Can somebody explain the most recent Israel/Palestine conflict?

[Karen]

I have deleted comments in this thread that were not appropriate for Pet Talk. Please remember to treat each other with respect.

[popcornbird]

Jenn Librarian, I completely agree with you. I have many, many Palestinian friends, and most of them have the same story. Refugees, kicked out of THEIR homeland. Everyone has the right to peace and safety in their land. Everyone has the right to peace and safety in their homes. Everyone has the right to defend their land and home from criminals. The Palestinians have suffered too long. They have been kicked out of the land that belonged to them. They were kicked out of their homes where they were raising up innocent families and children, and made into refugees, thrown into refugee camps to make room for foreigners who didn't belong there. Their homes were destroyed, family members killed. Why? Because the Jews think they're the chosen people, and that's the land God chose for them? Maybe its because of their crimes against humanity that God took the land away from them and gave it to another nation. The Israelis even hit a boat that was bringing in relief supplies for the victims in Gaza. Can you believe that?? Its a big shame. So many people have suffered in this conflict. So many children have been killed. And to think...this conflict wouldn't even exist if the land was just returned to its rightful owners. The Palestinians deserve to have their land returned to them.

The conflict in Palestine/Israel is just the fruit of injustice. Such situations will always arise when injustice is allowed to rule in the land. Only when injustice is abolished will peace prevail. God knows when and if that will ever happen. I don't see it happening in our lifetime. Its a sad, sad situation, and I pray for all those who are suffering for no crime of their own.

[Giselle]

]Why? Because the Jews think they're the chosen people, and that's the land God chose for them? Maybe its because of their crimes against humanity that God took the land away from them and gave it to another nation.

Hmm, that's a vengeful God that I'd rather not subscribe to. To each his/her own. *shrugs*

Interesting info and perspectives. It's rather difficult maintaining objectivity in this situation, isn't it? Hmm, I will be perusing the aforementioned links in the meantime.

[RICHARD]

I think that the people who do the suicide bombings and shoot off rockets and mortars are to blame.

The way I see it, the first set of idiots who start this a-holery should not complain about getting the same back.

The Palis have had chance after chance to sit down and broker a peace deal-The other Arab nations in the surrounding areas use the Palis to war with the Israelis, then claim to be a brotherhood.

I had to laugh at the Iranian youth groups that claimed to have signed up 10,000 volunteers to go to Israel and blow themselves up.


Stay at home and play with explosives there.

[KYS]

[QUOTE by popcornbird:. Why? Because the Jews think they're the chosen people, and that's the land God chose for them? Maybe its because of their crimes against humanity that God took the land away from them and gave it to another nation. >>>>>>>>>>>

I will pray for you popcornbird. Such hate.

1:The Palestinian refugee problem has remained unsolved for approximately 60 years, causing suffering and instability throughout the Middle East.
The Arabs' rejection in 1947 of UN General Assembly Resolution 181 - which would have partitioned the British Mandate area into an Arab state and a Jewish state - and the ensuing war they started in the hope of destroying Israel. Many Palestinian Arabs who lived in areas where the fighting took place abandoned their homes, either at the request of Arab leaders, or due to fear of the fighting and the uncertainty of living under Jewish rule. A refugee problem would never have been created had this war not been forced upon Israel by the Arab countries and the local Palestinian leadership.
Sadly, during this period there were innumerable refugees fleeing wars and conflict in many parts of the world. Almost all of these were resettled and their lives rehabilitated. The sole exception remains the Palestinians, deliberately kept as refugees for political aims.

The fate of the Palestinian refugees stands in sharp contrast to that of the many Jews who were forced to flee Arab countries in the wake of the establishment of Israel, leaving behind a great deal of property. Despite the difficulties, the hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees were absorbed as citizens of the State of Israel.

The Arab countries, with the sole exception of Jordan, have perpetuated the refugee problem. The refugees continue to live in crowded camps, in poverty and despair. Few attempts have been made to integrate them into the numerous Arab countries in the region. These refugees, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren remain today in a number of Arab countries with no political, economic or social rights.

