Palestinian Dilemma

A few blogs ago, I talked a little about the Zionist movement and the State of Israel.

There is of course another side (or more accurately, many sides). But here is a brief and very incomplete introduction to the other side.

Palestinians have long lived in the land that was referred to, often informally, as Palestine. They are Arab descendants of a variety of peoples who have long-lived here, and have known this as their home, even during times before the Jews were pushed from the country. Most of them are Muslim, a small percentage of them are Christian.

Jews began returning in numbers in the 19th century, typically buying land from local residents (Palestinians) as they began to establish what would be their vision of a Jewish state. The country was not crowded and not developed, and there seemed to be room for everyone who might choose to live here. Over the years, more and more Jews arrived, the numbers subject to the laws and policies of the British who ruled over this area between WWI and WWII. At times, the Jews worked peacefully and diplomatically with the Palestinians, though many times, less so.

In 1947, the United Nations voted to give Israel the right to establish the State of Israel. They had already set up a presence in the land, now owning much of it and developing it rapidly in their quest for a homeland that could thrive and sustain itself. The Palestinians were given a part of the country designated for them.

The Palestinians were outraged over such a vote by the international community. The British would be leaving, and the Israelis now would be in charge of a new country, a Jewish state. The Palestinians were apportioned land, but debates rage over the fairness of it. In a number of cases….definitely not so fair. Some liken it to the European Americans colonization of America and the way Native Americans were treated. Any analogy eventually reveals its limitations, and this is true here as well. But….some strong similarities.

A number of skirmishes and all-out wars over the years has led to the current situation. The Israelis live on the long stretch of coast, and in much of the northern part of the country, as well as in an around much of the area surrounding Jerusalem. Most Palestinians live in two areas: the West Bank (so called because it carves out a large “backwards B-shaped” section of the middle of the country that lies abutting the west bank of the Jordan River; and the Gaza Strip, a tiny sliver of land in the far southwestern part of the country.

Many of the Palestinians are not pleased with being given a form of a “reservation” upon which to live. They would like to live freely wherever they want. Some of them want to do so in a country that does not include and Israeli presence or any semblance of a Jewish state. Some are radicals. Some, arguable the majority, just want to live and work under a fair and just plan for the land alongside the Israelis. Palestinians can be found all over the spectrum.

Other Arab countries support the Palestinians who they see as their Arab brothers. They do not seem to have provided much support to that end however, and some question whether it provides an easy rallying point against a common Arab hatred for Israel.

Different groups have represented the Palestinians formally and informally. Right now, Fatah represents those in the West Bank. Relatively speaking, it is a more moderate political leadership. Hamas represents the people in the Gaza Strip. Most of the western world labels the group a terrorist organization. The Arab world might see them as valiant freedom fighters. A handful of Arab countries distrust their radical Islamic ideology, fearing it could spread to their countries and destabilize their governments.

Down on the ground where the people live, life is difficult. There is a huge war being waged in Gaza, and there is no need to explain much of that. A hellacious place to be for Palestinians right now. Hamas keeps shooting rockets at Israel, and Israel finally fired back with bigger, more deadly, more accurate rockets, And bombs. And bullets. They aim for Hamas, but senior citizens and children have been killed. Hamas decries it all as “genocide” as they keep firing rockets (which most reasonable people see as a little strong and misplaced, directed against a country that knows the meaning of the term only too well, and has no policy stating a desire for the eradication of any group of people – other than perhaps the “genocide” of Hamas leadership). Israel says civilian deaths are never intentional, is collateral damage or war, and is caused by Hamas using people as human shields. Those Palestinians who have lost loved ones can take little comfort in those statements.

Meanwhile, families on the West Bank now live surrounded by large grey security walls. It is like the Iron Curtain of East/West Berlin. The ugliest thing imaginable. More prison-like than prisons. The Israelis say they need to “fence in” the Palestinians after suffering years of suicide bombings, and create more security by regulating the comings and goings of the Palestinians. Now, Palestinians need permission to leave their bordered area. To go to work. To go to relatives in other area. To leave their walled areas. To go on trips or vacations. They are often prisoners of their own neighborhoods, unable to go anywhere. If something bad happens in the country, Israelis can clamp down on security and restrict any movement. Suddenly, a Palestinian who lives in a West Bank area but works outside it finds he is unable to go to work for a week or two or three. They are unable to leave their area. Unable to get to work, they soon find themselves out of a job. Once again, hemmed in by poverty and policy.

There are many plans out there. Not much discussion. Each side needs things it feels it cannot attain if the other side gets what they need. A stalemate. It is a dangerous, ineffective, and immoral status for just about everyone right now.

Great minds will have to fix this, soon, or face the inevitable consequences that are bound to arise from such an untenable situation.