Folder: Peace Education
Middle-East Peace Resources
Page Contents
Crisis in the Middle East Explained | Fact Sheet about U.S. Aid to Israel | From the United Kingdom | International News Resources | Israeli Web Resources | Neturei Karta: Evening for Peace with Justice for the Palestinian & Iraqi People | Palestinian Web Resources | Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations | Sharon vs Arafat | The roots of conflict | U.S. Government Resources | UN Information System on the Question of Palestine | UN Maps related to the question of Palestine | United Nations Resources | United Nations Statements (April 2002)
Crisis in the Middle East Explained
Crisis in the Middle East
As President Bush tells Sharon to end West Bank occupation Simon Jeffery looks at why the conflict in Israel has reached crisis point and whether peace is possible
Friday April 5, 2002
What is happening?
On the orders of the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli army is waging a military campaign on the West Bank to dismantle the "infrastructure" of terrorism. The operation has involved two phases: firstly the confinement of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, to the basement of his Ramallah headquaters; and secondly the occupation of the other major Palestinian towns.
Why?
Palestinian uprising erupted in September 2000 after peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel broke down over the future status of Jerusalem. But what started as rioting in the aftermath of a visit by Mr Sharon, then the opposition leader, to a contested religious site, soon spiralled into killing that has to date claimed more than 1,200 lives - the vast majority on the Palestinian side.
Recent months have seen an increasing use of suicide attacks by militant Palestinian groups such as Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the al-Aqsa Brigades.
For its part Israel has used helicopter gunships to assassinate militant leaders, putting its tanks in Palestinian towns or raiding refugee camps. The current campaign appears to be largely one of hunting down and arresting - or, as Palestinians claim, summarily executing - Mr Arafat's policemen and suspected militants, Israel says are behind the suicide attacks. Civilians have died on both sides.
Operation Protective Wall - as the campaign is called - demonstrates Israel's military might and Mr Sharon's political will: that he is prepared to get tough.
How is the international community reacting?
The incursions have been widely criticised. Egypt, only one of two Arab countries to have a peace treaty with Israel, has suspended government ties.
India has asked Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian towns and EU commissioner Chris Patten has urged the same. The Pope also issued a strongly worded statement against the "unjust conditions and humiliations imposed on the Palestinian people as well as the reprisals and revenge attacks that do nothing but feed the sense of frustration and hatred".
However, the country with the greatest influence over the situation is the United States. The US president, George Bush, has said that while he recognises Israel's right to defend itself from terrorism it must pull back from its campaign. He is to send his secretary of state, Colin Powell, to the region to press for peace.
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Fact Sheet about U.S. Aid to Israel
U.S. transfers billions of our tax dollars to Israel:
More U.S. aid goes to Israel (population 6 million) than any other country. In total, we give Israel more than 30% of our total world-wide bilateral aid. Each year we provide $2 billion in direct military aid, $840 million in direct economic aid, and $2 billion in loan guarantees, a total of more than $13 million every day. Since 1949, we have provided more than $84 billion overall. The economic aid continues even though Israel has a booming economy, with a gross domestic product exceeding that of many European countries deemed to be too wealthy for U.S. aid. The military aid continues even though Israels army is one of the worlds strongest and regularly uses excessive force.
U.S. aid harms Palestinians:
A large part of U.S. aid to Israel goes to purchase tanks, helicopter gunships, machine guns and bullets that are used against Palestinian civilians. When Palestinian doctors remove bullets from the bodies of Palestinian children, the bullets are typically stamped "Made in the U.S.A." U.S. aid literally pays for the Occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, either by directly funding, or by freeing up other monies for, the arms, facilities and salaries of soldiers who enforce the closure of Palestinian towns, man checkpoints, and shoot protestors.
U.S. aid harms Israel and Jews everywhere
U.S. aid deforms Israeli society by allowing it to maintain itself as an armored garrison rather than a civil society working for a just regional peace. U.S. aid also makes Israel into a U.S. client state.
