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Laurel Ackerman

BBC News - PLO leadership backs indirect peace talks with Israel - 0 views

  • The Palestinians broke off direct peace talks after Israel launched a military offensive on Gaza in late 2008.
  • The start of indirect negotiations in March was halted after Israeli municipal authorities approved plans for the construction of new homes in a settlement in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as the capital of a future state.
  • the land earmarked for a Palestinian state remains politically divided between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, from where the Islamist Hamas movement is deeply hostile to this peace process
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  • The Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, had urged the PLO to reject the proximity talks.
  • "Israel's position was and remains that the talks ought to be conducted without preconditions and should quickly lead to direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
  • Israel had approved plans for new homes in the East Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo
  • The Palestinian Authority's formal position is that it will not enter direct talks unless Israel completely halts building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem
  • In November, Israel announced a 10-month suspension of new building in the West Bank
  • Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967.
  • It insists Jerusalem will remain its undivided capital, although Palestinians want to establish their capital in the east of the city.
  • Nearly half a million Jews live in more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, among a Palestinian population of about 2.5 million.
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    How does the conflict in Israel affect the futures of Palestinian children compared to Israeli children?  Franks, Tim. "PLO leadership backs indirect peace talks with Israel." BBC. N.p., 8 May 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. . Summary: This article is about how Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization tried to have peace talks. However, Israel is going to build homes in East Jerusalem where many Palestinians live and where Palestinians want the future capital of their state to be. The Israelis are invading Palestinian territory which slows the peace talks because the Palestinians refuse to negotiate while the Israelis build. 
Joy Merlino

Impatient Palestinians Eye Arab World In Flux : NPR - 0 views

  • Could the Arab Spring pass over the Palestinians?
  • With the peace process going nowhere, the threat of new violence increasing and the Palestinians badly divided, people in the West Bank and Gaza are surveying the rapid changes in the rest of the Arab world — and growing impatient with stagnation at home.
  • In Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, officials are quietly working on a plan: Going for statehood without agreement with Israel, bypassing the moribund peace process.
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  • Although revolt seems unlikely for now, the crowded coastal strip has experienced a series of demonstrations with youths calling for national reconciliation between the two Palestinian territories.
  • "I believe that change is coming to our part of the world. We need as Palestinians to catch the moment," said Saed Issac, a 22-year-old law student in Gaza. "It's time for national unity first, to elect new leaders, and to work hard to achieve our task to end the occupation."
  • Issac was referring to Israel's control over Palestinians' lives — which Palestinians feel applies not only to the West Bank, where power is shared in a complex arrangement dating back to the 1990 autonomy accords, but also in besieged Gaza, even though Israeli settlers and soldiers pulled out five years ago.
  • In Israel, many eye the changes in the Arab world warily, fearing freedom could unleash more hostility — and that is doubly true when it comes to the Palestinians.
  • the Palestinians were influenced by "the trauma of Hamas' rise in the Gaza Strip, relative prosperity in the West Bank" and the expectation of statehood materializing within months. If that expectation is disappointed "a political tsunami" will result, he predicted.
  • A paradoxical challenge results: Hamas won elections but rules Gaza in authoritarian fashion, while Fatah, despite canceling recent elections, has made strides in convincing the world community that in the West Bank it is genuinely laying the foundations of a functioning independent state.
  • The picture that emerges from interviews with top Palestinian Authority officials, most off the record, marks a break from past policies that ranged from negotiations to violence and terror attacks. It combines what seems like genuine commitment to nonviolence with utter impatience with more talks with Israel.
  • "Negotiations have hit a dead end, and the U.S. administration is not willing to pressure Israel. Therefore, we have no other option except taking our case to the international community," said Palestinian negotiator Mohammed Ishtayeh.
  • Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad, has long cited September 2011 as the moment his people will be ready for independence, after a two-year program of rehabilitating courts, police and other institutions. It also coincides with the annual meeting of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly.
  • The Palestinians say 120 of the 192 countries in the General Assembly have already granted full diplomatic recognition to Palestine, including a recent string of Latin American nations. Many have said the state should be based along the pre-1967 boundary between Israel and the West Bank — effectively taking the Palestinians' side on the border question, since Israel hopes to keep parts of the West Bank under a future deal.
  • Israel had previously dismissed the General Assembly as toothless, but that is starting to change.
  • In an interview with the Jerusalem Post Friday, former Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev warned that a General Assembly resolution might be meaningful if passed under the auspices of so-called Resolution 377, a little-used device dating back to the Korean War that permits the body to recommend measures ranging from sanctions to the use of force in cases where the Security Council members cannot reach unanimity and peace is imperiled. "This would seek to impose on us some kind of Palestinian state," Shalev was quoted as saying.
  • Although a General Assembly declaration might not force immediate change on the ground, the Palestinians see it as a major step that would "give us new political, moral and legal standing against the Israeli occupation," Ishtayeh said.
  • Inspired by the unrest elsewhere in the region, the Palestinians are also considering backing the diplomatic offensive with peaceful — and photogenic — mass marches and sit-ins across the West Bank, confronting Israeli checkpoints and settlements.
  • One senior Palestinian official said the strategy, following the successful uprisings that ousted leaders in Egypt and Tunisia, would be meant to push the U.S. to take action.
  • A Facebook group called "Let's End the Occupation" has already sprouted up, saying it is preparing demonstrations near the Beit El settlement near Jerusalem later this year.
  • If all else fails Palestinians warn they might disband the Palestinian Authority — a move that would saddle Israel with responsibility for civil and security affairs in the West Bank, huge expenses and a public relations nightmare.
  • As long as peace talks were an option, Abbas could not afford to alienate Israel by embracing its archenemy this way. But the equation changes now that hardly a single Palestinian official can be found who believes in peace talks anymore: World recognition demands a unified front. And because the new strategy does not actually require the Palestinians to offer Israel formal peace, Hamas could be more likely to go along.
  • But there is a certain foment growing from within. Its scale is difficult to gauge, because fear is still widespread, but recent weeks have seen repeated popular protests, which Hamas has alternately supported and violently dispersed.
  • "Hamas needs to listen to the young generation's demands," Fahmi said. "The whole world is changing. You can feel it. So can Hamas."
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    How does the conflict in Israel affect the future of Israeli children compared to Palestinian children? Summary: This article is discussing whether or not the uprisings in the Middle East will spread to the palestinian lands. Given the fact that the leaders in the Palestinian lands no longer believe in the effectiveness of Israeli peace talks, the thought is that the spirit of the riots being held in neighboring countries will be caught by the Palestinian people. The attempt is to become recognized as a sovereign state; before this was to be attempted through peace talks, now the thought of many is to forgo the peace talks and deal directly with the international community.  Reflection: Our research question was focused mainly on the Israeli conflict alone; however, with the current rebellions and unrest in the rest of the MIddle East, it makes logical sense to explore their effect on this conflict as well. It is very true that these uprisings may lead to a want for an expedited statehood. We will just have to see how this all plays out.  
Joy Merlino