It's a very complicated and sad situation for everyone. I pray daily that
we will have a world of peace that respect everyone's faith and nationality.

2: Humanitarian aid, Here is a story did not make the front page news:
and I hope aid is now getting through:

December 31 2008:
Israel with the humanitarian effort in coordination with the international organizations, Palestinian Authority and various donors. Ninety three trucks, with approximately 2500 tons of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and medication were conveyed through Kerem Shalom cargo terminal. The World Food Programme has informed Israel that they will not be resuming shipment of food commodities in to Gaza due to the fact that their warehouses are at full capacity and will last for approximately two weeks.

Since the beginning of operation "Cast Lead" some 6500 tons of aid have been transferred at the request of the international organizations, the Palestinian Authority and various governments. Preparations are underway to facilitate further shipments expected to arrive in the coming days.

[Pam]

Because the Jews think they're the chosen people, and that's the land God chose for them?

Pick up a Bible and look in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 7:6) you will see these words:"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession."

God chose this people to bring forth his Son, through Mary and out of the lineage of David so that we, who are Christians, share a part in the history of this people.

This conflict has been going on longer than what is suggested in previous posts. It all started when Abraham and Sarah did not wait for "the promise" who was to be Isaac. Instead they enlisted the "aid" of Sarah's hand maiden, Hagar, to help Abraham conceive a child. They named this son Ishmael and he was the ancestor of the northern Arab people.

[caseysmom]

Pick up a Bible and look in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 7:6) you will see these words:"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession."

God chose this people to bring forth his Son, through Mary and out of the lineage of David so that we, who are Christians, share a part in the history of this people.

This conflict has been going on longer than what is suggested in previous posts. It all started when Abraham and Sarah did not wait for "the promise" who was to be Isaac. Instead they enlisted the "aid" of Sarah's hand maiden, Hagar, to help Abraham conceive a child. They named this son Ishmael and he was the ancestor of the northern Arab people.

I doubt the Palestinians believe in the Bible, this will not help them feel much better I am guessing.

No offense to anyone but this is why I can't stand religion.

[jennielynn1970]

The Muslims, in general, believe in the three books. The Torah, the Bible, and the Qur'an. They are all holy books. They are all about God. If you read a translation of the Qur'an, you will see that it's a lot of the same "stories" as are in the Bible as well. I have a copy of the Qur'an in translation (although it's not considered the Qur'an because it is in translation), and I have read parts of it.

Yes, many things are different. Jesus was considered a prophet, not the son of God. That's considered blasphemy to them. God is perfect. The rest of us, are not.

[Twisterdog]

I doubt the Palestinians believe in the Bible, this will not help them feel much better I am guessing.

No offense to anyone but this is why I can't stand religion.

I agree. Organized religion in and of itself is the root of this problem, and a good portion of all conflicts since the dawn of time.

Christians quote the Bible, and use it for justification for anything they want to do. Muslims quote the Qur'an for the same reasons, ditto the Jews and the Torah. It's all absurd, IMO. NO religion is the "right" religion, and no people are the "chosen ones" above all others. I think "God" probably is completely disgusted by all the cruel, evil, close-minded, petty things that have been done "in His name" over the years.

If you are a Christian, I will say with 99.99% certainty that you are a Christian not because you researched all the world's religions and chose the one you personally believe in ... but because your parents were Christian. And your parents were Christian because their parents were, etc. Christians are Christians, Jews are Jews, Muslims are Muslims, Hindus are Hindus, etc. not because of an informed, spiritual choice ... but because of an accident of birth. If one of you American Christians had happened to be born in Pakistan instead of Ohio ... I assure you that you would be Muslim today, and think that Islam was the "right" religion and Christianity was the "wrong" religion. A geographic roll of the dice made people the religion they are, not being "chosen".

To me, there is nothing more hyprocritical than killing another human being in the name of your "loving God" ... any "God", whatever your religion dictates that you call him. And EVERY major religion does it.

