Palestinianisraeli Conflict

The conflict in the Middle East between these two nations is complex and full of political nuances and undercurrents that have existed for centuries. Paper Masters can help you understand them and provide you with excellent resources in a custom written research paper on the United States' roll in the Palestinian and Israeli conflict.

The United States has played an essential role in the slow negotiation of peace in Palestine. It was at Camp David where Israelis and Palestinians were first able to discuss important issues that had previously been considered taboo. The United States policy of diplomacy and mediation in regard to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict has not been in vain. It has also become increasingly obvious to both the Israelis and Palestinians that participation in the talks mediated by the United States is likely to be the last best chance for a historic bargain to end their half-century of conflict. Just before the unsatisfactory end of the talks at Camp David, policymakers believed that a failure at Camp David would lead sooner or later to violence and bloodshed. The role of the United States as a mediator of this conflict has been vital. Without such participation, the injuries, fatalities and anguish of that conflict might continue needlessly.

Since Americans are less likely than those in Israel to have access to the most current and revised accounts of the events that occurred both during and following the overt hostilities in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, Finkelstein's book is a particularly important addition to any examination of the underlying forces that come into play in the region. Fresh perspectives like this are invaluable, for both the participants in the conflict, and those, like the United States, who are attempting to play an important role in resolving it.

The United States has made no attempt to hide its support of Israel and for condoning the increasing Israeli occupation of the West Bank. It is argued that the primary objective is to weaken the PLO and thus all Arab militant activity against peace initiatives.However, the PLO has not always confined itself to remaining embroiled in conflict or in rejecting attempts to create peace in the region.For example:

• When Arab/Israeli peace talks in the late 1980s bordered on the creation of a two-state Palestine, the PLO made a clear decision to abandon the practice of terrorism, to recognize Israel and to comply with peace resolutions.
• In 1993 and following the Oslo meetings, the PLO renounced the use of terrorism and other acts of violence.
• The PLO denounced former statements that denied the existence of the Israeli state.

Clearly, these promises and repudiations have not stood the test of time, however the PLO's disavowal has almost always been in response to what they have considered grave breaches of commitments on the part of Israel and its biggest supporter, the United States.

Currently, the PLO manifests itself as an organization that shows no intention of sitting idly by while Israel, with the support of the United States, continues to create conflicts in the West Bank and Gaza through slow settlement and occupation. At the same time, the Palestinians have garnered indirect support from a number of Arab/Muslim countries in the region, many of which have advanced a campaign of terrorism against Israel and its biggest sympathizer - the United States.

Conclusion

Although the terrorism that has been exhibited recently, and most dramatically on September 11, 2001, is only indirectly related to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, it is a clear indication of how decades of political, social and religious frustration can work to create a mentality of desperation that will only be mitigated through radical demonstrations of violence. Even more, it offers clear implications for advocating a greater understanding of the Middle East, its religions, especially Islam, as well as its history, major events and how it will figure in the achievement of peace both in the region and worldwide.