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From the United Kingdom
Guardian (UK)
America's morality has been distorted by 11 September
Guardian: Middle-East Peace History
Arafat
Powell tells Sharon war on Palestinians will not work
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International News Resources
Amnesty International: Israel and the Occupied Territories
Arabic Media Internet Network
Arafat:: Middle-East Peace
Guardian (UK)
Ha'aretz
Middle-East Peace History
israelinsider.com
Jerusalem Post
JTA
Lebanon Daily Star
PBS: Online NewsHour: Middle-East Peace
Palestine Chronicle
Syrian Ministry of Information
Time: Arab-Israeli Conflict
Washington Post: Middle-East Peace
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Israeli Web Resources
Israeli Defense Forces
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
updates
section
policy statements
Office of The Prime Minister of Israel
Middle East Crisis
Selected Reference Documents
The U.S. and the Search for Peace in the Middle East
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Neturei Karta: Evening for Peace with Justice for the Palestinian & Iraqi People
How Many Lives?
Talk presented by Rabbi Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta Int. at the "Evening for Peace with Justice for the Palestinian & Iraqi People", in the Cooper Union Great Hall, New York City, on February 23, 2002. Hosted by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act New to Stop War & End Racism)
With G-d's help, may my words find favor in His eyes and increase the Glory of Heaven.
A popular song of some decades past, asked the question, "How many deaths will it take till we know that too many people have died?'
Judging by recent events in the Holy Land, indeed, judging by the ongoing events of the last century, the answer is "More than anyone could ever imagine."
There is an image that is sadly fading from human consciousness. It is the picture of the Torah Jew, steadfast in his loyalty to the Creator and His Torah, moral and humble in his dealings with all men. His integrity is impeccable and his sense of empathy encompasses all mankind.
We believe that it is this Jew, following the dictates of Sinai, whose life is a sanctification of the Divine Name and who will ultimately figure prominently in the ushering of the Messianic utopia, of peace and brotherhood among all men, solely through his Divine worship.
Zionism and the Zionist State, is a massive rejection of this holy image.
By seeking to end Jewish exile by this - worldly means, it denies the Divine source of our exile and final redemption and is expressly and totally forbidden by the Torah.
At root it is denial of the spiritual essence of Jewish history.
The vast majority of Zionism's early ideologues and supporters, were almost uniformly recruited from the Torah ignorant elements of eastern European society.
Would time and format permit, we could spend much time analyzing the philosophy and history of the Zionist movement. Suffice it to say, that it has always evoked passionate opposition, from throughout the ranks of Orthodox Jewry.
Now, please keep in mind, that one should not confuse the deep love and reverence for the Holy Land itself, with the Zionist movement,. The movement sought to seize political sovereignty from the land's inhabitants, by driving out many of them and subjecting those that stayed to persecution and second class citizenship. This again, is a terrible sin and crime, expressly and totally forbidden by the Torah.
Conversely Torah Jews have always loved the Land but never sought to rule it politically.
Over the centuries, many pious souls settled there. And, this is a most important point, those pious Jewish souls were never persecuted by their Islamic, Palestinian neighbors. They lived side by side, baby sat each other's children and were both persecuted by assorted foreign powers.
This peaceful existence was shattered when the Zionist immigration began and sought to deprive the indigenous people of their basic dignity as human beings.
Following the Second World War, the suffering of the Jewish people led many nations to erroneously conclude, that Zionist sovereignty over the Holy Land would help alleviate anti-Semitism, by creating a "safe haven" for the wandering Jew.
The decision to create the Israeli state, has over the past half century led to a seemingly endless river of bloodshed. Palestinians and Jews have died and continue to die. Instead of alleviating anti-Semitism and the Jewish suffering, they have only exacerbated it both in Palestine and throughout the world.
