Ideas for Project

I have two ideas for a project. the first one is to do a presentation about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict starting from 1948 till our recent days from a Palestinian perspective, focusing on the situation in East Jerusalem today.
The other idea is to do a presentation about the possible solutions to the conflict.

No Justice -----> No Peace

I believe the hardest thing in the whole conflict beside the grief is finding solutions. A solution that will give the Palestinians their freedom, justice, equality and sovereignty, and safety to the Israelis. The possible solutions for the Arab-Israeli conflict is first and for most a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The solutions and obstacles available from a Palestinian and humanitarian point of view are as follows:

1)      One – State solution:  meaning everyone regardless their religion, color, nationality or background will live in one democratic country. A country that each person is represented equally and gets the full rights as human beings and citizens of Palestine/Israel. Simply think of it as The United States of America, where there are two major parties, Democratic and Republicans, although they will never reach an agreement, but they live peacefully side by side together as one nation.
Obstacles: One state solution means no state to be established over the land that belongs to one religion or nationality, something that the Israeli side will never accept due to the belief of making a Jewish Homeland.
Comments: there is no country in the world that is exclusive for one religion, why should we as human beings support an idea that will bring more sensitivity and conflict among different religions.

2)      Two – State Solution: according to the UN resolutions 292 and 194 that states, a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders ( including West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as capital), with the full right of return to the Palestinian refugees that compromise the majority of the Palestinian population. An Israeli state within the 1948 borders with West Jerusalem as its capital. The Christian and Muslim holy sites under the Palestinian state control and the Jewish holy sites under the Israeli control. Refugees according to human rights organization, international law, refugees are protected and they should be given their full right of return to their land and paid for their losses. And freedom to political prisoners by Israel.
Obstacles: the only apartheid wall in modern history is erupted on the most fertile lands of the occupied Palestinian territories. More than 200 Israeli checkpoints are located between and within the Palestinian cities. Restrictions of movements of goods and people from outside the “Palestinian State”. The holy city of Jerusalem is being ethnically cleansed by the Israeli occupation forces, destroying more houses and properties that belong to Palestinians and building new settlement units to host Jews from around the world. Israel says that the “future Palestinian State” should be unarmed and its borders to be watched by International third party. Can a Palestinian economy succeed without having control over the borders of a possible state? Would the Palestinian state have its own currency or use the currency of the Israeli state? Israel refuses the so called “division” of Jerusalem, as well as refuses the Full Right of Return to the cities they were evacuated from 63 years ago under the threat of force and killing. Israel claims that Palestinian refugees should only return to the Palestinian State and not to the cities that have been annexed and cleansed in 1948 inside Israel. Another claim is that there is no space to let the 7+ million refugees to return to the land.
Comments: Palestinian might negotiate the borders, east Jerusalem, prisoners, etc but will never negotiate the Right of Return, as it is the bottom line for any peace treaty between the Palestinians and the Israelis. What will happen to those Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem that have been forced to leave their houses, and some forced to destroy them by their own hands? What should happen to them? Who will pay them back the humiliation that they passed through? Who will stand for their rights, beside the 500 shekels ($130) and a tent from the Red Cross? If a peace treaty happens and Palestinians get back a state of their own, why should an international foreign party control its borders? Why a state should ever be unarmed, beside the Vatican for its religious control? If a state is to be unarmed, it should be Israel or the Jewish Homeland, since it is going to be based on religion. Israel claims there is no land space for possible return of refugees, well the Israeli population lives on less than 40% of the land of Israel, meaning that 60% is unpopulated. Can a possible sovereign country or state be divided into two pieces? The West Bank and the Gaza Strip, how should the land be connected? What will happen to 1.5+ million Palestinians living inside the “Jewish Homeland”? Aren’t they part of the Palestinian population?

3)      If none of these are going to happen, if no side is accepting the idea of negotiating, if this long lasting occupation and oppression in modern history continues, if the eruption of the wall of hate is still in sight, if 7000+ prisoners are still jailed violating all prisoner rights conventions, if the violence continues, if the feel of unsafe will dominate, then what is the other option? What will people do? To what ways they will direct their anger and madness? VIOLENCE, WAR, KILLING and the cycle continues.