BBC News - Israeli presence on Palestinian land 'irreversible' - 0 views

  • Richard Falk said the peace process aimed at creating an independent, sovereign Palestinian state therefore appeared to be based on an illusion.
  • Nearly half a million Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They are held to be illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
  • He said this undercut assumptions behind UN Security Council resolutions which said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory in 1967 was temporary and reversible.
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  • Such assumptions are the basis for the current peace process aimed at creating an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. This now appears to be an illusion, said Mr Falk.
  • He said he based his conclusion not only on the deepening expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but on the eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem, and the demolition of their homes.
  • But Mr Falk said both governments and the United Nations had failed to uphold Palestinian rights.
  • He urged the UN to support civil society initiatives, such as campaigns to sanction or boycott Israel for alleged violations of international law.
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    Plett, Barbara. BBC News. N.p., 22 Oct. 2010. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. . Summary:  This article is saying that israel's occupation of Palestinian land is irreversible. Israeli settlements have been illegally built in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. There was a UN security council resolution which stated that "Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory in 1967 was temporary and reversible." This is why the peace talks have been geared towards creating a Palestinian state alongside of Israel. Israel has demolished Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, and continues to create settlements in the West Bank.  Reflection: This article is choosing to completely ignore the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, and focus entirely on Israel's land grab. While I do not believe that it is possible to look at one without the other, it is interesting to note that Israel was given a section of the Palestinian state, and has proceeded to take over more and more land over the years. It is now the Palestinians who do not seem to have a home land, instead of the Israelis. This is going to have an effect on the future generation of both Palestinians and Israelis. This will affect how they live, and how they view one another. If one side is growing up more privileged than the other, peace talks will go from difficult to near impossible.  Questions: 1) If an independent Palestinian state was created, where would the land come from? 2) Would they have to destroy Israeli homes? Would it turn into the same conflict that we are facing now? 3) According to this article, Israeli expansion is irreversible; what do we do with that knowledge? 4) How should we proceed with the peace talks? 5) What does this mean for the future generations of both states?
Luke Terpstra

Georgia names Russia enemy number one: Voice of Russia - 0 views

  • Georgia has unveiled its new national security strategy, declaring Russia its major enemy. 
  • Actually, there seems to be nothing new about the document. The Saakashvili regime has just stopped beating around the bush
  • After the 2008 conflict when Georgia invaded its breakaway republic of South Ossetia and Russia sent its troops there to protect the local population, as well as that of neighboring Abkhazia, official Tbilisi has made its choice.
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  • It was already clear in 2006
  • And it has become absolutely evident by now that Tbilisi is ready to officially put Russia on its blacklist."
  • The document was submitted to parliament, inviting parties to deliver their take on the problem of national security
  • It is clear, however, that the president will get the document he wants.
  • In case he decides to launch another military campaign, he will use this document as justification.
  • Vladimir Zharikhin explained to the VOR what stands behind the newly unveiled national security strategy:"By designating Russia its major enemy, Georgia has actually unveiled its plans for revenge. And all promises it has made to the EU, primarily about the non-application of force to restore its territorial integrity, no longer sound truthful."
  • At the latest UN Human Rights Council session, Georgia was criticized for a lack of independence of its judiciary system, suppression of the opposition and journalists, as well as Georgian nationalism and anti-Russian propaganda.
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    Vatutin, Alexander. "Georgia names Russia enemy number one." Voice of Russia (2011): n. pag. Web. 17 Feb 2011.   Summary:       Georgia is officially declaring Russia an enemy of state. They have an official document in the works and it seems there is nothing stoping it's passage through Georgia's parliment. Russia is saying that Georgia has always been this way and claims that it has always known this.       My big thing is why would Russia need to go out and state that they already knew it. If you would think about it from both sides, I'm sure you could come up with a lot of different stuff. But one thing is for sure it is the agressivness of both sides that got them in this fist fight. If after the civil war they did lots of peace talks and negotiations they might be friends by now.  Questions:  1. What caused the hurt between the two countries?  2. Why is Russia not giving Georgia its space?  3. What does this mean for peace talks?
Luke Terpstra

