MAKING OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

1. In terms of structure and content the two declarations are strikingly similar. Its almost as if once copied the other but changed the worlds slightly. Israels starts off with a brief religious history of the people and ends with a list of statements about this independence. The Palestine one is identical in this regard as it starts off with a brief history of the Palestine Arab people and ends with a list of statements about the independent Palestine state. As an extension of this statement the histories provided seem remarkably similar as well. Both resemble a long tragedy of displacement and strife and place the land that is Israel in a holy position.
2. Religion plays a massive role in both as not only the defining factor of both groups but also the catalyst on which they fight over the “holy land” that Israel as claimed. So religion is huge for both groups.
3. The Israeli nations sees Palestinians as trespassers almost. people who settled on land that did not belong to them and now seek to reclaim what isn’t theirs. Israelis feels a natural right, a god given right of existence and ownership to the land that Palestine is fighting against. meanwhile Palestine goes as far as to call the Jewish people infidels and invaders who have taken their land on a bases that holds no grounds and no place in the Palestinian nation.
4. the Jewish peoples seek peace and neighborly status while all neighboring nations regardless of religions since that is how they are taught to exist in their religion. Palestine on the other hand wants no part of peace and wants to reclaim this land from the invaders that are their. There is no future where Palestine wins and the Jewish people are still in Israel.

Both documents attempt to use certain religious and regional cultural histories as justification for the formation of their own religious states. On page 1, the Israeli declaration of independence states that the “Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people” and that “here they first attained to statehood.” Also on page 1, the Palestinian declaration of independence argues that Palestine was “nourished by an unfolding series of civilizations and cultures, inspired by a heritage rich in variety and kind, and laying claim to it as belonging to the Palestinian Arab people. Though they both promise to practice religious tolerance within their states, Israel’s document points to it being a “Jewish State” while Palestine’s document emphasizes an Islamic state of Palestine (pp. 3)

The Israeli declaration of independence describes Arab persons living in Israel as being impediments to Israeli state-building, imploring that they “preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State” (pp. 4). The Palestinian declaration of independence considers the presence of Israel as more than a nuisance, and rather more as a hegemon harassing, dispersing, and even killing its people (pp. 4). In terms of where the “other side” fits into state-building, the Israeli declaration of independence argues for keeping Arab inhabitants under its jurisdiction, despite the fact many were still publicly opposed to the formation of the Israeli state in 1948 (pp. 4). The Palestinian declaration, on the other hand, seeks to develop a state wholly independent and separate from Israel, given that the Palestine National Council “proclaims the establishment of the State of Palestine on our Palestinian territory with its capital Jerusalem” (pp. 3). They demonstrably have little interest in trying to subjugate or rule over Jewish inhabitants of Israel, but rather to carve out their own state on their own land.

To begin, the documents take resemblence to each other as both state that the Land of Israel is the birthplace of their respective people, the Jewish and Palestinians. Despite the difficulties from their proclaimed one and only homeland each take pride in that the people held on to their faith and cultural values for their religions in hopes to dispel their exile and or to restore their national independence. Tied down willingly to their proclaimed homeland each took their heritage and each generation to build up their defences, masses, and fought towards national independence with consideration for their beliefs in loving peace.

Religion is a natural link that binds the people together mixed with a sort of related identity that comes with the beliefs in their heritage and ancestors whom followed the same beliefs. However its important to note that just because they are Jewish or Arab does not mean they intensly follow the common beliefs of their people however only that they may feel a connection to their descendants birthplace in the case of their homeland. Therefore they are not necessarily driven solely or even entirely by their religion. This goes with the formation of norms and values which do not relate to the readings of their respective religions, they are separate entities formed by their societys and the people themselves.

The jewish do not really define the palestine directly only that they will accept their existence and in text strive to ensure complete equality to all inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex with hopes to preserve peace despite the onslaughts launched by Arab inhabitants.. The Palestinians do not seems to be as fond of the jewish with their “intensify efforts whose goal is to end israeli occupation”. They claim to be a peace-loving state yet jump at the idea of competiton to proclaim whom is just and for “whom justice is the only recourse”.

 

 

Nationalism and the desire for independence among most inhabitants of the Middle East were common themes seen this week. Many nations have controlled parts of the Middle East for centuries, so the desire for independence has long been wanted and needed. The Middle East has been controlled by other nations for centuries up until recently in the 20th century. Europeans used the Middle East for trade posts, because it was in the middle of Europe and Asia so it served as a midway point between the two continents and it is surrounded by water which makes traveling and trading by sea easily accessible. Then when Europe began focusing on trading with the West, the Middle East’s economy declined which brought more resentment towards Europe and fueled their desire to become independent.

From the Stewart reading, “the post-Ottoman borders and installing a system of external control by European governments, the peace-makers at Versailles often failed to acknowledge the wishes and desires of the local population.” This shows that European powers never cared about the inhabitants of the Middle East and gives us one reason why they wanted independence and praised nationalism. People from the Middle East had no reason to admire or like European culture, religion, or government when Middle Easterners weren’t being treated fairly and given equal rights. So why would they not want to praise nationalism and keep their native culture and religion, and want to change the inequalities and abuse they were facing. From the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, “The Palestinian people was never separated from or diminished in its integral bonds with Palestine. Thus the Palestinian Arab people ensured for itself an everlasting union between itself, its land and its history.” Throughout the history of the Middle East, it endured many rulers, much division, many inequalities and many other negative effects. Through them all, Middle Easterners,  Palestinians specifically never let Europeans take away their pride and dignity. As nationalism grew in other Middle Eastern nations, it was always present in Palestine. 

 

Both Declarations of Independence resemble each other as they both have a tone of rightful ownership to the land the claim. They both discuss how their people have been forced out of the land discussed for significant lengths of time and a sense of birthright ownership over the territory.

The Israeli document is more influenced and supported through religion than the Palestinian document. The argument for Israel is entirely based in the idea that the Jewish people, a population centered around many things but religion being primary, as exiled and coming back to their land on which the religion was founded. However, the Palestinian document does include religion with giving praise to God at the beginning.

Both groups define themselves as an ancient people with as previously mentioned, birthright to the region. They also both identify as being exiled and punished from their land early on, and independence would mean gaining where their “people” originate from once again.

The Israeli’s do not outwardly mention or blame the Palestinians for the situation of their community, however the Palestinian’s reference the Jewish people and several decisions made regarding Israel by outside entities multiple times in a scornful manner.

Finally, both the Israelis and the Palestinians view being able to have their whole community, who both feel has been exiled from the land, all together once again in the region will bring prosperity and repair to their group and provide positivity they had not otherwise experienced since being forced to leave.

Both documents start out by saying how their people have lived in the land for centuries, and also been conquered/exiled. The two documents state these as reasons for their right to live in this land along with the fact that neither group has a country to call their own. Later on each declares their states founding as Jerusalem as its capital, along with a list of rights for citizens, which are very similar. The endings are wrapped up by claiming that their great struggle is over.

Religion is used as an example for why the two groups should be allowed to claim the land, and as a way of attracting immigration. The Israelis describe themselves as a people who have been driven from their homeland but still have held onto their values over this time. Palestinians have the same view but not as extreme, and they feel as if they have been betrayed by others for not being given a home. The Israeli document claims that Arabs in Israel will be seen as equals, and asks for their help in building the nation. It goes on to state that Israel wishes to uplift all of the Middle East. Palestine wishes for Israeli settlements to leave, and to live in the region peacefully alongside Israel. Both states seem to begrudgingly deal with each others presence, while both having claim over Jerusalem.