Salt Lake Community College

Viewpoint Synthesis

Humanitarian Crises in Discussion with Peace Talks Between Israel vs Palestine

Fatima Al-Saedy

English 1010

28 Nov 2022
 Most cannot agree on the effects of the Israel and Palestine conflict when it comes to

peace talks involving the humanitarian crises that are going on in Gaza and the West Bank. Some

say that there are no humanitarian issues going on in the state of Israel. While those who live as

having a Palestinian identity record tell the stories of them being denied basic human rights. Still,

others say that Western countries should not get involved in Israel and Palestinian conflict due to

some Western historical backing.

When Israel is accused of human rights violations it is worded to the public that there was

retaliation from the Palestine side. To keep Israel a functioning state Israel has created IDF and

Mossad which conduct missions just like the FBI and CIA do in the United States. “Of course,

states may survive in the short term through sheer habit or the application of brute force, even

when their legitimacy has been severely undermined. In the long run, however, only a state

whose existence is justified by its citizens can hope to endure. The ability to provide a clear

rationale for a Jewish state is, therefore, of vital importance to Israel’s long-term survival.”

(Gavison, 2020) Just like the United States, it removes its threats when it comes to maintaining

the country’s status and the safety of citizens. Israel is just protecting the people of Israel. It is

defending its lands by creating laws to protect its citizens from Palestine and Arab threats. That

is the side of the Israeli government when it comes to accusations of human rights violations.

The people who once lived in a country named Palestine after getting their independence

from the British and Ottoman empires. However ever since the Nakba day, “The day of

Catastrophe” [Israel’s occupation of Palestine], occurred it changed the whole narrative of

Palestine’s lifestyle. Palestinians had to flee to neighboring countries like Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and

Egypt. Those who stayed in Israel after the occupation had to go through the horror of war and

annexation. To this day generations have passed and even though they are territories like the
West Bank and Gaza there is illegal occupation of Israelis living there.  “…the war crime of

transferring part of your own civilian population into occupied territory.” (UN, 2022) Going

from the West Bank to Jerusalem is so changeling. The checkpoints are where much misconduct

occurs. Israel laws only benefit Israeli Jews that live in Israel. If you are anything else, they are

against you. Israel has created apartheid when it comes to basic human rights. While also having

laws written against the Palestinians, a far-right group called Lehava has continually been

spreading anti-Arabism for the last 16 years. “The ideas and beliefs of Lehava come straight out

of Kahane's ideology…primarily known for its outspoken anti-miscegenation platform,

whether through leaflets, protests or acts of violence against Palestinians in relationships with

Jewish Israelis.” (Sneinah, 2021) For the last couple of years, the Lehava group has gone into

mosques during the Muslim holy month, Ramadan, and attacked worshippers. Chanting “Death

to the Arabs.” (Sneinah, 2021) This is the viewpoint of the Palestinians regarding the human

rights violations they have been facing.

Western countries have been involved in West Asia (Middle East) and North Africa since

the late 1800s. Especially after the first World War countries were split into majority with France

and Britain after the downfall of the Ottoman empire. The League of Nations made the borders

of where each of these countries would stand causing many issues because “the experts” who

were sent to create the borders did it in a couple of months. They were both French and British

background does not understand the background of the nations they were creating. Palestine was

made and it was occupied by the British. Palestine was promised their national independence.

Yet, it was short-lived due to the UN decided that the home of where Jews will be the land of

Palestine due to the ancestors of Jews living and occupying that land before the Romans invaded.

Now, when it comes to human rights violations and the United States speaking up with other
Western countries, they fail to raise concerns. “The US gives Israel billions of dollars in aid

annually, consistently blocks UN Security Council resolutions condemning Israel, and backs its

military offensives publicly... Stability in the Middle East continued to be a major American

interest, for a number of reasons that included the global oil market, and the US took on the role

as guarantor of regional stability.”(Beauchamp, 2014) One of the major reasons many Western

countries do not speak up for the wrongs Israel has done is due to the loss they will feel

economically. One of those countries is the United States. In the West Asian region, the US has

many foes, for example, that being Iran. While also the West believes, it is “the only democracy

in the Middle East.” (Beauchamp, 2014) This is the view when it comes to Western relations and

interacting with the Israel vs Palestinian conflict and the approach of condemning the

humanitarian crises.