EUobserver / Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war - 0 views

  • France threatened to harm a flagship EU policy for post-Soviet countries shortly after the Russia-Georgia war unless the Union forgave Russia for its invasion
  • a Swedish diplomat, told US charge d'affairs Robert Silverman that France pressured Poland and Sweden into lifting the Union's only post-war sanction on Russia.
  • France threatened to stall the Eastern Partnership initiative if the Swedes and others opposed to 'business as usual' with Moscow refused to resume EU-Russia talks
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  • "Once the decision on talks on the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement [with Russia] was made, Sweden and Poland, co-drafters of the [Eastern Partnership] initiative, were given a green light to 'move ahead'."
  • The French support for Russia came at a time when Russian troops were still parked in Georgia proper in violation of a French-brokered peace agreement.
  • Previously leaked cables on the 2008 war show that France, Germany and Italy tried to soften the EU's reaction at every step of the conflict.
  • France later cemented relations with Russia by buying a stake in its Nord Stream gas pipeline and selling it two state-of-the-art warships.
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    Rettman, Andrew. "Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war." EU Observer 8 Mar. 2011 [Brussels] . Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .  Summary:       The new found source of info the E.U. Observer has obtained contains proof that France bullied Sweden and Poland, so to speak, about keeping out of if not supporting the war between Russia & Georgia. They did this so they could 'keep relations' good with Russia. It is also found that Italy and Germany didn't want big reactions to this either. Reflections:       I think that it shows that it does not think much of Georgia and its interests. If I was a pobig political figure in america or any of those E.U. so called 'american allies' I would give them a peace of my mind , if not Russia a chunk of my fist, and say "Hey do you actually respect NATO, America, peace, and the friends we have now? If you keep on acting like Georgia is just Russia's play thing, I'll make sure you don't stay in office!" or something of that nature. This is just getting to out of hand.  Questions:  1. Why would France or any other E.U. country want to dull reactions to the conflict?  2. Why would countries like Sweden or Poland give into this kind of persuasion?  3. What would you do if you were a political leader in the E.U.? Explain?
jeni bouwman

BBC News - Egypt country profile - 0 views

  • The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.
  • The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.
  • But the historic step by President Anwar Sadat to make peace with Israel in the 1979 Camp David agreement led to Egypt being expelled from the Arab League until 1989, and in 1981 Mr Sadat was assassinated by Islamic extremists angry at his moves to clamp down on their activities.
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  • resident Hosni Mubarak has taken a more moderate line, but Islamic groups have continued their campaigns sporadically.
  • Although Egypt has changed its constitution to allow the opposition to contest presidential polls, potential candidates must meet strict criteria for participation.
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    Summary: This article talks about how Egypt used to be having wars with Israel and no becoming more peaceful. Egypt is trying to do all they can do to compromise with the people and make it a better place that it ever was before.  Reflection: I think this was a good article about whats going on in Egypt because it let me know the update for what rules have been changed and why all this is happening. If it wasn't for this article I would never been informed and I'm glad I was. Because it makes me know how good we have it here in America. I think we American's take living here for granted.  Questions: 1.Why is Egypt so strict about all there rules, such as religious political parties?  2. Why is Egypt all of a sudden such a big deal, that ever before? 3. Is president Muhammah Hosni Mabarak making good decisions for Egypt?  4. Why did it take Egypt so long to realize what they needed was to make peace? 
Laurel Ackerman

Letter From Palestine - 0 views

  • The Tel Aviv suicide bombing a week earlier, in which twenty-one Russian-immigrant kids were killed and about a hundred wounded, was a good thing, and many more such bombings are needed in order to throw off the yoke of Israeli occupation.
  • The Palestinians I talked to were just as harsh on their own leadership, excoriating the Palestinian Authority for its incompetence, corruption and brutality. The signs are everywhere: You can drive through Gaza and see, amid the shocking poverty, sumptuous palaces built by Arafat's cronies, many of them paid for by the crooked import/export monopolies they wangled after the Oslo agreements were signed
  • In Deir al Bala, there was still animated discussion and approval of the January assassination of Hisham Makki, the notoriously corrupt head of the Palestine Broadcasting Authority (the hit is widely believed to hav
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  • e been carried out by dissident elements of Yasir Arafat's Fatah organization). The PA has done little to relieve the suffering of civilians impoverished or made homeless by Israeli army closures and shelling, though it should be pointed out that the majority of its revenues, tax transfers from trade, have been withheld by the Israelis since the beginning of the intifada.
  • I visited the village of Al-Khadir, near Bethlehem, the day after the army had set up new blockades that prevented the villagers from getting to 5,000 acres of their farmland, the lifeblood of their community, land that the nearby settlement of Efrat has had its eye on for some time
  • The government will prevent villagers from going to their fields, using various pretexts; then it will declare the fields "abandoned" and seize them. Finally, they'll be handed over to a new or existing settlement.
  • n an attempt to head this off, the villagers had set up tents next to their fields, to let everyone know they weren't giving up without a fight. I could see the Israeli tanks patrolling on the next hilltop. "Don't point at them!" one man told me. "They'll shoot at you." A few days after I was there, a coalition of villagers from Al-Khadir and Israeli anti-occupation activists marched up to the hilltop together and held a peaceful demo. The army ordered them to leave in ten minutes. After deciding that they weren't leaving quickly enough, the soldiers began to beat the protesters, breaking the arm of one Israeli activist, Neta Golan.
  • the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut, in which 1,000-3,000 Palestinian civilians were butchered by Israel's Phalangist allies while under close Israeli army supervision
  • The latest signs from the region are ominous. After the recent killing of a settler near Hebron, Israel carried out a scorched-earth campaign, demolishing dozens of houses and wells, destroying fields and expelling hundreds of occupants. This was followed by the demolition of dozens of homes in the Jerusalem-area refugee camp of Shuafat and in southern Gaza. For its part, Hamas has vowed revenge and more suicide bombings in response to the Israeli army killing of an 11-year-old boy in Gaza.
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    How does the conflict in Israel affect the futures of Palestinian children compared to Israeli children?  Carey, Roane. "Letter From Palestine." The Nation 273.4 (2001): 28. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Searched InfoTrak Student Edition: Israel Palestine Conflict http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&docId=A76563733&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This is a letter explaining the issues between Palestine and Israel. It starts with talking about some radical Palestinian men who are bent on bombings being the way to throw off Israeli occupation. Then, the author talks about the violence between the two people groups and the futile attempts of the Palestinians to dissuade the Israelis. It also talks about the history of the conflict.  Reflection: I realized that even though we did listen to Abdullah in class, there are people who still want the bombings. I think that will have to have a play in the futures of the Palestinian children. Depending on the families of the Palestinian children, do their futures change? It's also interesting that the Palestinians are even harsh on their own government. Nothing is working in Israel. It's an issue. Questions: What are the statistics of Palestinians killed? What are the statistics of Israelis killed? Is there any way to get a kid's perspective?
Joy Merlino

