“Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic, and saying so is vile. But singling out Israel for opprobrium and international sanction out of all proportion to any other party in the Middle East is anti-Semitic, and not saying so is dishonest.” ― Thomas L. Friedman
Consider the quote by Thomas Friedman. To what extent are the problems in the Middle East a product of anti-Semitism, and to what extent are they a product of Nationalism?
Political unrest and constant fighting has plagued the Middle East, particularly in Israel and the Gaza strip since World War 2. Even before this the Middle East was in continual turmoil, with nations battling for its rich resources, the latest and most prominent being oil. Besides resources, the area faces political, economic, and territorial issues between various nations, mainly between the Jews and the Arabs. The root of the problem depends on whose standpoint the problem is seen from. The Israeli's would consider the problem a product of Anti-Semitism and the fact that Arabic nations do not want to recognize Israel as a sovereign state in the Middle East. The Arabs would say the problem is a product of nationalism. Either way, the root of the problem is tension between Israel and Palestine for the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. With a neural viewpoint, neither Arabic nor Israeli, it is clear that the problems in the Middle East are less an issue of anti-Semitism and more an issue of nationalism, with both nations having strong religious ties to the region.
From the Arabic standpoint, nationalism can be seen in the strong feelings each Arabic state has towards its nation. "Most Arabs maintain that the root cause of the conflict is the dispossession and dispersal of the Palestinian Arabs, an original sin which was compounded by Israel's subsequent territorial acquisitions." (global issues, 2012). They believe that each Arabic country is part of the bigger middle-east nation. They fight in amongst themselves over religious and political issues, yet the one thing they all agree on is Israel. The Arabic nation is united in the spirit of keeping their region Islamic and the fact that the Israeli's have infringed on Palestine causes serious unrest for the Islamic nation as a whole. However, the way of dealing with Israel is two-sided. Some Arabs believe in containment while others feel that jihad is the answer. This difference has caused separation and tension between Arab politics and religion.
"Most Israelis, on the other hand, maintain that the root cause of the conflict is not territory but the Arab rejection of Israel's very right to exist as a sovereign state in the Middle East." (globalissues, 2012) Zionism is a term for the movement of Jews to Palestine. The Jews claimed that it was a decree from God that they are returned to the Holy Land. They believe that their capital, Jerusalem, and the lands round about are theirs. The State of Israel was established in 1948. This movement and settlement was based on the spirit of nationalism and entitlement to the Holy Land. The problem, however, is that the Arabs believe that Israel is their Holy Land as well. Both nations believe that God is on their side.
A counter argument would be that Israel is a nation, a set in stone nation that should be completely recognized as a state, and that any conflict about them being there is a product of anti-Semitism. The Jews have been scattered and driven from land to land, especially with the onslaught of World War 2. Those arguing that the root of the problem is anti-Semitism would say that the Arabs don't want Jews in the middle east based on the fact that they are Jewish.
"Zionists cite biblical passages in which God awarded them Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, in perpetuity in his covenant with the children of Israel. Muslims make a counter-claim based in part on verses of the Qur'an."(Middle East Forum 2009). It is clear that no matter how one wants to look at the problems in the middle east, and whether the root is religious or political, the underlying factor is that both Arabs and Israeli's have a strong feeling of nationalism toward the land on the east coast of the Mediterranean, a land they both feel is their land.
Citations:
Globalissues.org
(http://www.meforum.org/2462/the-quran-israel-not-for-jews)
Article by Avi Shlaim
(http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ssfc0005/The%20Middle%20East%20The%20Origins%20of%20Arab-Israeli%20Wars.html)
Middle East Forum. (meforum.org)
Consider the quote by Thomas Friedman. To what extent are the problems in the Middle East a product of anti-Semitism, and to what extent are they a product of Nationalism?
Political unrest and constant fighting has plagued the Middle East, particularly in Israel and the Gaza strip since World War 2. Even before this the Middle East was in continual turmoil, with nations battling for its rich resources, the latest and most prominent being oil. Besides resources, the area faces political, economic, and territorial issues between various nations, mainly between the Jews and the Arabs. The root of the problem depends on whose standpoint the problem is seen from. The Israeli's would consider the problem a product of Anti-Semitism and the fact that Arabic nations do not want to recognize Israel as a sovereign state in the Middle East. The Arabs would say the problem is a product of nationalism. Either way, the root of the problem is tension between Israel and Palestine for the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. With a neural viewpoint, neither Arabic nor Israeli, it is clear that the problems in the Middle East are less an issue of anti-Semitism and more an issue of nationalism, with both nations having strong religious ties to the region.
From the Arabic standpoint, nationalism can be seen in the strong feelings each Arabic state has towards its nation. "Most Arabs maintain that the root cause of the conflict is the dispossession and dispersal of the Palestinian Arabs, an original sin which was compounded by Israel's subsequent territorial acquisitions." (global issues, 2012). They believe that each Arabic country is part of the bigger middle-east nation. They fight in amongst themselves over religious and political issues, yet the one thing they all agree on is Israel. The Arabic nation is united in the spirit of keeping their region Islamic and the fact that the Israeli's have infringed on Palestine causes serious unrest for the Islamic nation as a whole. However, the way of dealing with Israel is two-sided. Some Arabs believe in containment while others feel that jihad is the answer. This difference has caused separation and tension between Arab politics and religion.
"Most Israelis, on the other hand, maintain that the root cause of the conflict is not territory but the Arab rejection of Israel's very right to exist as a sovereign state in the Middle East." (globalissues, 2012) Zionism is a term for the movement of Jews to Palestine. The Jews claimed that it was a decree from God that they are returned to the Holy Land. They believe that their capital, Jerusalem, and the lands round about are theirs. The State of Israel was established in 1948. This movement and settlement was based on the spirit of nationalism and entitlement to the Holy Land. The problem, however, is that the Arabs believe that Israel is their Holy Land as well. Both nations believe that God is on their side.
A counter argument would be that Israel is a nation, a set in stone nation that should be completely recognized as a state, and that any conflict about them being there is a product of anti-Semitism. The Jews have been scattered and driven from land to land, especially with the onslaught of World War 2. Those arguing that the root of the problem is anti-Semitism would say that the Arabs don't want Jews in the middle east based on the fact that they are Jewish.
"Zionists cite biblical passages in which God awarded them Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, in perpetuity in his covenant with the children of Israel. Muslims make a counter-claim based in part on verses of the Qur'an."(Middle East Forum 2009). It is clear that no matter how one wants to look at the problems in the middle east, and whether the root is religious or political, the underlying factor is that both Arabs and Israeli's have a strong feeling of nationalism toward the land on the east coast of the Mediterranean, a land they both feel is their land.
Citations:
Globalissues.org
(http://www.meforum.org/2462/the-quran-israel-not-for-jews)
Article by Avi Shlaim
(http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ssfc0005/The%20Middle%20East%20The%20Origins%20of%20Arab-Israeli%20Wars.html)
Middle East Forum. (meforum.org)