A  Never Ending Conflict

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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one that is misunderstood by many. it is a source of conflict that is keeping the worlds attention.It is one of the longest conflicts between two countries. Some argue this is because of the religious standpoint.The Conflict Between Israelis and palestinians began in the early 20th century.The reason for the conflict is Jerusalem, which is a claimed holy land for both countries. The Israelis believe that the city shouldn’t be divided, but unified under israeli political control. The Palestinians claim the part of the city that was not part of Israel before june 1967. On 1948 Palestinian refugees lost their homes as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. in 1967 , During the six days war, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip were captured by Israel. The palestinians claimed tha they were entitled  to all of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem.In 1987 The first Intifada began, Palestinians revolted against Israeli occupation. Israel responded with military forces to prevent the riots. A peace attempt was made during the year 2000, Palestinian president, Israeli prime minister, and President Clinton met at camp david in the United States to discuss a peace agreement. But no peace treaty was agreed upon. The Palestinian people had no land, and all of them were living in different countries and in refugee camps.

The Israeli palestinian conflict has affected every aspect of culture for Israelis and Palestinians. This conflict has been affecting the structure of both governments, and the basis of both economies. The conflict also affects both groups of children. They not only suffer from the direct physical violence they’re also being scarred by the amount of violence they witness. About 50 percent of children between the ages of 11 and 14 have seen other palestinians dead, or known someone who has been killed by a Israeli. For Israelis the rate was lower but still high. More than 25 percent of Israeli children of the same age have reported to have seen other israelis dead, or known someone who has been killed by a Palestinian.    (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100916155200.htm)

The palestinians have no military, few weapons, and no powerful allies. Israeli occupations control almost all of Palestinians aspects of life. Israelis have created several check points within Palestinian, making it difficult for Children to get to school, parents to work, and the sick and injured to reach hospitals. Israelis also have full ability(which they use), to shut down parts or all of the West Bank and Gaza. The israeli Military often puts entire towns under “curfew”. This meaning that that no on may leave their home until the curfew is lifted.

In the book, The Hour Of Sunlight By: Sami al Jundi, and Jen Marlowe, is a story of a Palestinians journey from prisoner to peacemaker. At the young age of five, Sami and his family were kicked out of their homes to make room for Israeli settlement. He was sentenced to jail for 10 years for killing one of his friends while he was building a bomb to use against police. on page 97 Sami al Jundi is sleeping and an Israeli soldiers wakes him up and demands to know whos in his group. Sami says, “This was not the first time i had woken up to a gun pointed at me.” It is heartbreaking and unimaginable that a child has been in a environment that is so hostile that they have adapted to waking up to a gun pointed at them. No one, beyond any doubt a child, should be living in fear that someday they’re going to wake up and die because of a uncontrolled issue that is bigger than them.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” - Helen Keller.  This quote said by Helen Keller is a example of what we as students should be referring to and being inspired by. We aren’t able to stop the conflict ourselves, we also  aren’t able to make both sides understand one another. But we are able to not pick sides and raise awareness of the conflict. We are able to educate people of the situation. These people need to understand that not one is suffering more than the other. Also that there isn’t a bad guy in the conflict. As students we have voices. Voices that may not be loud enough as  individuals but together we could be heard and make a difference.