Palestinians to hold elections by September - USATODAY.com - 0 views

  • The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank on Saturday promised to hold long-overdue general elections by September, a surprise move spurred by political unrest rocking the Arab world and embarrassing TV leaks about peace talks with Israel.
  • The announcement appeared to be an act of desperation by an embattled government that has been weakened by the standstill in peace efforts with Israel, its rivalry with Hamas and the loss of its key Arab ally in Egypt. Mubarak had served as an important mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, and rallied Arab support for Abbas when needed.
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  • uld become difficult for Hamas to reject elections at a time of growing calls for democracy throughout the Middle East. Hamas itself has praised the downfall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as a victory for the Egyptian people.
  • The call for elections came a day after Mubarak stepped down, forced out by mass protests against his ironfisted 30-year rule. The Egyptian uprising and another successful revolt in Tunisia a month earlier have inspired calls for democratic reform throughout the region.
  • Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said Saturday that preparations were underway for legislative and presidential elections later this year. "We call on parties to put aside all of their differences and to focus on conducting the elections by September at the latest,"
  • In principle, elections could help end the deep political split between West Bank-based President Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamic militant Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, the other territory the Palestinians want for their state.
  • The documents showed that in 2008 Abbas agreed to major concessions toward Israel by dropping claims to parts of east Jerusalem, the hoped-for Palestinian capital, and acknowledging that most Palestinian refugees would never return to the lost properties in what is now Israel.
  • With the call for elections, Abbas is trying to signal that he is attentive to his people's demands. By putting his job on the line, he can portray himself as a leader committed to democracy. It was not clear whether Abbas, who has said he would step down after his current term, would seek re-election. But the move is a gamble. With peace talks on hold, Abbas and his Fatah party will have no major accomplishment to present to voters.
  • And Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas' forces in 2007, said it would not participate in the elections. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, called the election "illegitimate."
  • September is shaping u
  • At that time, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad expects to complete a two-year process of building the state from the ground up. The Palestinians have also signaled they will ask the U.N. Security Council, whose decisions are legally binding, to formally recognize an independent Palestine at that time.
  • Israeli officials have dismissed the Palestinian tactics, saying unilateral recognitions will not change the situation on the ground and that there is no replacement for direct negotiations. However, Netanyahu's hardline government, already reluctant to making deep concessions to the Palestinians, appears unlikely to make any bold offers while the Egyptian situation remains fluid.
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    Research Question: How does the conflict in Israel affect the future of Israeli children compared to Palestinian children? Summary: This article states that the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank is planning on holding general elections by September. This has been brought about as a response to the TV leaks, and the unrest in the surrounding Arab countries. This is an attempt to end the conflict between the Hamas and the West Bank. However, this article does not think that the Hamas will respond favorably to this call for democracy. But with the unrest in the surrounding nations, they might be pushed into cooperation.  Reflection: If these elections do in fact take place, this would mean a dramatic change for the future generation of Palestinians and Israelis alike. If Palestine could become an independent state, this would mean that there would hopefully be an end to the conflict that is associated with the borders. However, this is not certain. The Palestinians best hope would be to get the recognition of the UN. Unfortunately, this could be a challenge due to the relations held between the US and Israel, and the veto power that the US holds. This would also have an effect on the future generation of Israeli citizens. As the conflict would almost certainly dissolve to an extent or reach a boiling point that would inevitably lead to military action. The occurrence of these elections -- or lack thereof -- has the potential to entirely reshape the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 
Matt Mulder

Gates to North Korea: End belligerent acts - CNN.com - 1 views

  • urged North Korea to end its belligerent acts and take concrete steps to meet expectations of the international community.
  • diplomatic engagement is possible
  • how cause to believe that negotiations can be productive and conducted in good faith, then we could see a return to the six-party talks,"
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  • it had grown more "lethal" and "destabilizing," not only for the Korean Peninsula but also for the Pacific Rim
  • North's shelling of the South's Yeonpyeong Island in November, as well as the March sinking of a South Korean warship -- allegedly by a North Korean torpedo
  • Tensions between the Koreas escalated
  • that it is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.
  • North Korea has denied sinking the warship.
  • aken a tough stance against the North
  • Seoul
  • Washington has been concerned about North Korea's efforts to develop its nuclear program.
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    Source: CNN News: Gates to North Korea: End Belligerent Acts http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/14/south.korea.gates/index.html Summary: This article talks about how Defense Secretary Gates told the North to stop their war-provoking acts when he was touring southeast Asia. Gates also encouraged them to take steps towards negotiation actions and get back in the six-party peace talks. Gates says that the actions performed by the north are increasingly dangerous for the world. Reflection: I thought this was a pretty good article, as it give some insight as to what happens in the world of politics when dealing with -ahem- troublesome countries. I like it how Gates is taking the initiative and telling North Korea to cut it out. It's good because somebody has to. Their government is like a bad child. If you don't tell the child to stop and behave, that child will grow up to be a real pest and/or threat to you. Questions: Why does the North think that they need Nukes? Why can't we somehow take out the government? Why isn't the North willing to talk with other nations about this?
Mark De Haan