Throughout the research that has been conducted, the view that has been created for me

is, the Palestine humanitarian crises are being completely neglected by Western media and the

UN. “Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful under international law.”(UN, 2022)

Has been stated by the UN, yet not enough is being done to prevent further violations to occur. It

is causing an even bigger divide when it comes to peace talks with the Israel and Palestine

conflict. The layers of violence, death, and destruction will only continue due to a fear of

Western countries’ involvement in the conflict. The Arabs and Jews deserve to live in a world

full of strength, safety, and unity. Yet, the division is only increasing more by day.
 Annotated Bibliography

INTRODUCTION: The background of the research I will be discussing is about the ongoing
conflict and humanitarian issues that are going on between Palestine and Israel. I will be going
through a brief history of each viewpoint with its present statements/ experiences. My question is
when it comes to how have Palestinian humanitarian issues been condemned when it comes to
forming a road of peace?

SOURCES: Kersten, Mark. “No Justice without Peace, but What Peace Is on Offer?” Journal of
International Criminal Justice, vol. 18, no. 4, 2020, pp. 1001–1015.,
https://doi.org/10.1093/jicj/mqaa050.

SUMMARY OF YOUR SOURCE: This article is about the potential investigation by

the International Criminal Court. Specifically, of the injustices that have been going on in
the Israel state. It really goes in-depth on the peace vs justice debate that is going on
currently when it comes to condemning Palestine's human rights and the Israeli
government’s apartheid laws. It argues by using the history of the state and its background
in the field that the current peace talks that are being talked about will not actually make
peace. It may make the problems much worse.
RESPONSE TO YOUR SOURCE: This viewpoint represents the side injustices of the
Palestinian experience in Israel. Some key rhetorical aspects to be considered are the
history and present events that are happening. The audience is politicians, peacemakers,
the International Criminal Court, Palestinians, and the Israeli government. This source is
credible because it is a journal about “International Criminal Justice”. It uses credibility
and the history of the state we are talking about. The author also has other publishing in
other international criminal justice cases.

OVERALL CONCLUSION? Through this source, I feel I have gained a perspective of

Palestine and Israel’s peacemaking that is not talked the media. Especially in current peace talks
that can cause wars and much more injustice to happen. It makes me understand the Israeli
government better as well.

SOURCES: UN. “Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territory Illegal: Un Rights Commission |

UN News.” United Nations, United Nations,
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129722.
 SUMMARY OF YOUR SOURCE: This source talks about the UN lawing on
Palestinian and Israeli issues. It goes over the UN principle, settlement ‘enterprise’,
restrictive land policies, silent harm and trauma, and international action required.
RESPONSE TO YOUR SOURCE: This viewpoint represents the side of the
international laws that Israel has signed but has violated. It backs up the Palestinian
people and the traumas they have endured. The audience is the world and politicians.

OVERALL CONCLUSION? Through this source, I more about the war crimes Israel is
accused of. This ongoing conflict is almost 76+ years. The international actions required are
difficult to uphold due to the UN having limited power.

SOURCES: Debre, Isabel. “As Israel's Far Right Parties Celebrate Electoral Victories, Many
Palestinians Expect Not Much Will Change.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 3 Nov.
2022, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/as-israels-far-right-parties-celebrate-electoral-
victories-palestinians-shrug.

