Article Promotion

The citizens of the Gaza Strip have been forced to live in constant fear of terrorist attacks for the greater part of a century. Palestinians and Israelis have warred against one another over who has claim to the land since it was given to the Jews in 1948. Bombings and kidnappings are all but a way of life, leaving this once peaceful state in shambles.

The Gaza Strip is rife with political contradiction and corruption. In retrospect, the actions of the Palestinians to retain control of Gaza have been considered by many to be outrageous and condemnable. Once the Israelis surrendered control of Gaza City, the Palestinians were divided into two major parties for the reign of Gaza- Hamas and Fateh. Will the Gaza Strip ever know peace?

The Israelis and the Palestinians do not understand that hate begets hate. Only with understanding and forgiveness will the region ever know peace. They are arguing over who owns what, when they should be helping each other live in harmony in a spirit of tolerance. Perhaps this is one area where the Palestinians and the Israelis could learn from the U.S.A. Otherwise, the Gaza Strip will never know peace.

Up to about 50 years ago, The Gaza Strip was a small area in Palestine where Muslims, Christians, and Jews all lived peacefully as neighbors while enjoying the use of the land for worship. When WWI came about and the British forces invaded Palestine the British government trained a Jewish army and gave the land as a gift to the Jews. That is when Israel was founded as a Jewish nation. With very little concern to the Palestinian citizens, they took over and attempted to evict them from their own land. Many escaped into neighboring countries but more stayed and fought for what they believed in. Gaza Strip Palestinians were of course part of the group that remained and thus how we define Gaza City today.

This serves as a great history lesson to the world. So long as Israel occupies the Gaza Strip Palestine will never see peace. The Palestinians’ view is that the Gaza Strip and the remainder of the land surrounding it belongs to the them alone. But since they cannot come to an accord then what will become of the Jews if they are forced out of Palestine. After having lived there for 50 years, Jews consider this their homeland. Several generations of Jews have been born and raised there. So removing them is hardly an option. Perhaps a return to the original state, where Christians, Muslims and Jews live together in harmony is what this region needs the most.

Is it right to empathize with the Jews or do we empathize with the original Palestinians? It is a difficult question. The atrocities of the holocaust left many feeling that the Jews deserved a home of their own. After all, they have been persecuted for thousands of years. Perhaps the correct answer is that we sympathize with both. But the worst attitude we could possibly take is to become callous to the events in this region. We cannot fall into apathy over the seemingly interminable violence.

Filed under: Politics