Understanding of Israel and Palestine Conflict Based on Readings - Literature review Example

Israel and Palestine Conflict Essay - Based on Readings Understanding the Israel-Palestinian conflict has been one of the most difficult things in the world. However, after reading the books, In the Land of Israel and The Yellow Wind by Amos Oz and David Grossman respectively, one starts to get some insights onto why the conflict began in the first place, and why it is not coming to an end any time soon. Reading the interview carried by Mr. Oz with a man he refers to as Z, an idea of why the Israelis hate the Palestinians is evident. According to Z, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon was a glorious thing which he defends by asserting that, that invasion brought to an end what people perceived as the Jewish morality. Z argues that, in addition to that, one other important and the great thing about the invasion of Lebanon by the Israeli is the hatred by other Arab nations and the world is not only towards Israel, but also towards all other nice Zhids, “…the sweetest thing about the Lebanon war is that, finally, even the nice Zhids are hated, not only Israel…” (Oz 89) The Zhids according to Z are those Jews in the Diaspora who considers themselves to be decent, clean, and different from other Jews. This interview opens up a very interesting subjecting regarding the current fate and situation that the Israelis or the Jews find themselves in. Z argues that, being good, and trying to be moral as the Jews were seen to be before the Lebanon invasion is what made the Jews lose their perceived land, from the Suez Canal to the Oil fields to the Arabs and the Semites. He asserts that it is the reason as to why the Holocaust happened in the first place. Z says that, he is ready to take up arms and go to war just to see Israel returns to glory, get back what they lost to the Arabs and gain the respect they deserve. Acting to be clean and moral will not do the Jews any good, “…just like it did not do them any good in Berlin and Vienna” (Oz 92). Z is ready to kill and displace all the Arabs and is very ready and will to do all the dirty work. He argues that, it is worse for a people to let their women to be made into lampshades and their children into soaps than it is its tormentors. It is, therefore, very clear that the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israeli is solely due to the Israelis quest to reclaim the West bank, which they claim is rightfully their land. If Z’s arguments and documentary can be taken to represent that of many other Jews, then it can clearly be seen why the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians cannot end any time soon. The comparison of this war by Z with the Americans civilization war when they chased out the Indians to take control seems to be a motivating factor. Z argues that, it is better to have a bad history and a respected and feared future a good, moral history with nothing to show for in terms of numbers and land. This, he blames on their forefathers for failing conquer the world through war (Oz 96). Reading and reflecting on David Grossman’s book, The Yellow Wind, where he discusses his trip to Deihesha and interview with the teachers and children in the Deihesha kindergarten, more insight and light is shed on the Israeli-Palestine conflict. According to David Grossman’s interviews, the Palestinians are seen to be suffering under the rule of the Israel. Their involved in the conflict is seen due to their quest of reclaiming their land, which they claim that had been taken by the Jews. In this excerpt, it can be seen that the Palestinians living in camps, in the West bank believe that the only solution to their plight is through taking up arms and going to war as is asserted by one of the kindergarten teachers, “… what was taken by force can only be reclaimed by force” (Grossman 22). It shocking that they do not even trust that Arafat’s efforts of trying to negotiate peace with Israel is the solution neither do they trust their own soldiers. They argue that Arafat and the soldiers are not experiencing any suffering in any way and thus do not have the capacity to fight their war for them. The Palestinians just as the Israelis seem to be full of too much hatred for their enemies, in this case the Israelis. They have even transferred and taught their children to hate the Israelis. This is evident in the kind of teachings and lessons that they teach the children in kindergarten. The stories the teachers tell the children and as well as in the songs that they teach these children to sing. It is, therefore, clear that, with such hatred from both the Palestinians and Israelis, this conflict can never end especially with such hatred being transferred from generation to generation. In conclusion, the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based mostly on the battle for the West Bank and the hatred that have been cultivated between these two nations over the years since 67. However, it is interesting to note that, for the Israelis, it is their own doing that the Palestinians hate them. This is because of how they have treated them; capture imprisoned mothers and fathers, sons and daughters and allowed the hatred towards them, especially their soldiers to be cultivated by the Palestinian children. For the Palestinians, the conflict is about reclaiming back their land; their homes and getting their captured mothers and fathers back. For Israelis, the conflict is about getting the respect they deserve and commanding some sense of fear such that no one can ever attempt to attack them. They also want to claim the land from the Suez Canal all the way to the oil fields which they believe belong to them. Works Cited Grossman, David. Yellow Wind. London: Picador, 2002. Print. Oz, Amos. In the Land of Israel. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993. Print. Read More