SUMMARY OF YOUR SOURCE: This source talks about the current politics that are
happening in Israel. With the new Israeli government that has been appointed, it looks like
the government is only moving toward far-right ultra-orthodox. Many Israelis are very
content with the government because it has a chance of expanding Israel's lands as it has
been with it is settler movement in the Palestine territories. Many Palestinians believe that
their fate is only about the current policies and with only get harsher.
RESPONSE TO YOUR SOURCE: This viewpoint represents the side of politics that
currently going on in Israel. Seeing how far-right politicians are moving and it is for the
Palestinians their versions of normal are always altering. The audience is Western
countries, Palestinians, and the Israeli government. The source comes from the reliable
source PBS. It is more of a liberal newscast.

OVERALL CONCLUSION? Through this source, I learned that peace has always been
difficult to achieve through this conflict, but the layers of this conflict are only adding on to each
other.

SOURCES: Gavison, Ruth “The Jews' Right to Statehood: A Defense.” The Tikvah Fund, 17
Aug. 2020, https://tikvahfund.org/uncategorized/the-jews-right-to-statehood/.

SUMMARY OF YOUR SOURCE: This source talks about the importance of the
Zionist state of Israel. It goes into depth about why protecting and maintaining land for
 Jews is important. It talks about the ancestral back ties that Jews have to the Palestinian
land that now is called Israel. The Zionist moment was before World War II, and it goes in
about the hatred of antisemitism. The solution for antisemitism is to have a safe place for
Jews to live and be.
RESPONSE TO YOUR SOURCE: This viewpoint represents the Zionist moment and
why the Zionists claim Palestine as Israel. Some rhetorical key aspects are it states the
same things with different multiple times throughout the source. It backs itself up with
history that is from the Jewish perspective. Its audience is anyone who does not think
Israel should stay standing.

OVERALL CONCLUSION? Through this source, why Zionist want Israel to them. This
source is not very reliable. It is very far right in the Zionist movement; however, it is a good
perspective to understand the Zionist mind.

SOURCES: Sneinah, Mustafa Abu. “Lehava: The Anti-Palestinian, Far-Right Israeli Group
Marching in Jerusalem.” Middle East Eye, 29 Apr. 2021,
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-lehava-extremist-group-marching-
jerusalem.

SUMMARY OF YOUR SOURCE: This source talks about the anit-Palestinian/ Arab,
far-right group called Lehava. The leader was formed by a Rabbi named Meir Kahane. His
motive for creating this state was to prevent Jewish assimilation with non-Jews. The ideas
and beliefs the group upholds come from Kahane’s ideology. Something Kahane believes
is the complete expulsion of Palestinians, forced to take their land, annexation, and
occupation of the West Bank. He believes other parts of the middle east also belong to
Israel. For example, the Euphrates river in Iraq, Lebanon, and much more.
RESPONSE TO YOUR SOURCE: This viewpoint represents the right wing of Israel
groups. The hatred and deep seeded ideology of anti-Arabism and Israeli nationalism.
The target audience is to understand the ideology of Arabs, Jews, Western media, and
politicians of Israel.

OVERALL CONCLUSION? Through this source, I understand the background of the Lehava
movement and the leader of the crusade against “vampires” (an anti-Christian movement in
Israel). It has given me a perspective of the time because Palestinian human rights are still an
issue.
SOURCES: Beauchamp, Zack. “Why the US Has the Most pro-Israel Foreign Policy in
the World.” Vox, Vox, 24 July 2014, https://www.vox.com/2014/7/24/5929705/us-israel-
friends.

SUMMARY OF YOUR SOURCE: This source talks about the reason why the United
States has so many connections and back when it comes to Israel. The United States has
had a very similar policy when it comes to dealing with the Middle East since the Cold
War, especially using its complex of being a powerful nation. Many Americans are a pro-
Israel nation. Many believe that pro-Israel is good for the US and Israel.
RESPONSE TO YOUR SOURCE: This viewpoint represents American Zionism and
United States’ backing when it comes to the Israel state. The target audience is
Americans, Middle East policymakers, and much more.

OVERALL CONCLUSION? Through this source, I have learned why the connections and
stakes are so high with the US having a connection with Israel.