A current movement of non-violence is growing in Palestine and within the international solidarity groups, which is the BDS campaign. Some you guys might never heard of it, briefly it is to Boycott, Divest and put Sanctions on Israel until it meets the international laws, UN resolutions and stop violating human rights. It is basically to boycott supporting an Israeli company, especially if this company is located within the occupied Palestinian lands, in the settlements. It worked before in South Africa in 1985, in Montgomery, Alabama in 1995, in Delano, California in 1965, it will work in Palestine. This campaign asks any organization, country or nation to boycott and divest from companies that support the Israeli military oppression, colonization and occupation to Palestine. http://www.bdsmovement.net

These are the possible options available for the Palestinian side, the Israeli and the International community. Every possibility have its own obstacles, but if one as a human being, putting everything aside for a minute and stand for human rights, human dignity and human freedom can look at the possible solutions, we can reach to a point where justice, equality and peace will in. Usually the oppressed population calls for freedom, equality and justice and anything that gives them the privilege to live in peaceful and safety environment, given back their rights as human beings, will satisfy them.

I will leave you with few words to think off: Equality, Freedom, Peace, Safety, Oppression, Apartheid, Ethnical Cleansing, Destruction, Violence, and Human Rights. Think of what these words brings to you. Think of them as a human beings who will one day stand up for humanity, to save the children of the future, to give hope, to deliver peace. 

What possible peace could ever happen when the reality on the ground is as complicated as the picture to the side?! Can a reliable Palestinian State could ever take place when land is daily taken? Can a sovereign Palestinian State be established one day with what is left for the Palestinians to live in? 

Chapter 14-18

Here we are reading and summarizing the last few chapters in Armstrong’s book. It is clear that the history of Jerusalem since thousands of years was full with conflicts, struggles, fighting, power ruling, destruction, etc. The history of the land that contains the three monotheistic religions is so complicated and intense. The last few chapters talk about the recent history of Jerusalem, since it was ruled by the Islamic law, to the Zionist movement into Palestine in late 1890, to the establishment of today’s Israel. It is interesting for those who are not familiar with the Israeli-Palestinian roots of the conflict, to learn how the British mandate and occupation to Palestine promised the Arabs their independence, but suddenly make a generous offer to the Jews around the globe to take the land of Palestine and establish a Jewish homeland in. In the chapter entitled “Israel” it goes into some of the details behind the establishment of the world’s biggest catastrophe or in Arabic the Nakba, and the establishment of today’s Israel. One point I wanted to mention is regarding the comment on the picture of Hajj Amin al-Hussieni, who was the grand Mufti of Jerusalem at that time, the picture says how he was “close in relationship” to Hitler. It is important to take into consideration, that at the time Hitler was a leader, although he was racist and Nazi, but he was a powerful leader that many other leaders have somehow connections to. What I disliked about the comment is that it mentioned how Hajj Amin al-Hussieni “might be discredited” due to his relation or overtures to Hitler, and it was not mentioned why he should be credited for all his positive and good things he did to the Palestinians and Arabs at that time. From here we can see how the wording of the words, and the way a book is written might affect the credibility or reputation of a person or a nation.

Throughout my reading to Armstrong’s book, I learned to critic what is mentioned more than support it, as when one critics and questions about things in any book, one learns more and better, and develop a greater and wider image of the topic. It also helps me when I read other’s blogs to see what questions they drew from their readings, rather whether they agree or disagree with the issue. 

Chapters 11-13

A new era of the history of Jerusalem started with the start and spread of Islam throughout the city and the region. Bayt Al-Maqdes is the other name for Jerusalem, or Al-Quds. In these chapters, it talks about the Islam religion and the pilgrimage that was done and the fights that happened to conquer some of the areas to be under the Islamic rule. Since I was born and raised within an Islamic society, I do know most of this information, about when Umar wanted to pray and refused to do so in any of the Christian or Jewish holy sites, concerned that later on, Muslims might convert these places into a Muslim holy place. Regarding the Jizyah or the tax that non-Muslims used to pay, although I do not support the idea of making the homeowners pay money to stay protected at their places, but since a new power took place, usually this is a common thing to happen for minorities, throughout history. One thing regarding the dhimmi or the minorities under the Islamic rule and control of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas that in my personal opinion should not happen, that they had to give up all means of self defense, could not bear arms, and the ‘humiliating legislations’ like minorities were not allowed to build without permissions, they had to bow when they presented the jizyah, were forbidden to ride horseback, and had to wear distinctive clothing, all these rules do not help in a peaceful living within the surroundings. As stated in the book, the system provided religion freedom but not equality or justice. Problems rose between and within the Muslims after the death of Muawyah, and there were many rebellions between the Omayyads and the Yazid. Jerusalem, or Bayt Al-Maqdis became an important city for Muslims as it was for Jews and Christians before, making Jerusalem the only city probably in the region or the lobe were the three monotheistic religions share a belief towards.

