Unit 5 - Middle East Contemporary Issues:
Chapter 34 (Section 4) & Chapter 36 (Relevant Sections)
Unit 5: Essential Questions
1. How and why was Israel created, and why was this area chosen?
The Jewish people were forced out of their homeland around 135 A.D., and lived in other countries until WWII; this global spreading of the Jews is known as the Diaspora. After WWII the Jews were given their own state on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, an area that had been managed by Britain at the time. It lies in an area of Palestine that once belonged to the Jews 3,000 ago, but of course, the Palestinians that had lived there after the Jews were expelled from their land, were very dissatisfied with the decision to give this land back to the Jews. This led to a bloody conflict that continues till this day between Israel and the Palestinians. You can find more information on how Israel became a state and the reason why this specific area was chosen on pp. 1017 – 1018.
The Jewish people were forced out of their homeland around 135 A.D., and lived in other countries until WWII; this global spreading of the Jews is known as the Diaspora. After WWII the Jews were given their own state on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, an area that had been managed by Britain at the time. It lies in an area of Palestine that once belonged to the Jews 3,000 ago, but of course, the Palestinians that had lived there after the Jews were expelled from their land, were very dissatisfied with the decision to give this land back to the Jews. This led to a bloody conflict that continues till this day between Israel and the Palestinians. You can find more information on how Israel became a state and the reason why this specific area was chosen on pp. 1017 – 1018.
2. Why does the Palestinian-Israel conflict represent a struggle of right vs. right?
After WWII the Jews were given their own state on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, but the people who had been living there at the time, the Palestinians, were obviously extremely unhappy about the decision. This led to much discord, resulting in attacks and counterattacks between the Israels and the Arab nations, and both groups feeling strongly that they were entitled to do so. Using the information provided on pp. 1017 – 1023, and focusing on the outcome of the Six Day War in particular when Israel annexed Jerusalem and occupied the West Bank and Gaza, try and determine why both groups have a legitimate claim to the area. A careful study of the two primary resources presented on p. 1020 will provide additional perspectives on the issue.
NOTE: You could take a look at some Internet resources on the issue, but remember that such sources may be biased towards a certain viewpoint. As seen in the reading, the level of violence between the two groups throughout has involved anything from regular armies to terrorist cell groups resulting also in a large number of civilian casualties on both sides. The latest peace talks of 2013 have been suspended, and as of July 17th, 2014, rocket attacks from Gaza have led to a ground invasion by the Defense Forces of Israel.
After WWII the Jews were given their own state on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, but the people who had been living there at the time, the Palestinians, were obviously extremely unhappy about the decision. This led to much discord, resulting in attacks and counterattacks between the Israels and the Arab nations, and both groups feeling strongly that they were entitled to do so. Using the information provided on pp. 1017 – 1023, and focusing on the outcome of the Six Day War in particular when Israel annexed Jerusalem and occupied the West Bank and Gaza, try and determine why both groups have a legitimate claim to the area. A careful study of the two primary resources presented on p. 1020 will provide additional perspectives on the issue.
NOTE: You could take a look at some Internet resources on the issue, but remember that such sources may be biased towards a certain viewpoint. As seen in the reading, the level of violence between the two groups throughout has involved anything from regular armies to terrorist cell groups resulting also in a large number of civilian casualties on both sides. The latest peace talks of 2013 have been suspended, and as of July 17th, 2014, rocket attacks from Gaza have led to a ground invasion by the Defense Forces of Israel.