Imagine walking into a coffee shop.  You sit down and sip on your late while reading the newspaper.  A mysterious looking man walks into the room with a frightening look in his eyes.    Imagine if that was the last time you ever saw daylight.  Well this scenario is a common reality for many people living in Israel.  Suicide bombers have been attacking innocent Israelis for years because of an ongoing war over land.  Numerous civilians have died on public buses, in clubs, universities, coffee shops, stores, and restaurants.  There have been many casualties on both sides, and because of the terrible circumstances Israel’s existence has been questioned.  Palestinians and Israelis both believe that they have rights to the land that is now under Israeli rule.  There have been unfair proposals for Israel to give up land to the Palestinians, and unjust accusations about Israeli security abusing their power.  The Jewish people have been prosecuted numerous times throughout history, and Israel was created in order for Jews all over the world to have a safe haven.  I feel the Jewish people deserve to keep their homeland because they have created a successful country with a strong history, and a democratic way of thinking.  Not only is it important for the United States to stand with Israel, but Israel’s survival depends on individual support and understanding.  This paper will not only try to influence people to stand with Israel, but help clarify any misunderstandings associated with the Middle East. 

            In order to analyze current world problems history is an essential element to be considered.  Israel deserves to exist based on its complex history for a number of reasons.  First and foremost it is ridiculous for the Palestinians to accuse the Jewish people of kicking them out of their land because there was never an official Palestinian state.  The name Palestine was an unofficial name given to an area known as Transjordan (Bard 2001).  Transjordan was a large piece of land that ran from the Jordan River to the Dead Sea and continued south to the Red Sea.  It was 72,500 square kilometers in length whereas the state of Israel is a lot smaller and only half the land is usable due to the Negev Desert.  The state of Israel is only a small portion of what Palestine hoped to become.  Not only was Palestine not official, but it was under British control.  The Balfour Declaration is a vital document from the British who ruled the area that promised to facilitate the foundation of a Jewish national homeland in Palestine (Bard 2001).  A major factor in Israel’s existence is the Partition Plan.  Even before the official creation of Israel the United Nations voted towards making western Palestine into a Jewish and Arab State.  The Jewish people living in that area accepted  the proposal whereas the Palestinian’s wanted to run the Jews out all together. 

If one closely examines history and wars that have taken place a common theme is conquer and rule. That is how America came to exist.  Why should Israel be any different?  Israel has survived many unjust attacks.  Not only has it defended itself, but conquered and won territory.  In 1948 David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel as an independent state in Tel Aviv.  Almost immediately after this proclamation Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon attacked the newly established state.  Arab forces were significantly larger, and better equipped for the battle. Israel prevailed, and even conquered land that was not originally designated to them (Bard 2001).   Egypt, Syria, and Jordan once again fought with Israel in what is known as the Six Day War in 1967.  Once again Israel not only was successful in defeating its neighboring countries and protecting what was theirs, but also gained the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula.  Israel was attacked once more time on the holiest day of the year known as Yom Kippur in 1973 (Bard 2001).  What is significant about this attack is that Israel was not prepared what so ever.  Many Jewish people were observing the holiday in synagogue, and trying to focus their attention on the day of atonement.   However, bordering Arab countries did not succeed in their attempts to gain control of the land.  I believe that it is clearly evident that Israel has fairly won rights to the land because of the overwhelmingly strong defense that has been shown.  This alone is enough evidence to prove that Israel’s existence is honorable. 

Israel and the United States have a strong friendship and understanding that will hopefully last for eternity.  There are several reasons that the United States stands with Israel, and these reasons help to emphasize the importance of Israel’s continuation.  Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.  Historically, the people of Israel have elected incredibly successful prime ministers such as Golda Meir, Ariel Sharon, Yitzhak Rabin, and Ehud Barak.  Israel has been a partner in the pursuit of freedom, and its thriving democracy helps sustain faith in the success of democracy not only in the United States but around the globe (Shultz 1985). Every person is treated equally whether they are Jewish, Muslim, or Catholic.  Democracy is not for everyone, but right now the State of Israel because of its democratic beliefs is a thriving and successful country. Ariel Sharon had an Arab minister in his cabinet by the name of Saleh Tarif.  There are one million Arabs who are Israeli citizens.  Every Israeli citizen is treated with equal rights and is allowed to vote and run for office.  It is almost hypocritical for any individual living in the United States not to stand by a country that shares the same morals and values.

