Mideast Conflict
Since the expiration of the British Mandate over Palestine and Israel's formal declaration of statehood in 1948, the Israel - Palestine question has served as a lightening rod for controversy and conflict in the Middle East. Looking for historical background on the current crisis? Listen below to selections from the Club's audio archive on Palestine and Israel, dating back to the 1940s - and browse our links to online maps, timelines and media resources. |
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Want to sound off on the intractable conflict between Israel and Palestine? Join our online discussions.
Get involved. Join one of the following advocacy organizations to register your concern about what's happening in the Middle East:
*The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee
*Al-Awda: The Palestinian Right To Return Coalition
*Foundation for Middle East Peace
THEN & NOW: CLUB SPEAKERS ON THE MIDEAST CONFLICT
| Rabbi Irving F. Reichert Vice President of the American Council for Judaism |
[04-05-1946] |
- "The Jews in the World Today" (45:41)
- Excerpt:
On Jewish Emigration to Palestine (10:07)
"As far as the stateless Jews in Europe are concerned, Palestine unquestionably offers the most promising solution....Moreover, it cannot be denied that the Jewish people have a special claim upon that land....The claim of an open-door to Palestine for Jews inheres in the Balfour Declaration, issued by Great Britain during the First World War."
| Aouney W. Dejany Professor of Law, Iraq Law College, Baghdad; Member of the Arab Office, Washington, D.C. |
[04-11-1947] |
- "Who is Right in Palestine?" (44:53)
- Excerpts:
On A Jewish Nation (:51)
"...Judaism is a faith; it is not a nationality"
On Terrorism in Palestine (2:04)
"...during the past 18 months, every [Jewish] refugee to whom Palestine was kind has joined the terrorist gangs."
On Arab Opposition to Zionists (6:37)
"I do not think that there is any group of people in the world today who would welcome to their land a group who is as hostile to the country as the Zionists are towards the natives of Palestine."
| Hanan Mikhail-Ashrawi Arab League Commissioner of Information |
[11-05-2001] |
- "Peace Making in the Middle East" (60:13)
Speech (28:23)
Q&A (31:50) - Excerpts:
On the Israeli Government (2:27)
"[Sharon's] policies continue with the erroneous assumption that escalation, punitive measures, cruelty, military subjugations can produce security for the Israelis. The real fact is that the more you threaten and undermine, attack the Palestinians and undermine their security, the less security there is for anybody."
On Human Rights Violations (5:30)
"...this conflict has been allowed to continue for too long and the occupation has been allowed to continue for too long, at the tragic expense of human rights in our part of the world. As I speak to you today, I know that the Palestinians are still languishing under the most brutal siege."
On Terrorists Attacks of 9/11 (3:42)
"...it takes a global collective effort in order to deal with the causes, in order to prevent recurrence, in order to dry up the fertile grounds in which extremism, fundamentalism and terrorism thrive."
On Hamas and Islamic Jihad (5:30)
"...I personally have always been committed to peaceful resistance....Now I personally do not consider Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations."
| Shai Feldman Director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Tel Aviv University |
[12-12-2001] |
- "The Middle East After 9/11: An Israeli Perspective" (36:12)
Speech (35:11)
Q&A (25:15) - Excerpts:
Bush Policy (4:15)
"What essentially the Zinni mission is about is to say, 'Look, September 11th created a new atmosphere and the new atmosphere is characterized by zero tolerance for terrorism.' And the question is whether the Palestinians recognize that this is a new reality..."
On Sharon's Response to Palestinian Violence (4:34)
"There is not sufficient support in Israel for escalation. And one has to understand that Sharon is pursuing a moderate policy...because there is no consensus in Israel on escalation. And Sharon, having experienced in 1982 the results of running foreign policy when only half of the country is behind you, is in my view and judgment, determined to avoid the mistake of 1982. So he is very careful to have a consensus behind him."
On Hamas and Islamic Jihad - And Ashrawi's Defense (2:36)
"Islamic Jihad does only...terrorism. Hamas, it is true, is both a terrorist organization...[and] is a movement that also deals with the Palestinians' social and economic problems, and is also a social organization...But the fact that these movements if it's Hamas or Hezbollah in the case of Lebanon, also engage in social activity doesn't diminish the extent to which these organizations are engaged in carrying out horrific acts of terrorism."
On Responding To Hamas and Islamic Jihad (2:26)
"If there was any real clear evidence that the Palestinian security services are beginning to do seriously what is required of them, which is to arrest people who are on the list submitted to them by General Zinni and to begin to dismantle Hamas and Islamic Jihad - who are not less committed to terrorism than Al Qaeda - then certainly Israel would be the last to prevent them from doing their job."
MAPS, TIMELINES AND MEDIA RESOURCES ON THE MIDEAST CONFLICT
BBC News
In-depth reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including late-breaking stories as well as historical maps, timelines, and analysis.
Washington Post
"War and Peace in the Mideast" feature page with in-depth articles, editorials, photo gallery and complete government reports.
The Guardian Weblog
"Weblog Special: Israel and the Intifada" provides a compilation of the best online news, features and analysis gathered by The Guardian.
The Jerusalem Post (Internet Edition)
Get up to date news from this major Israeli English-language newspaper, which also streams radio feeds, provides maps of Israel, and hosts forums for discussion.
Arabic Media Internet Network
Offers recent news stories, editorials, cartoons and chats in both Arabic and English.
Voice of America Timeline
A news source in 53 languages, this site provides a historical timeline of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dating from 1000 B.C. to the present.
The Balfour Declaration
A 1917 letter to Lord Rothschild, from the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour, that became a foundational document legitimizing the creation of the state of Israel.
Declaration of the State of Israel, 1948
From the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Independent.co.uk
Read up on the latest events and analyses on the Middle East with the current week's articles gathered together on this page.
CNN Maps
A cartographic history of the Middle East, from the 1920 Mandate to the 1993 Accords.
Tom Campbell
Dee Dee Myers