The Future of Lebanon - 0 views

  • Hezbollah ended up in a full-scale war, in which it won some battlefield victories and popularity in the Arab and Muslim world but which devastated its Lebanese Shiite constituency and narrowed its tactical and political options.
  • srael, despite unleashing massive airpower on Hezbollah strongholds, failed to knock out the organization or even to stop its missile attacks, while the setbacks suffered by Israel's ground invasion had the effect of puncturing the aura of invincibility long projected by the Israel Defense Forces.
  • When Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah claimed a historic victory. At the time, many argued that it was time for Hezbollah to give up its arms and cede its territory to the Lebanese army.
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  • Tehran reaped some benefit from Hezbollah's increased popularity and perhaps can point to the organization's robust performance as a warning to those considering military action against Iran, but this war wasted much of the deterrent power that it had vested in Hezbollah for its own hour of need
  • But instead, Hezbollah managed to put itself at the center of Lebanese politics, leading an anti-American coalition against the anti-Syrian March 14 coalition.
  • As the guns fell silent and the dust began to settle onto a scene of extensive devastation, many Lebanese were initially preoccupied with the debate about who had "won" or "lost" the war. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, rushed to declare a "divine victory": the war had not ended with triumph for Israel (as all other Arab- Israeli wars have)
  • Hezbollah fighters had routed Israeli armored columns and elite brigades, and Hezbollah had continued to launch missiles and inflict heavy losses on Israeli troops throughout the war.
  • Hezbollah's victory was trumpeted throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
  • But it also became clear that Lebanon, and particularly the Shiite areas in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, had paid an enormous human and economic price. Some 1,200 civilians (almost a third of them children) died, 4,000 were wounded, and a million were displaced. Some 130,000 housing units, thousands of small businesses, hundreds of roads, 300 factories, 80 bridges, dozens of schools and hospitals, and the country's electricity network were destroyed or damaged. This was the costliest Arab-Israeli war in Lebanon's history - - more devastating even than Israel's 1982 invasion. Economic losses were initially estimated at around $7 billion, or 30 percent of GDP. For a country still paying for a decade of laborious reconstruction and with a debt burden equal to 180 percent of GDP, the war dealt a staggering blow.
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    The Future of Lebanon Foreign Affairs - Paul Salem Salem, Paul. "The Future of Lebanon." Foreign Affairs 85.6 (2006): 13. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This article talks about what the future holds for Lebanon and Hezbollah after the 34 Day War between Hezbollah and Israel. After all the fighting had ceased, Hezbollah was quick to claim themselves victorious. They were able to break Israli amored columns and Israel's elite brigades.  Reflection: Although Hezbollah has often been a nuisance to Israel, as well as a constant pain to the IDF and UN forces attempting to make peace, what is often lost in all this is the impact that Hezbollah has had on Lebanon. The 34 Day War between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 was the cause of death for 1,200 civilian, the displacement of a million, and destruction of 130,000 housing units. Economic losses were estimated at $7 billion. Hezbollah, through their resistance toward Israel, has not only been a pain to Israel, but also to Lebanon, to some extent. Questions: 1. Has Hezbollah gained strength or have they weakened since the 34 Day War? 2. Has Lebanon recovered from the disaster of this war? 3. Have there been any other large exchanges of warfare between Hezbollah and Israel since this incident?
Joy Merlino

