. From Israel, there has been a violent police response to protests in East Jerusalem, where Palestinian youth gather during Ramadan, as well as the use of stun grenades and rubber bullets against worshippers at Al-Aqsa. From Palestine, there have been random attacks on Jews on the street, more than 1,000 rockets from Gaza that have already killed too many people, and the burning of synagogues by Arab mobs. The violence needs to be condemned on and from both sides.
Many people claim that this should not be an issue of pro-Palestine or pro-Israel, but rather a human rights issue. Others add that this is not a religious conflict. I would note that the conflict is driven by several factors: ethnic, national, historical, and religious.
Rumors in the media about Israel’s hidden religious agenda exacerbate these tensions. Meanwhile, Hamas calls for the use of violence against Israel in the name of Islam, without distinction between civilian and military targets.
Furthermore, on social media, the misinformation and anti-Semitism shared through infographics, which are almost always one-sided, is disheartening. Posting about how Israel is an “apartheid” or “colonist state” is immoral and offensive. This conflict is not black and white, and Instagram is not a reliable source. There is much history behind every part of this conflict; it is too easy to misinterpret the past. Erasing the history of either state is problematic.
President Biden has reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a two-state solution. Nonetheless, critics continue to emphasize the lack of acknowledgment and accountability from the US government.
Although this is a politically loaded and uncomfortable topic, it needs to be discussed more. In school, teachers need to make an effort to consider such relevant issues.
People should make an effort to read reliable news and stay informed. Our community needs to avoid biases, double standards, and the spread of misinformation. Let’s try to listen to each other instead of spreading hate and lies.
The recent wave of violence unfurled in the mostly Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah after evictions by the Israeli government. Although no one should be forcibly removed from their home, the matter involves complicated historical background. The neighborhood was conquered by the Arab Legion in 1948 after being settled as a Jewish neighborhood in 1891. Israel took the neighborhood over in 1967 after a committee purchased the land. Clashes recently broke out in Sheik Jarrah regarding a land dispute, and 17 police officers were injured, as well as 200 Palestinians.
Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, is an Israeli national holiday that commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City after the Six-Day War of 1967. In 2021, Yom Yerushalayim began on Sunday, May 9, and ended on the evening of Monday, May 10. During the celebrations, Hamas launched dozens of rockets from Gaza to Jerusalem and Central Israel. Children and parents scrambled upon hearing the sirens. Also, a video of Israelis dancing, singing, and cheering in front of the Kotel, or Western Wall, has circulated on social media. In the video, a fire blazes in the background. In the footage, trees are burning in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Many have attacked Israel for celebrating while Palestinians are brutalized. However, in reality, the fire was from firecrackers, and the celebration is an annual occurrence.
This is not to say that Israel or the Israeli government is necessarily in the right, but rather that this issue is much more complicated than some claim.
In addition, it must be noted that violence is coming from both sides. From Israel, there has been a violent police response to protests in East Jerusalem, where Palestinian youth gather during Ramadan, as well as the use of stun grenades and rubber bullets against worshippers at Al-Aqsa. From Palestine, there have been random attacks on Jews on the street, more than 1,000 rockets from Gaza that have already killed too many people, and the burning of synagogues by Arab mobs. The violence needs to be condemned on and from both sides.
Many people claim that this should not be an issue of pro-Palestine or pro-Israel, but rather a human rights issue. Others add that this is not a religious conflict. I would note that the conflict is driven by several factors: ethnic, national, historical, and religious.
Rumors in the media about Israel’s hidden religious agenda exacerbate these tensions. Meanwhile, Hamas calls for the use of violence against Israel in the name of Islam, without distinction between civilian and military targets.
Furthermore, on social media, the misinformation and anti-Semitism shared through infographics, which are almost always one-sided, is disheartening. Posting about how Israel is an “apartheid” or “colonist state” is immoral and offensive. This conflict is not black and white, and Instagram is not a reliable source. There is much history behind every part of this conflict; it is too easy to misinterpret the past. Erasing the history of either state is problematic.
President Biden has reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a two-state solution. Nonetheless, critics continue to emphasize the lack of acknowledgment and accountability from the US government.
Although this is a politically loaded and uncomfortable topic, it needs to be discussed more. In school, teachers need to make an effort to consider such relevant issues.
People should make an effort to read reliable news and stay informed. Our community needs to avoid biases, double standards, and the spread of misinformation. Let’s try to listen to each other instead of spreading hate and lies.