Although the city of Jerusalem contained within its boundaries the three religions, but problems stayed between Christians, Jews and Muslims, each believing that their belief is the most righteous one. One very interesting point mentioned in the book is about the Holy Fire in the Anastasis on the evening before Easter Sunday, where people till today gathers to wait for this flame to appear out of nowhere, something that is really interesting to witness and see, as I was within the people who goes to the church there before Easter and wait for the Holy Fire, whether true or false, no one can ever know I guess. The so called Christian Crusaders entered the holy city and a new period of history starts. I said the so called crusaders, because I personally do not agree with the term Crusaders, people from different region invading another in the name of the Christ and the Cross. It is like when Bin Laden declared the war on the States in the name of Islamic religion, something that many Muslims do not accept or respect. History repeats itself, now the crusaders when they took power over Jerusalem banned Muslims and Jews from the holy city. Here comes the injustice where people from outside the region come declaring war on the inhabitants and deny them their freedom of religion and movement, something that we are witnessing in our recent day in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Destruction comes back to the holy city. 

Suad Amiry - Worth watching

Funny and inspiring speech by the Palestinian author of "Sharon and My Mother in Law", Suad Amiry


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r2DPCzgx68&feature=player_embedded#at=185

Parallels-Homeland-Music

“Parallels and Paradoxes” is an interesting piece of knowledge. The name itself is valuable; once a person can understand the parallels, connections and paradoxes in one’s life, conflict or problem, then that person can reach satisfaction. Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim’s both share some background similarities, and both share the understandings of social injustices, literature and culture. When talking about Palestine, one can think of few names that perfectly fit the idea of being the identity of Palestinians and Palestine, one of them obviously is Edward Said. He was a “fighter” and a “defender” at the same time, he was a person with clear future vision, compassionate belief and had a great spirit that even after the body is gone, and his spirit still floats within the Palestinian culture and society.

Interestingly when watching one of the videos, the first Palestinian girl who is part of the Barenboim-Said Foundation is my classmate from back home, Tyme. She mentioned how hard was it for her as Palestinian to be part and participate in this wonderful concert. Another thing she mentioned is that music might be a way to weaken the barriers between Palestinians or Arabs and Israelis, but will not be the solution of such an intense conflict.

One of the question regarding the “knowledge is the beginning” project, is that can music really give those who are detained their basic human rights in living, education, health, movement, etc, back their right of living a simple humane life? Can music really overcome the political differences and overcome the cultural barriers between Palestinians and Israelis in specific?

What was Edward Said’s vision and thoughts of creating such a diverse musical band would effect and contribute to the Palestinian- Israeli conflict? And some people might say that such a project could be a way of normalization between the Palestinians and the Israelis, what do you think regarding the issue of normalization?

In the “Homeland Redefined” thesis, it is clear how both the Palestinians and the Israelis are fighting over a common issue; which is the physical borders of the land. I think this thesis article make things clearer especially to those who are not familiar with the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is really interesting seeing how home and homeland are defined. The article summarizes the concept of defining a homeland, as well as the roots of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

One last thing to mention, although the project and the Barenboim-Said Foundation is a great and outstanding event that might unite both Palestinians, Arabs and Israeli youth together promoting for peace through music, but in my opinion, the conflict is deeper and more intense than one to be solved through music or workshops, such a conflict could only be solved through international laws, human rights laws, and through justice and equality for those who were detained their basic right of living over a property. Our conflict is based on land theft, identity destruction, culture deletion, and music might break the barriers and make things less intense, but this conflict could only be solved by real justice. 

East Jerusalem, Key Humanitarian Concerns

http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_jerusalem_report_2011_03_23_web_english.pdf

The link above is a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories. It is about 118 page long, focused on the history of Jerusalem since the partition plan in 1947 till our recent days, with special focus on the Palestinians of East Jerusalem rights in the city and how the occupation violates it.