Testing the water - 0 views

  • THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE FOR national liberation lacks leadership and is currently on hold. What's left for Israel to sort out now are its Palestinian citizens, who comprise 20% of the population in Israel and are increasingly treated as a fifth column, discriminated against at every level.
  • The call for a state for all its citizens, for equality and full democracy, are demands that threaten the Zionist project of a Jewish state with exclusive rights for Jews, preferably without the indigenous Palestinian population.
  • The silent and semi-visible system of segregation, apartheid and racist policies placed against them since the establishment of the state of Israel is taking more aggressive, visible and vocal expression, both within the government and Israeli media.
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  • We are also witnessing an unprecedented and alarming rise in the submission of overtly racist bills that target Palestinians individually and collectively; calling for revoking their citizenship, limiting their political freedoms, banning them from marking the Palestinian Nakba (1948 catastrophe) and banning them from residing in Jewish towns, amongst other things.
  • Racist right-wing activists not only thrive in such an atmosphere but are also given the means to publicly target Palestinian citizens, frequently inciting violence and racism and provoke yet more dehumanising campaigns.
  • he march of the fascist group in Umm AL Fahem on 27 October was a case in point. The march was called for by the extreme right-wing organisation, Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, and supported by Michael Ben-Ari, an Israeli Knesset member from the National Union, an extreme far-right party.
  • He is a leading figure in the colonial movement in the West Bank, and has been sentenced to several prison terms for physical assaults on Palestinians.
  • Marzel is a former member of Cakh, a Jewish terrorist organisation headed by Rabi Meir Kahane, which called for the forced expulsion of the Palestinian population.
  • The 'performance' in Umm Al Fahem was a message to all Palestinian citizens and their leadership warning them to beware, telling them "you either accept Israel as a Jewish state, with exclusive rights for the Jews, and live with gratitude as second-class citizens, or we will crack down mercilessly", with transfer remaining a looming option.
  • According to the organisers, they wanted to impress upon the residents of the town that they "are the landlords of the State of Israel" and called not only for outlawing the Islamic movement, which happened to be their chosen Arab 'enemy' of the day, but also for its expulsion from Israel.
  • Viewed by many as a deliberately provocative act, the march was nevertheless authorised by the Israeli Supreme Court, despite its history of incitement to violence.
  • In the online version of Yediot Aharonot, the second-largest daily publication in Israel, Marzel is quoted as saying: "nothing is more symbolic than the fact that on the day of the 20th anniversary of his murder, Rabbi Kahane's followers will continue his struggle against the Arab enemy."
  • The problem facing Palestinian citizens is not what Marzel and his ilk say: they are merely articulating what the government is not yet able to say. These small, partisan, fascist groups achieve their purpose by successfully organising media stunts such as the event in Umm AL Fahem. However, the real 'performance' was the one choreographed and directed by the official authorities, including the police.
  • Was the Israeli Supreme Court decision and the thousand-strong police presence, including their brutal confrontation with fellow citizens, only intended to protect the freedom of expression of a group that publicly incites violence against Palestinians and Arabs, and calls for the expulsion of Palestinian citizens? No, not entirely.
  • Cakh was outlawed in 1994, following the massacre of 29 Palestinians in Hebron by one of its members, Baruch Goldstein.
  • n Umm AL Fahem, Marzel and his group were simply doing a job for the government with their attempt to demonise the Palestinian citizens as terrorists, this time taking the Islamic movement as their cause celebre, to 'legitimise' future government actions against them. In Umm Al Fahem, just as in Israel's operations in the West Bank and Gaza, where it has been escalating violence against the Palestinian communities in incremental doses, Tel Aviv is testing the ground in preparation for future, more aggressive operations to come.
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    Shiekh, Awatef. "Testing the water." The Middle East Jan. 2011: 22+. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This article is talking about the racism that exists for the Palestinians living in Israel. It states that they are "discriminated against at every level." The government as well as the media are taking part in this visible discrimination. The freedom of Palestinians living in Israel is being limited by racist bills. Right-wing activists are publicly targeting Palestinians. An example of this is the group Umm Al Fahem.  Reflection:  We have heard about the seizing of Palestinian land, and the Israelis living in Palestine, but we do not often hear about the Palestinians living in Israel. According to this article, the treatment of Palestinians in Israel is horrible. There is open discrimination, not openly supported by the government, but definitely not stopped by it. In reality, the actions of the Palestinians towards the Israelis are not the only acts of violence. The Israelis act out as well, it is simply not brought to our attention as often.  Questions: 1) How will this affect the peace treaty negotiations? 2) How will this attitude of hatred affect the future generations? 3) Will the refugee negotiations be affected by this treatment? 4) How does this compare to how the Israelis living in Palestine are treated?
Laurel Ackerman

Israel Delays Approval Of East Jerusalem Housing : NPR - 0 views

  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a government panel to put off final approval of 2,500 new apartments in east Jerusalem, an official said Monday
  • Negotiations with Netanyahu never got off the ground because he refuses to commit to an internationally mandated settlement freeze, and Palestinians say they won't negotiate without one.
  • Israel's controversial foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, voiced concerns that any lull would merely allow Hamas to strengthen and regroup. He told Israel Radio that restraint was "a grave mistake" and that Israel's main objective should be "the toppling of the Hamas regime."
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  • no confirmation Monday that cease-fire conditions had been nailed down
  • The easing of tensions along the Gaza border came as the Palestinian Authority moved forward with plans to gain international recognition for an independent state. The Palestinians hope to take their case to the United Nations in September and sidestep talks with Israel
  • Amid reports of an unofficial, foreign-mediated cease-fire, Palestinian militants appeared to be stilling their rocket and mortar fire Monday, and Israel was refraining from retaliating for previous attacks.
  • The Palestinians plan to tell a conference of donor countries this week that they are ready for statehood.
  • Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has been laying the groundwork with a series of developments and reforms.
  • Ali Jarbawi, the Palestinian minister of planning, said Monday that the Palestinian government has reduced its dependence on foreign aid by 35 percent in the past two years
  • One added that Netanyahu's office had asked the Interior Ministry to delay the discussion of the project, citing pressure from the Quartet of international peacemakers — the U.S., European Union, United Nations and Russia
  • Netanyahu on Monday accused the international community — "people with good intentions," he called them — of putting peace even further out of reach by telling the Palestinians they don't have to negotiate.
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    How does the conflict in Israel affect the futures of Palestinian children compared to Israeli children?   "Israel Delays Approval Of East Jerusalem Housing ." National Public Radio. NPR, 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Summary: Israel is building in East Jerusalem, a part of Jerusalem under Palestinian control. Along with that, Israel and Palestinians have been fighting; however, they are trying to get a cease-fire. Even with an unofficial cease-fire, Israel is delaying the East Jerusalem housing project because of pressure from the Quartet although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is against the settlement freeze. But, Palestine will not negotiate an official cease-fire without one. 
Luke Terpstra

Georgia Has Veto Power Over Step in Closer U.S.-Russia Ties - NYTimes.com - 0 views

