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Introduction
Throughout the years, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has been very visible.
This conflict has been developing and growing; making it a very dangerous and harmful
environment for not only these two countries, but to all the other countries that have something
to do with Israel and Palestine. Both countries have a different culture, religion, and government
organization. Therefore, I suggest that the two-state solution can give the best results in
creating peace for the long run. Creating an independent Israel and an independent Palestine,
is the best way to approach and resolve this conflict. Here is why this is the solution: each
country runs their government differently; Palestinians want a palestinian state, and Israelis
want a Jewish state. The only way for both countries to be satisfied, is if they have full control
over what belongs to them. If both countries were to become one state there would never be
peace because everything about them is different. It would be really hard for them to coexist
because they have different views and ways. On the other hand, the negative aspects of the
two- state solution, is that it becomes very hard to set the rules that will keep both countries in
peace. In order for this plan to work, both countries would have to keep their word.

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Background Information
The present conflict between Israel and Palestine has been a part of Biblical history. Abraham
was the father of Isaac and Ishmael; Isaac became the father of Judaism and Ishmael became
the father of Islam. Ishmael lived in Paran, which is now Palestine. Abraham had Ishmael with
his servant, Hagar. After he had Ishmael, Sarah became pregnant, and she gave birth to Isaac.
Since then, there has been resentment between Sarah and Hagar and their sons Isaac and
Ishmael. This has been the source of many battles and wars between the Jews and the Arabs
up to the present day.
Before World War II, in the 1900s, the Ottoman Empire was in control. This empire was mainly
Muslim. They were in control of the Economic, Administrative and Political aspects. During
World War II, the Nazis proposed a new racial order. Jewish people were considered inferior.
The Nazis made the targeting of Jews a government policy. Jews were deprived of their rights.
Nazis launched various attacks on the Jewish community. This is also known as Anti-Semitism,
which is the overall dislike, hatred and discrimination against the Jews.
A term that is very important to define is Zionism. Zionism is the belief in a Jewish homeland for
the Jewish people, in Israel. In 586 BCE the Babylonians invaded and the Jews were sent into
exile for the first time. It is here that Zionism, the longing to return to Zion begins. Zionism today
is about strengthening the connection between Israel and the Jewish people, and protecting and
promoting the Jewish culture.

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The Proposal
The correct way to approach this conflict is by implementing The Two State Solution. This
solution states that the two peoples agree to share the land in a way that allows each to
exercise its right to national self-determination, to fulfill its national aspirations and to express its
national identity in an independent state; living in peaceful coexistence with the other. The main
elements of a Two- State Solution are: Israel would withdraw from nearly all of the West Bank
and end its blockade of Gaza. Both sides would agree to security provisions designed to protect
them from attack. Jerusalem would be a shared, open city. The Holy sites in Jerusalem, such
as: The Western Wall, Haram Al- Sharif/ Temple Mount, and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
would be administered under mutually acceptable terms of sovereignty over these areas.

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Differences in Religion, Culture and Government

Both countries have different beliefs, a different culture, and a different government. In Israel,
Judaism is practiced, while in Palestine, Islam is their main religion. Judaism is one of the oldest
religions; its history extends back through the ancient Israelite and Hebrew people to Abraham.
History is very important to Jews because it shows centuries and millenniums of suffering,
persecution, dispersion, and victory. In Judaism, rituals and religious observances are grounded
in Jewish law. The Jewish house of worship is the Synagogue. On the other hand, Islam is a
monotheistic religion based on revelations received by the prophet Muhammad in the 7th

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century. Islams sacred text is the Quran ( or Koran). Islamic practices are summarized by the
Five Pillars Of Islam: faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and alms.
Both countries have different customs, religion, languages, literature, art, costumes and music
of the land and its inhabitants. Palestinian society and culture is very similar to the neighboring
countries of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. On the other hand, Israels society and culture is more
similar to Eastern Europe. One of the advantages of The Two State proposal is that each
country will have the freedom to rule as they like. They will need to do what is best for the
country, but the differences in governing will not be a problem since they will be separated. Also,
since their cultures are different, they will be able to move as they like. There will not be
disagreements between them because they will not have to learn to coexist.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem is known as the Holy City; it is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is located
between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is a very important city because it is
considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
Unfortunately, Jerusalem is in the middle of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Both of these countries
claim that Jerusalem is their capital, even though, this is not approved internationally.
Both countries have historical connections to the city; this is one of the reasons why they are
fighting for it. Jerusalem is home to some of the holiest sites in both Judaism and Islam, this is
why they both want to make it their capital. Some of the holy sites for Islam located in Jerusalem

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are: The Temple Mount/ Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Some of the holy sites for
Judaism located in Jerusalem are: The Western Wall and Mount Zion.

Terrorist groups/ Hamas

The Hamas started to take power in the 1970s, at the beginning of a Palestinian uprising. This is
the strongest and most powerful terrorist group. They want Israel to leave because they want
their land back. The Hamas are in control of the Gaza strip. They are looking forward to
establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. They have conducted many antiIsrael attacks in both, Israel and Palestine, since the 1900s. Some of their attacks have been;

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large-scale bombings against Israeli civilian targets, small-arms attacks, improvised roadside

explosives, and rocket attacks.

Israeli Checkpoints and Settlements

Israeli checkpoints are situated between Palestine and Israel land. Israeli officials say that
checkpoints are for security. They enable the Israeli army to identify weapons and bombers.
They prevent terror attacks that could harm the civilians.On the other hand, checkpoints are
also brutal because people wait for hours in order to cross. Sometimes they stand there for
hours without food, water or protection.
Settlements were established by Israel in territories captured in the 1967 Six Day War. Typically,
settlements are small, only-Jewish communities that are made up of a few thousand people.

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These settlements obtain the same benefits and services as towns in Israel. These settlements
are considered National Priority Areas, therefore, they receive more benefits; they receive
more help from the government. Settlement schools receive more funding, and the teachers
receive higher salaries.

Human Rights
The checkpoints violate Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states,
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each
state. Many other organizations, such as: The World Health Organization and other
humanitarian groups, have seen hundreds and thousands of deaths resulting from the Israeli
soldiers actions.
When it comes to human rights, checkpoints and other roadblocks, violate them. There have
been many cases recorded throughout the years, in which peoples rights have been
trespassed. According to articles published in the last 10 to 20 years, Human Rights workers
have witnessed cases in which Palestinian men and boys have been denied access at the

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checkpoints just because they are smiling, or are ugly, or because the soldiers do not want to let
them pass. There is evidence that shows ambulances carrying sick or injured Palestinians. In
some cases, they even die. Another atrocity seen at the checkpoints is pregnant ladies having
their babies there because they werent allowed to pass. Many times the mothers and their
babies die.

Work Cited
"CEPR." - . CEPR. Web. 8 Apr. 2015. <http://thecepr.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=115:illegal-israelisettlements&catid=6:memos&Itemid=34>.
Haaland, Hanna, and Peter Trainor. "Death Traps: Israel's Use of Force at Checkpoints in the
West Bank." Death Traps: Israel's Use of Force at Checkpoints in the West Bank. Al-Haq
Organisation. Web. 7 Apr. 2015. <http://www.alhaq.org/publications/publicationsindex/item/death-traps-israel-s-use-of-force-at-checkpoints-in-the-west-bank>.

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"Israel Science and Technology Homepage." System of Government in Israel. Web. 1 Jan.
2015. <http://www.science.co.il/Government.php>.