I saw a bumper sticker once that said, "My invisible god can beat up your invisible god." Touche.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I will step in and say not all people who are spiritual are religious. I am a Christian, and not afraid to say so. However, do I think the rest of the world is wrong for believing what they do? Nope! I have my own beliefs and anyone who wishes to know what they are need only ask. I won't judge them for believing in what they do, if everyone believed the same thing as I did the world would get boring pretty quick.

From the beginning of time, no matter what you believe...ever since there was two humans, they have found SOMETHING to argue about. I wonder what the very first arguement was about...lol

[RICHARD]

I wonder what the very first arguement was about...lol

Snakes and apples-MAN was right!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

If you are a Christian, I will say with 99.99% certainty that you are a Christian not because you researched all the world's religions and chose the one you personally believe in ... but because your parents were Christian. And your parents were Christian because their parents were, etc. Christians are Christians, Jews are Jews, Muslims are Muslims, Hindus are Hindus, etc. not because of an informed, spiritual choice ... but because of an accident of birth. If one of you American Christians had happened to be born in Pakistan instead of Ohio ... I assure you that you would be Muslim today, and think that Islam was the "right" religion and Christianity was the "wrong" religion. A geographic roll of the dice made people the religion they are, not being "chosen".

You lose on this one!!! I was raised in a family that never went to church. We never event talked about god. I became a Christian because after reading the Bible cover to cover several times I came to love Jesus very much. After 9/11, I went on a serious search. I realized I did believe in God, a loving one at that. I also realized I couldn't accept a religion for myself that Jesus wasn't part of. What other chose to believe it up to them. What I believe is not an "accident of birth".

One thing everyone forgets; just as there is good in the world: there is evil.
When man turned against god in the garden, that gave evil free rein in the earth. That evil includes sickness and death to innocents and well as non-innocents.

Whether you believe in god or not, there is a struggle going on between good and evil. Sadly, evil seems to be winning these days.

[Lady's Human]

And I'm sure the Hamas militants who hold women and children in targeted areas as human shields and use residential areas as launch points are nothing but angels, PCB.

Besides, if the Arab states were serious about helping the palestinians they could, but they prefer to leave things as they are rather than offer legitamate aid. How about Iran and Syria maybe offering economic assistance instead of keeping up a supply of weapons and agitprop?

[caseysmom]

You lose on this one!!! I was raised in a family that never went to church. We never event talked about god. I became a Christian because after reading the Bible cover to cover several times I came to love Jesus very much. After 9/11, I went on a serious search. I realized I did believe in God, a loving one at that. I also realized I couldn't accept a religion for myself that Jesus wasn't part of. What other chose to believe it up to them. What I believe is not an "accident of birth".

One thing everyone forgets; just as there is good in the world: there is evil.
When man turned against god in the garden, that gave evil free rein in the earth. That evil includes sickness and death to innocents and well as non-innocents.

Whether you believe in god or not, there is a struggle going on between good and evil. Sadly, evil seems to be winning these days.

There are exceptions but really I do believe this is true in most cases. Of course there are missionaries in other countries.

[Twisterdog]

You lose on this one!!!

Actually, no, I don't.

You may not have grown up in a practicing Christian household, but you grew up in a Christian country. When you decided to start actively practicing a religion, you reached for the Bible, the book of Christians. You didn't go to the library and check out the Qu'an or the Torah and read them cover to cover several times as well, before deciding to start practicing Christianity. I'd bet again, you didn't research the Bahá'í faith, Gnosticism or Jainism.

I'm not saying this in and of itself is wrong. It's human nature. We gravitate towards what we know. If I want to buy a new car, I pick from the choices that I am familar with, that my friends and family own, and are readily available in my area. I choose between a Chevy and a Toyota ... I don't even think about a Tata, a Izmash or a Yulon. It's the same with religion ... when basically non-religious people decide to become religious, they almost always choose the religion of their family, friends or country. Not always, there are exceptions ... that's why I did not say "100%" in my original post. But it's incredibly rare that an American decides to start practicing Kharijite, Sikhism, or iAyyavazhi nstead of Christianity.