  • MOSCOW — When Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. sits down with Russia’s leaders later this week, a central topic will be the payoffs of the “reset” between Russia and the United States, among them Russia’s long-awaited accession to the World Trade Organization, which American officials have vigorously supported. But it is far too early to declare that project a success. Among the remaining sticking points is the fact that Georgia, which joined the trade group in 2000, has the power to block the admission of any new member.
  • For a decade, while grievances mounted between Russia and Georgia, the Georgian government has sought policy changes from Russia in exchange for its approval. Negotiations foundered in 2008, and a few months later, when war broke out over the separatist territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, further talks began to look like a lost cause.
  • On Monday, with the 17-year process of Russia’s entry nearing its endgame, Georgian officials confirmed that they would sit down with their Russian counterparts in Switzerland, which “has been mandated to act as a mediator between both countries,” said a spokeswoman for the Swiss Foreign Ministry
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  • For Georgia, “the W.T.O. issue is a double-edged sword,” said Svante E. Cornell
  • The issue is a difficult and occasionally painful one for all the parties involved: for Russia, which must reach out to a government it has demonized; for the United States, which has made Russia’s membership in the trade group into a central goal; and for Georgia, which has a limited window in which to negotiate before its allies become impatient.
  • Two and a half years after Russian forces routed the Georgian army in South Ossetia, tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians remain displaced from their homes in the enclave, and Russia has moved in heavy weaponry, including tactical ballistic missiles and rocket launchers.
  • Georgia’s veto power was one of only two or three issues — like intellectual property rights and agricultural subsidies — that were keeping Russia from membership in the trade organization. Members acknowledge Georgia’s right to strike a bargain with Russia for its consent, Mr. Aslund said, “but the W.T.O. accession for Russia is really moving on.” “Right now Georgia has great leverage, but it will soon disappear,” he said. “They should use this in an effective fashion.”
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    Barry, Ellen. "Georgia Poses Hurdle for U.S.-Russia Ties." The New York Times 7 Mar. 2011 [Moscow] . Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .  Summary:       The issue facing russia and the World Trade Organization, is the fact that Georgia is already a member. With Russia wanting to join the W.T.O., Georgia has the power to deny Russia's passage into the organization. Georgia is trying to use this as leverage to make deals with russia so it can get peace and get the russian troops out of it's borders. The rest of the World Trade Organization views this as annoying but expects it to be solved and done with.  Reflections:       The fact that Georgia is using this as leverage is great. If I was in control of America I would also block Russia from joining in. I probably would not give up my denial of Russia until I got recognition of Georgia as a NATO member, a country that owns itself, and  get protection from attacks from Russia. I also would think that the rest of the world, just like me, would see this stupid, unneeded, bloody conflict as completely one sided. Questions: 1. What do you think Georgia should negotiate for? 2. Do you think it is fair to Russia to be denied by a country they oppress? 3. Do you think America should support them? Explain? 4. Do you think georgia should be completely supported by  America and its allies.? Why or why not?   
Matt Mulder

BBC News - Seoul sends warning of 'strong response' to North Korea - 0 views

  • South Korean president has warned that any military aggression by North Korea would be met with a 'strong and stern' response.
  • added that the door to dialogue remains open
  • North called for an end to confrontation with the South following one of the most violent years
  •  
    BBC News: Seoul sends warning of 'strong response' to North Korea http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12108638 Summary: The video on this article's page talks about how the North Korean officials have said that the main focus of their government in 2011 will be economic related, though they didn't talk about their bad relationship with the South. The South is trying to get it through the North's head that they won't be messed with, though there are fears of the North and their nukes. An expert thinks that one of the few reasons as to why there isn't a war there is because of the US troops stationed in the South. Reflection: I really think that the North Korean officials don't really know what they're doing, because they keep threatening South Korea with military action. also, i think that it's a bit scary to think that these crazy people have their hands on some nukes. Questions: 1. What really is the North Korean Nuclear Policy? 2. How much of a threat to the world is North Korea? 3. Is there any way to get peace in the Koran peninsula?
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    Hi Matt, While both are great sources as per the directions you may only use BBC once as a source for RJ's. As a result this posting will not count towards your grade.
Matt Mulder

BBC News - North Korea 'ready for sacred war' with the South - 1 views

  • North Korea is ready for a "sacred war of justice" using a nuclear deterrent, its armed forces minister has said.
  • Kim Yong-chun accused South Korea of making preparations for war
  • come a month after North Korea shelled a Southern island
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  • South Korean President
  • promised immediate retaliation to any further Northern attack.
  • the drill was aimed to display its firepower.
  • Despite possessing enough plutonium to create a bomb, the North is not thought to have succeeded in building a nuclear weapon.
  • US officials too are privately expressing their concern about Seoul's new, more aggressive stance
  • North Korea walked out of the six-party talks in April 2009 and expelled UN nuclear inspectors from the country.
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    BBC News - North Korea 'ready for sacred war' with the South http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12067735 Summary: North Korea says that they are prepared to use nuclear force against the South if provoked (they say the provocation is what the South did when they did war exercises after the bombing of an island). The South has taken a similar stance, only they don't use nukes. China wants to get North Korea back in peace talks, but that probably won't happen, seeing as they won't let the UN into their country. Reflection: i think that the North Koreans are just being paranoid. Also, (as seen in an annotation above) we don't know if they actually have a nuke. They could just be bluffing. The South only has taken their new stance and has done the war demonstrations because THEY were provoked by the North, not vice-versa. I really think that the North is being immature. Questions: 1. Does the North actually have a bomb or not? 2. Will both North and South follow through on their promises of war if provoked? 3. if so, what would we do about it?
Jodie deVries

