Israel P.L.O. Peace Treaty Essay -- Middle East Politics Political Ess

Israel P.L.O. Peace TreatyThe Middle East has always been known as the Holy Land, the land of the Bible. For centuries, prophets have walked there, nations have collided and conquerors have come and gone. period Jews claim a three thousand-year-old attachment to this ancient land, Arabs also stake their devotion. In 1993, these two peoples, involved in a tragic conflict that has lasted to a greater extent than half a century, saw the possibility of a new beginning. It was called the Oslo Accord, and it transformed the political realities of the Middle East (Peres, p.2) However, there have been many riled events that have followed the signing of the Accord, events that have undermined the agreement and are threatening to drive Israelis and Arabs apart once again. Since the founding of Israel in 1948, there has been continuous conflict betwixt Israel and the Arab states. This conflict has been marked by six bloody wars. In 1867, during the six-day war of Syria, Jordan and Egypt, Isr ael captured the westernmost Bank, Sinai and the Gaza strip. Subsequently, a population of over a million Palestinian Arabs, in concert with their land was now under Israeli control. (Spencer, p.70) It was during this time that a Palestinian leader emerged, Yasser Arafat. Labeled a terrorist by Israel and the unite States, he and his Palestine hammock Organization called for the eviction of Israel from the occupied territories by force of arms. In 1979, Israel returned Sinai to Egypt by a peace treaty. Although Egypts Prime Minister Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1982 by anti-peace forces, the peace still remained between the two countries. This paved the way for negotiations with Jordan, Syria, and the Palestines. (Hunter, p.17-20) However, Israels continued occupation of the Palestinian territories led to the uprising of Arab youth in the West Bank and Gaza, known as the Intifada. For the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, the Intifada provided them with a new and asserti ve Palestinian identity. Israelis were also growing tired of their roles as occupiers, as soldiers trained to defend their country in war were finding themselves aiming their weapons at rock throwing teenagers. Many Israelis were disillusioned and desperately eager for a solution. When the United States and Russia initiated talks in Madrid and Washington at the end of the Cold War, it seemed that peace was at... ...alestinians a path of opportunities has been shown. It is a difficult path, but unless it is pursued, generations might elapse before anyone will attempt such a peace process again. Works CitedChronology of Bombing Attacks Following September 1993 Accord. www.Nando.com, 1996. Chronology of PLO-Israeli Peace Moves. www.Newsobserver.com, 1995. Corelli, Rae. Days of reckoning in Macleans Magazine p.34-35. Toronto, Canada Maclean Hunter Limited. September 5, 1996 Finkelstein, Norman G. The Rise and Fall of Palestine- A Personal Account of the Intifada Years. Minneapolis Un iversity of Minnesota Press, 1996. Hunter, Robert F. The Palestinian Uprising. Los Angeles University of calcium Press, 1995. Israel Mourns Bombing Victims. www.nando.com, 1996. Peres, Shimon. The New Middle East. New York Henry Holt and Company, 1995. Silver, Eric. A Martyr to Peace in Macleans Magazine p.26-28. Toronto, Canada Maclean Hunter Limited. November 13, 1995 Spencer, Dr. William. The Middle East. Connecticut The Dushkin publication Group, Inc., 1994 U.S. Envoy Organizes Top Israeli, PLO Meeting. www.lycosnews.com, October, 1997