Chapter 8-10

Chapter 8 continues talking about the destruction that Jerusalem was going through; it talks about the discrimination and persecution of Jews at the Roman times. Roman occupation to that land years ago, not only destroyed the city and its holy places, but also persecuted the Christians that came after. It is interesting when we see all these similarities between the Christians and Jews, from the way living, to the religious aspects, both were not happy with one another. This chapter also mentions the importance of Jerusalem to Christians at that time, and how they felt towards it. It goes in more details about the Christian faith and Jerusalem. I liked the statement that said how Jews and Romans should put history behind and start over, meaning to remove tens of years of destruction and continue in peace, something that is really hard to achieve. It is unfortunate to see how the results of the war and the way the Jews fought were the only way that the Romans and Rome realized their respect to the Jews. It is really interesting to see how Christians did not only visit Jerusalem, the city, but other cities that Christianity was founded within, as the Jordan Valley. I did not know that Christianity was only considered as official religion until more than 300 years after the birth of Jesus.

“The New Jerusalem” chapter talks about Christianity and how fast it spread. It also talks about fights and problems that rose between different Bishops. It is clear how personal ego and benefits (probably) since early history brought problems between nations and faiths. It goes into the details of Helena’s visit to Palestine, other scholars, the discovery of part of the cross, the tomb, etc. I am not sure why Armstrong skipped important dates of Jesus in Jerusalem, but focused more on the findings and discoveries aftermath. It is fascinating that when Jews were living in Jerusalem, it was called Palestine, while when Christians took power, they called it Israel.

Christians considered the earthquake that happened to Jerusalem as “miracle” while for Jews and for their efforts in rebuilding the temple was a disaster; this shows how each one see things from a different view than another. And we go back to destruction, when the Persians invaded Jerusalem, massacred its Christian inhabitants and destroyed their holy places. 

Anglican Bishop refused VISA renew

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/anglican-bishop-appeals-deportation-order-over-sale-of-land-to-palestinians-1.345375

Suheil Dawani, a Palestinian Christian who took the position of the Anglican Bishop in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel in 2007, ranking as the highest position for Anglicans in the Middle East, has been facing the threat of being deported from Jerusalem, using the excuse that he sold lands that belonged once to Jews to Palestinians, although, all the lands belonging to the Anglican church in the Middle East is controlled by the United Kingdom, and the Anglican cathedral there. He has been refused the VISA renewal, and despite the international pressure from the US, EU, United Kingdom and the Palestinian support to him, his VISA is still canceled, and the Interior Ministry of Israel still want him to be deported from the country.

This is one of the many examples of how Israel is discriminating against Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem. This act is another violation to international laws, and religious laws that any religious figure has the right to stay in his country and practice the freedom of his religion without limitation or restriction.

Chapter 5-7

This week’s chapters (5-7) continue with the very deep and rich history of Jerusalem and that area thousands of years ago. It talks about how that area was never settled in history, from early development till our recent day. It talks about how Jerusalem at one time became more like a desert with no living life in it. One sentence that was mentioned in chapter 6 “those who refused to convert were expelled from the country” reminds me in today’s situations, not religiously wise, but political. The difference is that whoever was expelled had the chance to return home. As we read more, we can obviously see that destruction was a great deal thousands of years ago, and unfortunately till now. Jewish temples and religious sites were destroyed continuously at that period of time. One point that took my attention is the use of exact dates, like 28^th of August, (thousands of years ago), which proves how exact might the history of Jerusalem be.

The conflict over Jerusalem, is more than one about religion, it is also a battle over the history of that holy city. As we continue reading the Armstrong book, it becomes more interesting to learn about the history and incidents that happened in Jerusalem.  

Chapter 1-4

Armstrong in the beginning of her book, mentioned how different and plural Jerusalem as a city is. She talks about how each eye can view and see Jerusalem from a different point of view, and that was clear for her, when her Israeli colleagues showed her different parts and aspects of Jerusalem than her Palestinian colleagues. I liked how Armstrong goes over the word ‘holy’, as she says that although both the Palestinians and Israelis agree that Jerusalem is a holy city, but each define holiness differently, which make it more complex. One interesting point Armstrong mentions in her book is that the Palestinians (whether Christians or Muslims) see the claim of the presence of Solomon’s temple as myth, and how the Jews or Israelis, might look at the story of prophet Mohammad as a myth, I have saw few documentary videos from Israeli and Jewish archeologists that are saying after the years that have been spent in digging under the Old City of Jerusalem trying to look for any tie for the Solomon’s temple, nothing have been found yet. Something that is really interested to focus on. History is different than facts, no one is sure about history, no one knows if the religious stories we hear off are right and exact, they might be changed a bit, and words might have been different hundreds or thousands of years ago than today. In my own humble opinion, I think that we have to put history on the side, because Christians, Muslims and Jews all believe to have ties to this city.