Let us be clear about the source of the suffering of both Palestinian and Jewish people. It is the Zionist insistence on the dispossession of the Palestinian people.
The only Torah sanctioned and moral solution to this problem; the only solution sure to yield peace, is to return sovereignty over the entire Holy Land to the Palestinian people. This would of course obviously include returning Al-Aksa, Jerusalem, the right of return and adequate compensation thereof, to the Palestinian individuals who so desire.
This, would finally end the suffering of the Palestinian people.
And, as far as Jewry is concerned, it would allow us to return to our Divine calling, of Torah observance, prayer, kindness and study. We would once again be able to pursue our Torah centered lives, to serve as a source of inspiration and consolation to all men.
The Jewish people are required to be loyal citizens is every country wherein they reside, whether it is us in the United States, or our brethren in Iran, or our brethren in Palestine. In Palestine, the Jewish people must be loyal to the indigenous Palestinian populace.
The Jewish people were not made to act as persecutors of the Other. They are to be a "kingdom of priests" ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of suffering mankind.
Zionism's end, will be the first step towards Jewish rebirth.
A rebirth, which will hopefully be the first phase in the Messianic redemption of all mankind, in brotherhood, where we all will recognize the One G-d and serve Him in peace, speedily in our days. - Amen
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Palestinian Web Resources
Palestinian National Authority
peace process
international relations
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Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations
Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.
Click here to access information on important issues related to Palestine and the United Nations, as well as information regarding the work and official documents of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. You will also find information on Palestinian affairs including, historical pieces and documents of the Middle East peace process. Featured as well is the monthly publication of Palestine & The UN.
115 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10021
Telephone: 212-288-8500
Fax: 212-517-2377
Email: mission@palestine-un.org
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Sharon vs Arafat
The conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians has reached new heights of brutality in recent days, with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon personally blaming Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Simon Jeffery explains
Wednesday December 5, 2001
Why is Israel targeting Yasser Arafat? The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, blames Mr Arafat for three suicide bomb attacks that killed 25 people in Jewish west Jerusalem and the port city of Haifa at the weekend. In a television broadcast widely seen as a justification for Israel's latest strikes, Mr Sharon said the Palestinian leader had forced a war on Israel: "We know who is guilty. We know who is responsible. Arafat is guilty of everything that is happening here."
Was he behind the suicide attack? No. Hamas, an Islamist terrorist group that has carried out many similar attacks, immediately claimed responsibility. It is at the extreme end of the Palestinian movement and has few direct links to the Palestinian Authority, which was set up to administer lands ceded to the Palestinian people through the Middle East peace process.
However, Israel has repeatedly said that Mr Arafat is not doing enough to stop terrorists from the West Bank and Gaza Strip (his territories) committing atrocities in Israel. After the latest suicide attacks Mr Sharon went further, saying: "In choosing to allow the ruthless killing of innocent civilians, Arafat has chosen the path of terrorism."
Is there any truth in that? Mr Sharon was using similar language to that used by the US president, George Bush, when justifying the war in Afghanistan. The Israeli prime minister said that Mr Arafat had "chosen the path of terrorism" by allowing, or not acting to end, Hamas's existence in the Palestinian territories, much as Mr Bush said "You're with us or you're with the terrorists".
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The roots of conflict
The terrible history: how two tribes have fought to the death for land and dignity
By Bernard Wasserstein
07 April 2002
The Israelis and Palestinians remain locked in one of history's longest lasting struggles.
Bernard Wasserstein explains the complex chain of events that have led to today's blood feud
Zionism and Palestinian nationalism have mimicked each other down the decades. Each regards itself as a victim and draws from that self-image a solipsistic self-righteousness that is used to justify ruthless means. Each has resorted to terrorism and offences against human rights. At the heart of each is an obsessive national vision, born of nearly a century of struggle, and focused on land, security, and dignity. Each is now near the end of its tether.
