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Toward a Separate Peace

Spanish Translation

--By Jeremy Caplan

On a recent visit to Washington, D.C., Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with President George W. Bush to announce new steps toward resolving his country's conflict with the Palestinians. Sharon said Israel would give up claims to Gaza, a strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea where 1.3 million Palestinians live. But his plan would still allow some Israeli citizens to live in a disputed region called the West Bank.

President Bush approved of parts of Sharon's plan. Most Palestinians claim the West Bank is Palestinian, not Israeli, territory. Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said he was disappointed that Bush supported the plan. "This is like someone giving a part of Texas's land to China," he said. Bush and many Israelis disagree. Sharon says Israel's claim to the land is clear.

TRADITIONS OF TENSION

For thousands of years, nations in the Middle East have fought over land and principles. Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites are located in the region. The richness of religious history and the memories of those who have died fighting for their beliefs inspire each new generation of Israelis and Palestinians. Both take great pride in their claims to precious territory. Israel was founded as a Jewish country in 1948. Palestinians are determined to establish their own nation in the area too.

Terrorism has become an ugly force in the region. Terrorists have murdered hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings. And hundreds of Palestinians have died in Israel's military responses to those attacks. Innocent civilians on both sides have suffered.

Israelis say that they are at war against terrorism, as bombers aim to destroy their homes, schools and way of life. Palestinians argue that Israel's military has wiped out many of their homes and acted too aggressively in trying to stop terrorists. On April 17, Israel's military assassinated Abdel Aziz Rantisi. He had been the leader of Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization. Israel had assassinated another Hamas leader weeks earlier. The group vowed revenge against Israel, promising to attack civilians 100 times in the coming months.

BUILDING BLOCKS OF HOPE?

In the summer of 2002, the Israeli government began building a security barrier around the West Bank in an effort to halt further terrorist attacks. Israel believes the barrier helps prevent Palestinian terrorists from attacking Israelis. Palestinians resent the wall. They say it prevents them from traveling freely between neighboring towns and even parts of their property.

So far, the number of terrorist attacks has dropped significantly since Israel started building the barrier. That may be partly because of truce talks and tighter security. Most of the barrier consists of a 10-foot-tall electronically monitored fence. A small portion--about 5%--of the barrier is a concrete wall, which is about 20 feet tall.

Even as the barrier goes up, there are renewed hopes for a movement toward peace. Many people in the region want Israelis and Palestinians to live as respectful neighbors someday. What no one knows yet is when, or how, Israelis and Palestinians will leave behind the bitter feelings of the past to reach that goal.

TWO POINTS OF VIEW

The Palestinians and the Israelis disagree on many issues. Here are some of the topics that have long been subjects of debate and sources of conflict.

WEST BANK
Palestinians say...

Israel is unfairly allowing its citizens to live on land that belongs to them, and new barriers disrupt local travel.

Israelis say...

They have a right to remain on what they consider part of Israel's land and to establish security fences.

"THE RIGHT OF RETURN"
Palestinians say...

They have a historic claim to the land of Israel and would like to move to parts of the country where they say their relatives once lived.

Israelis say...

Allowing more than 1 million Palestinians to move into Israel and take over homes would threaten the country's security and Jewish identity.

JERUSALEM
Palestinians say...

Jerusalem should be the capital of their future state. They want certain neighborhoods and holy sites in East Jerusalem to be under their control.

Israelis say...

The city is Israel's capital and should remain undivided and overseen by the Israeli government, with religious freedom for all faiths.

THINK!
When two groups disagree, how should they find points of agreement? Can Israel and the Palestinians compromise?

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