Chapter one talks deeply on the very early history of Jerusalem, what is really clear and obvious is that even historians have no exclusive and absolute fact about who was living in the hills of Jerusalem thousands of years ago. In the second chapter, about Zion and Israel, it is clear that even history is not absolute of what was going on hundreds of years BC. One other misconception that is used now and I have been faced with, is that some people think that the land of Israel, thousands years ago is the same as the “state of Israel” nowadays. This is a misconception, and none is connected to the other. Chapter three talks about the city of David, Judah, the approximate time when they moved into “the promised land”, etc. While I am reading, although I have a few backgrounds about the history of Jerusalem, but I am overwhelmed about this deep and detailed history provided, I am somehow lost between the Jebusites, Cannanites, Israelits, Solomon, etc. It is clear that the history of Jerusalem is one of the richest and oldest in modern history, but at the same time, I do also believe that history stays history, and in any possible talks or negotiations, history should be put on the side, because we are living the present, and the acts on the ground are killing the history of such a city. Also another point is that what was mentioned as the land of Israel or the ‘Promised Land’, thousands years ago was not over the exact land of Israel today, or Palestine now. And it was clear that the Land of Israel was not over the whole land of Palestine/Israel now, but was spread around the areas there. From the first readings of this week, it is clear that violence was there in the City of Jerusalem long time ago. 

Week Two Response

“Jerusalem: The Holy City through the Ages” article is a historical detailed article about the different and consequences occupations to that land. It talks about the history of Jerusalem, a history that is thousands of years of age. One thing that took my attention while reading this article, beside its rick history, it was mentioned that “Jerusalem was reunited during the Six Day War” and in reality Jerusalem was occupied and that’s why we see the whole division between Palestinians and Israelis today.

“Jerusalem Then and Now” article goes deeper in the religious importance of Jerusalem to the three religions. It has been and still is a restless city. I liked the graphs in this article as they summarize the words. By the end of the article, the writer states the problem of Jerusalem, where Palestinians believe that it is a holiest city, and should be included (East Jerusalem) according to the UN resolutions and International Laws under the Palestinian control, while the Israeli leaders and figure consider the question of Jerusalem, unquestionable, undivided city as a capital for the state of Israel, something, that Palestinians no matter when or where will never agree upon.

“The History of Jerusalem, from an Arab Perspective” by Dr. Al-Khalidi is another article that talks about the history of the city. We can see the similarities between the articles in the early old history up to the point in 1917. In this year, the land of Palestine was given as a gift for the Jewish people around the globe, “A country with no people for people with no country”, the first of this statement is not true at any level, because as history states, Jerusalem and Palestine was populated by Arabs (Christians and Muslims) as well as Jews. In this article Khalidi also mentions the status of Jerusalem within the international law eyes, as an occupied land (East Jerusalem) and “the status of Jerusalem remains unresolved to this day”.

The article about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict summarizes the whole conflict. Few things to elaborate on, the word militia was mentioned more than once, Palestinians do not consider those who founded and fought for the Palestinian deprived and lost rights as militants, but freedom fighters. The report in 1947 by the United Nations was rejected by the Arabs and Palestinians, because of a simple belief, which is to think of simply as “if someone took over your house would you negotiate that with him”? “The “earliest predictable date” that was mentioned in the 194 resolution for Palestinian refugees till now, 63 years after the dispossession, this date did not come! One word that really grabbed my attention is “terrorism” when it was given to those lawful Palestinians that fought against occupation and land theft and for their rights. How can a deprived person fighting for his/her basic rights considered as terrorist? Armed struggle is way different from all aspects than terrorism. Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian president was blamed by Israel and its best ally in history the US because simply he did not agree on what Israel offered, best agricultural parts of the West Bank stays with Israel, East Jerusalem not to be under the Palestinian control, and NO to the right of return, which is the bottom line for any peace treaty with Israel. I am not sure why when Palestinians fight against occupation is considered bloodshed and they are considered as militia, while when state sponsor destruction and apartheid is used, is not considered so! One more thing to point out is that Arafat was stuck in his quarter in Ramallah, not just stuck, but surrounded by Israeli tanks, with daily shootings and bombings to his office and quarter, something that no leader in the world faced.

My response is too long I believe, but if I want to be satisfied with myself, I would have written 10 pages long response to the history of the conflict. Few last comments to address, “A hero in one’s eyes might be a terrorist in others”, and “violence brings violence, it is a circle with no end”.