The first shots in the longest-running conflict of modern times were fired in 1920 in anti-Jewish riots in Jerusalem, then under British rule. Arab nationalists protested against the policy, first enunciated in the Balfour Declaration of 1917, of support for a Jewish National Home. In 1921 more serious disturbances broke out at Jaffa.
But the Colonial Secretary, Winston Churchill, refused to be deflected from the pro-Zionist line.
Mass immigration of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany and anti-Semitic Poland aroused renewed Arab opposition in the 1930s. Between 1936 and 1939 a full-scale revolt erupted. The British resorted to ruthless repression. By 1939 most Palestinian nationalist leaders had been hanged, imprisoned or exiled. Facing world war, Britain then decided to appease the Arab Middle East. Jewish immigration was severely limited and Palestine was ruled out of bounds to Jews desperately seeking refuge from Hitler's Europe.
Towards the end of the Second World War, a new revolt broke out in Palestine. This time the rebels were Jews, not Arabs. At one point 100,000 British troops were engaged, but an impoverished, war-weary Britain could not maintain such a commitment. She threw in the towel and announced that the mandate would be handed back to the United Nations.
In November 1947 the UN General Assembly called for partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish, the other Arab. Jerusalem was to belong to neither but would be internationalised.
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U.S. Government Resources
U.S. Department of State: Middle East Peace Process
Peace Process Material
Mitchell Report
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UN Information System on the Question of Palestine
UN Information System on the Question of Palestine
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UN Maps related to the question of Palestine
Index
Map No. 3996, June 1997 - 'Greater' Jerusalem Area
Map No. 3640 Rev.3, June 1997 - Jerusalem, occupied and
Map No. 3243 Rev.4, June 1997 - Territories occupied by
Map No. 3070 Rev.17, October 1996 - Israeli settlements
Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Map No. 3640, June 1991 - Jerusalem occupied and expanded since
Map No. 3639, June 1991 - Israeli settlements established in
Map No. 3243 Rev.2, June 1991 - Territories occupied by
Map No. 3067 Rev.1, April 1983 - UN Partition Plan 1947
Map No. 3014, November 1978 - OPT and UN peacekeeping forces
Map No. 979, August 1957 - UNEF deployment
Map No. 103.1 (b), February 1956 - Palestine: Plan of
Map No. 547.I, October 1953 - The Armistice Lines of 1949
The Israel-Jordan Armistice Map of 1948
Map No. 104.1 (b), November 1947 - City of Jerusalem -
Map No. 83, September 1947 - Jerusalem: Proposed Boundaries
Map No. 82 (color), September 1947 - Palestine: Plan of
Map No. 82 (bw), September 1947 - Palestine: Plan of
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United Nations Resources
Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations
Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations
UN Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL)
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United Nations Statements (April 2002)
UN fact-finding team - Discussions between UN and Israel - Statement
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (26 April - excerpts)
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (25 April - excerpts)
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (24 April - excerpts)
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (23 April - excerpts)
Mideast - SG statement on Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen - Press release
UN fact-finding team - SecGen press conference - Transcript
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (19 April - excerpts)
Mideast - SG statement to the Security Council in informal consultations - Press release
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (17 April - excerpts)
UN International Meeting to Support Middle East Peace (Cyprus) - SecGen statement - Press release
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (excerpts)
Mideast crisis - SecGen Spokesman Press Briefing (15 April - excerpts)
Mideast situation/SecGen condemns suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem - Press release
SecGen statement at CHR 58th session - Press release
International push necessary to resolve Mideast crisis - SecGen comments
Mideast crisis - SecGen comments
Annan urges Israeli withdrawal, supports Powell's mission - Press release
Mideast situation/Ceasefire proposals - SecCo - Press release
Mideast situation/Palestine question - Press release
Mideast situation/Third Party mediation- SecGen statement - Press release
Mideast situation/Palestine question - SG press encounter
Mideast situation/Palestine question - SG SecCo briefing - Comments released to the press
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