The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The ongoing tension in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and the other Israeli/Palestinian territories has troubled me for a while now. Obviously, the violence is part of the problem...the other part of the problem is how the ordeal is being portrayed to us.

Because the United States has been buddy-buddy with Israel since it became a state in 1948, the Israelis have consistently looked like the good guys. Well, they're not. I particularly aim that at the Israeli government, which has shown that it is a soulless group of individuals who shed the blood of the Palestinians and then use them as the scapegoat.

I wrote a column in my university newspaper this past April about it, and I want to post here because I found another relevant and interesting story about this conflict. But for now, here's my article from April:

The Butler Collegian, 04/15/09
Bob Herman

"Reading articles about Israeli forces killing Palestinians or a Palestinian suicide bomber murdering several Israeli civilians has become commonplace, and it's sad to say that.

Maybe during the past several months, I merely became too jaded from the situation in Israel and Palestine.

But then I saw the underlying facts, particularly about the total death counts on each side. I am no longer worn out from hearing about the bloodshed in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Israel as a whole--and none of us should be, especially considering the United States' general position on the conflict.

The United States has always supported Israel (despite a myth of U.S. neutrality...please watch MSNBC or Fox News if you beg to differ), but with the way Israeli armed forces have been treating Palestinians, it is apparent the Palestinians are getting the short end of the stick--and a gamut of unwarranted and unpopular coverage.

According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there have been 6,348 reported Palestinian death from Sept. 29, 2000, until this past February. How many reported Israeli deaths have there been in that same time frame?

Answer: 1,072.

Yet, most of the news we hear involves radical Palestinian suicide bombers killing innocent Israeli civilians and the uncontrollable violence of Palestinian natives toward Israeli military officials.

This is by no means a vindication of those acts. Both Palestinians and Israelis have committed heinous acts toward each other, leaving many, including myself, to wonder when everyone will realize we are all a part of the same human race.

But the facts are skewed against the Palestinians. Israelis, who have killed more than six times as many Palestinians, are seen to be reacting to and retaliating against the acts committed against their side, which is only partially true. It is consistently overlooked that the Israeli government has occupied land (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) that is not theirs.

Imagine if Canada occupied parts of Minnesota and mapped out settlements for Canadians. The United States would flip out.

Obviously, Minnesota does not hold the same kind of religious significance and geographical setting as does Israel and Palestine, but the concept is the same.

The solution is simple yet so complex. Israeli government and civilians: Get out of Palestine, and stop provoking mass retaliations. Palestinian government and civilians: Stop the violence.

Both parties really want the same thing. They desire the land to signify their respective religions, but the problem lies in the fact that neither is willing to compromise and share. And hence, all this fighting.

But before any solution can be conceived, we, as citizens of the United States, need to understand and acknowledge the two sides of this frightening story. Even though Israel is a close ally to the United States, Israel (and by Israel, I mostly include its government) has been the instigator in much of this mess. Organizations like B'Tselem and the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories are great outlets to learn more about the situation.

This area of the Middle East is so substantial to our world culture. Becoming jaded from the death tolls and acknowledging only the Israeli motives does not give the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict justice."

And now, I found this article today that yet again shows how Palestinians are not being treated fairly. The Israeli government is largely at fault. Enough is enough. When will this end? I can only hope it will be soon before an entire race of people is decimated.

Video of the Day: Here is the documentary, "Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land: Media & the Israel-Palestine Conflict", in its entirety. It is a great film.