Symbolism lost in its reality. Palestine Vs Israel

 

Jerusalem the City of Peace,

                                 Struggles to live upto its name
                                                        It's symbolism lost in its reality.

Playing a greater role in the history of a religion as Jerusalem has for Judaism, for Christianity and for Islam. 

They call it City of Peace yet Jerusalem today and has been throughout history a city of conflict. A conflict in Jerusalem, it can only be about 3 things.

• Religion
• Land
• Combination of both

There was a time when there was no Israel, Gaza or the West Bank but only Palestine which was under the Ottoman Empire. Under the Ottoman Empire the Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together peacefully, more or less. 

After the collapse of Ottoman Empire during the World War I, Britishers took control of this area and called Palestine as British mandate of Palestine. Britishers encouraged the migration of Jews as they have issued a public statement during WWI announcing support for establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine then an Ottoman Empire with small minority of Jewish population. As the settlement increased of Jews in Palestine this furthermore increased the conflicts between Jews and Arabs. 

So to solve this issue UN Proposed the division of British Palestine in 1947 . ( As game played during Indo Pak division) A plan about the area to be allotted for creating a Jews country and a Palestine Country. Under the Resolution 181 said that 57% approx. of historic Palestine to be Jewish state and 43% approx. for Arab-Palestine Country. And Jerusalem termed an International spot of reason that it is a holy spot of Christianity, Muslim and Jews. So it came under the UNO control.

This plan was a colossal failure. Arab did not liked it as most of the areas were under Israel, over to that settlement were taking place of Jews in Palestine land. War broke out during year 1948-49 (Arab israeli War), Israel won and occupied more than UN proposed. More than 7000,000 Palestinians had to leave their homes and become refuges in Arab countries. This mass evictions was also knows as 1948 Palestinian Exodus.

In 1967, a bloody conflict fought between Israel and Arab states of Egypt, Syria and Jordan (Also known as Six Day War). Israel successful ground offensive seized the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza strip of Egypt, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan and the Golan Heights from Syria. War ended when UN brokered ceasefire but it has significantly altered the map of the Mideast. Gradually settlement of Jews increased in many Palestinian areas. 

Pursuit of Peace

Agreement signed between Government of Israel and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO established in 1964 to create Palestine state). PLO formally recognized the Israel as a state and in turn Israel returned 40% of West Bank and governance in Gaza Strip to PLO. 

But unfortunately this didn't go for long run.

To have a clear understanding about the situation, refer map.

                          In last several years, in East Jerusalem, many Palestinian families had to face evictions. Israel government is accused of forcefully evicting many Palestinian families out of their homes. Israel illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank have led to the dominance of Israel over Palestine region. Today Palestine theoretically includes the West Bank (territory between modern day Israel and Jordan) and Gaza Strip (Borders modern day Israel and Egypt). However control over this region is a complex in evolving situation. No International consensus concerning the borders. Many areas claimed by Palestinians have been occupied by Israelis. 

HAMAS also known as militant group/political party ruling over Gaza Strip led by Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist. Palestinian PM governing the West Bank Palestinian area have no control on Gaza Strip. HAMAS are anti Israelis. Some countries consider this group as terrorist group. Hamas and Israeli military often launches rockets against each other. Airstrikes and firing of rockets occur between Gaza and Israel. But more damage is on Gaza side as Israel have Iron Dome air defence system with success rate over 90%.

                   Recently tensions mounted during the holy month of Ramadan. When Israel blocked a popular spot where Muslims traditionally gather at end of their fast. In the backdrop of the imminent evictions of Palestinians families from Sheikh Jarah, Jerusalem. As Israel authority considers East Jerusalem as their own area. However it is not internationally recognized. Israel deployed the police preventing Palestinians from gathering there by setting up barricades at the Damascus Gate, one of the main gate in the oldest city of Jerusalem.  7 May, Palestinian people were protesting against these evictions in Al-Aqsa Mosque. This protest turned violent, people and protestors crashed. 10 May Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque and fired Rubber bullets and stun grenades were fired at the Palestinians there as claimed by govt that they were carrying stones and protest taking violent role, 

After this incident Hamas group in Gaza gave ultimatum to the Israeli government to withdraw Israeli Police from the Mosque and stop this illegal settlement in Palestine land or else they will attack. Hence this took a violent rage and rockets were fired from both end (Gaza strip and West Bank)

"European Union says that the evictions by Israel are illegal under international humanitarian law and only serve to fuel tensions on the ground."

"United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the law enforced by Israel is inherently discriminatory. It is prohibited to send Israelis to occupy land under International Humanitarian Law."

The Palestinians says if they drop the weapons they will loose more land, the Israelis says if they drop the weapons there will be no Israel. So Hamas shoots rockets and Israel bombs Gaza.