North Korea blasts US nuclear policy, vows to bolster atomic arsenal - 2 views

  • SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) - North Korea lashed out at the new US nuclear policy
  • SEOUL, April 9 (
  • North Korea lashed out at the new US nuclear policy
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  • SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap)
  • the administration of US President Barack Obama renounced the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states,
  • but it left open all options, including a nuclear attack, on countries such as North Korea or Iran that defy international nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
  • The statement came after Obama warned the North of isolation because of its nuclear defiance.
  • signal to countries that are not abiding by their Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, that they will be isolated," Obama said
  • Pyongyang has claimed that Washington's "hostile policy" towards it forced the regime to develop atomic bombs, and that the country cannot give up nuclear weapons unless the US nuclear threat is removed.
  • "As long as the US nuclear threat persists, the DPRK will increase and update various type nuclear weapons as its deterrent in such a manner as it deems necessary in the days ahead."
  • North Korea has been under mounting pressure to return to the negotiating table, but the regime is demanding the removal of UN sanctions, which were imposed for its atomic bomb test last year, as well as the start of separate talks with Washington for a peace treaty.
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    What is North Korea's Nuclear Policy and what effects does it have on the Korean People?  "North Korea blasts US nuclear policy, vows to bolster atomic arsenal." BBC Monitoring International Reports 9 Apr. 2010. Academic OneFile. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=AONE&docId=A223588700&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summery: North Korea became angry and "lashed out" at the United States new nuclear policy which says that Barak Obama and his administration "renounced the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states, but it left open all options, including a nuclear attack, on countries such as North Korea or Iran that defy international nuclear nonproliferation obligations." In other words the US says no nuclear activity against any non-nuclear country but they are willing to attack North Korea because it is unwilling to adhere to the nonproliferation obligations. Obana also warned North Korea that failure to comply could lead to an isolation of North Korea. However, Pyongayng says that this is a "hostile policy" and that North Korea will continue to make and develop atomic weapons until the United State are no longer a nuclear threat.
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Mobs attack 3 churches in Indonesia. - 1 views

  • Three churches in Indonesia were attacked by Muslim mobs upset over what they deemed a light sentence against a Christian in a blasphemy case
  • the crowd set fire to one church and stoned two others in the town, where shops remained closed.
  • Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
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  • Violence erupted Tuesday in the town of Temanggung in Central Java after a court sentenced Antonius Richmond Bawengan to five years on charges of blaspheming Islam in books and articles he distributed in October 2010
  • courthouse also was attacked by some of those attending the trial, forcing the evacuation of the judges.
  • The latest violence follows a similar incident Sunday in which members of the Ahmadiyah sect were attacked, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several more.
  • The Ahmadiyahs are not accepted as a part of Islam by mainstream Muslims.
  •  
    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? "Mobs attack 3 churches in Indonesia." UPI NewsTrack 8 Feb. 2011. Student Edition. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=A248610396&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This article was talking about three churches in Indonesia being attacked by Muslim mobs. Antonious Richmond Bawengan had sentenced to 5 years for blaspheming Islam in book and articles he distributed. And this upset the Muslims and the mob put fired on one church and threw stones to two other churches in the town. Also the courthouse was attacked by some of those attending the trial. They broke windows and set fires on cars. The article also says that before similar case had happened. Reflection: By looking at this news article, I could see that why people consider Islam religion as violence. It's not just Muslims being angry at the trial result, they are taking far more steps next. Since Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, this can be happen more often than any other countries. And also in the article, it said the similar case happened not too long ago, which was the members of the Ahmadiyah sect being attacked. And the Ahmadiyahs are not considered as a part of Islam by mainstream Muslims, so we can see that Muslims are very violent toward non-Muslims. There are always death and injuries when they act out their violence. Questions: 1. Why were the mob so mad at the trial's result? 2. Why did they attack the churches not other buildings? 3. What happened to the m
Laurel Ackerman

Israel Marks 60 Years Since Palestine Split - International News | News of the World | ... - 0 views

  • Three full-scale wars and two bloody Palestinian uprisings
  • Three full-scale wars and two bloody Palestinian uprisings have failed either to change the two-state formula or bring it much closer to reality
  • Violence has marked the process from the outset. When the General Assembly voted to partition the land on Nov. 29, 1947, it was clear it would set off a war between Jews and Arabs.
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  • The day of the vote is legendary in Israel. Its 600,000 Jewish inhabitants huddled around their radios to listen to the live broadcast from the United Nations.
  • d, the partition was approved, 33 to 13, with 10 abstentions.
  • With the end of the British mandate on May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence, and Arab armies invaded from three directions.
  • Local Arabs, charging that the Zionists stole their land, responded to the 1947 vote with violence, launching a series of attacks that left dozens of Jews dead. Nov. 29 is considered a day of sadness by Palestinians, and they mark May 14 as the "day of catastrophe," because about 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the war that followed.
  • Today about 1 million Arabs are Israeli citizens, another 4 million live under Israeli control in the West Bank and Gaza, and hundreds of thousands still languish in refugee camps in neighboring countries.
  • Forty years passed before the main Palestinian organization, the PLO, recognized Israel and abandoned its stated goal of destroying the Jewish state. In 1993, Israel and the Palestinians signed their first interim accord, setting out a formula for peace talks to resolve the conflict.
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    How does the internal conflict between Israel and Palestine as well as the social, political, and geographical tensions of the region affect the political status of Palestine?  Associated Press. "Israel Marks 60 Years Since Palestine Split." Fox News. Fox News, 30 Nov. 2007. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. Summary: This article gives a brief explanation of the history between Britain, Israel, and Palestine and it gives an insight into the Palestinian view on what has happened with the partition. This article also gives a few statistics on deaths, percentages, refugees, and dates.  Reflection:
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