* Taking into account both structure and content, in what ways do these two documents resemble each other?
These two documents illustrate the idea that their independence has been earned, and they are victims of acts of terror. I think it is interested to note that both of these countries feel inherently right and that the actions of both nations are justified throughout their history.
* What role does religion play in each document?
Religion plays a very heavy role in both documents. In fact, in the Israeli document, the Israeli’s say “here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books”. They portray themselves as true owners over the land.
* How does each of these two groups define themselves?
Again, both sides portray themselves as victims. Isreal illustrates the hardships they have gone through over the decades with the Holocaust and strongly feel the need to be liberated when they say, “ACCORDINGLY WE, MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE’S COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ERETZ-ISRAEL AND OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, ARE HERE ASSEMBLED ON THE DAY OF THE TERMINATION OF THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER ERETZ-ISRAEL AND, BY VIRTUE OF OUR NATURAL AND HISTORIC RIGHT AND ON THE BASIS OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEREBY DECLARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL.” These words are very powerful and the Israeli people feel victimized and underrepresented. On the contrary, Palestine claims, “We render special tribute to that brave Palestinian Woman, guardian of sustenance and Life, keeper of our people’s perennial flame. To the souls of our sainted martyrs, to the whole of our Palestinian Arab people, to all free and honorable peoples everywhere, we pledge that our struggle shall be continued until the occupation ends, and the foundation of our sovereignty and independence shall be fortified accordingly.” It is understood through these passages that both sides have experienced great heartache and are obligated to their freedom as citizens.
* How does each define the other?
They treat each other as the enemy and as a nation that terrorizes the other. For example, Palestine ” calls upon all peace-and freedom-loving peoples and states to assist it in the attainment of its objectives, to provide it with security, to alleviate the tragedy of its people, and to help it terminate Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.
* How does each envision the place of the other in their new state?
They envision a world of peace and unity, where freedom is welcomed to everyone in it.

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