Keeping in mind that the Israeli government is not only successful it is important to consider what governing body the Palestinians have to offer.  The PLO is the government body for the Palestinians.  The Palestinian Liberation Organization has been linked to terrorist organizations in the past.  Although the organization claims they are not associated with these terrorist organizations many of the PLO officials have been linked to these groups.  Yasser Arafat was commonly known as a leader in the Fatah before he took on a leadership position in the PLO.   Although Arafat denounced terrorism and recognized a Jewish state there were still accounts of Fatah growth and strength during his reign (MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base).  Terrorist organizations were responsible for the deaths of many innocent people.  Suicide bombers were known to strike buses, clubs, hotels, universities, shopping areas, and many other public places.  On a personal level I was supposed to visit Israel going into my senior year of high school.  Due to these vicious attacks my trip was cancelled, and I had to wait two more years to go.  Even then when I was in Jerusalem there was a suicide bomber who attacked.  It was a relief to know that because of the security wall my life was saved.  It just horrifies me that people want to give land to a group of people who are led by an organization that has been involved and associated with these attacks. 

A few years ago the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, passed away.  There are two main parties that have been running against each other during elections.  Hamas and Fatah.  Both of which have been linked too terrorism in the past.  However, Fatah has at least denounced terrorism, and has publicly stated that they want to have peace talks.  President Bush considered Arafat an obstacle to peace, whereas Mahmoud Abbas, the candidate representing Fatah, was openly invited and welcomed to Washington in hopes of peace (CNN, 2005).  In the latest election Hamas has taken control of the Palestinian government.  In 2006, Bill Schneider, a CNN reporter stated, “The reality is that the Palestinians voted for a radical Islamist political movement that the United States, Europe and Israel have labeled a terrorist organization.”  Both Israel and the United States have claimed that until Hamas denounces terrorism and acknowledges Israel’s existence negotiations will be difficult.   Israel is more than willing to talk peace, but there has to be someone to negotiate with.  It is impossible to discuss peace with a group of people who are not willing to even recognize the other sides being. 

Another recent development that just emphasizes why people should stand by Israel is unilateral withdrawal.  Israel wants nothing more than to have peace.  There have been too many suicide bombers and terrorist threats in the last decade.  However, the only way that Palestinians are willing to talk about peace is if Israel does not exist.  That theory is not only irrational and unfair, but unjust for many of the reasons stated above.  In an effort to do what it can Israel has started to talk about a unilateral withdrawal.  Recently Israel forced many Jewish people out of the Gaza Strip so that Palestinians could have a homeland.  Israel agrees that the Palestinian state should be larger than that.  They would also like to move people out of some of the West Bank.  However, Palestine is not willing to talk about borders because they do not want to admit that Israel has rights.  If Israel pulls people out of the West Bank they will be deciding on the borders and that may not be fair.  But once again you can’t negotiate with people who are unwilling to compromise and something needs to be done. 

            In Conclusion I feel as though both sides deserve land, however, the Palestinians have no right to land other than the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  I firmly believe that Israelis have proven themselves in their ability to defend and conquer land, their creation of a strong and successful democratic way of life.   I feel as though Israelis should completely leave the West Bank and the Gaza Strip entirely up to Palestinian rule with one condition.  There would have to be a mutual agreement between the two countries not to attack one another, and to leave each other alone.  If Islamic extremist continue to viciously attack innocent civilians than Israeli forces have no other choice than to monitor those areas.  Otherwise Palestine can become an official independent state in the land that they deserve.    

Work Cited

Bard, Mitchell 2001.  Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab Israeli Conflict.  Chevy Chase, Maryland: American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise,

Shultz, George 1985. The United States and Israel: Partners for Peace and Freedom. 
Journal of Palestine Studies

CNN 2005.  Abbas declared victor in Palestinian election. Retrieved February 7, 2006.   http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/10/palestinian.elections/index.html

CNN 2005.  Hamas to take part in Palestinian election.  Retrieved February 7, 2006

            http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/03/12/mideast.hamas/index.html

Hillel The Foundation of Jewish Life.  Israel.  Retrieved February 8, 2006.   http://cms.hillel.org/Hillel/Israel/default.htm

US Department of State 2003. A performance-based Roadmap to Permanent Two State Solution to the Israeli Palestinian Conflict.  Retrieved February 9, 2006 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2003/20062.htm

MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base 2006.  Palestinain Liberation Organization Retrieved  February 10, 2006.  http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=4182

PLO Negotiations Affair Department 2002.  Summary of the Palestinian Positions Retrieved February 10, 2006 http://www.nad plo.org/inner.php?view=nego_permanent_summary_howsummerp

Avnery Uru 2005. Sharon’s Gaza Disengagement Plan Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, May/Jun2005, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p12, 2p Retrieved February 11, 2006 from Ohio University’s Academic Search Premiere.