Recently, Palestine has been a recognized region with its Palestinian inhabitants under the Ottoman Empire, British Mandate and Israeli Occupation. The modern history of Israel starts when it became a state on May 14, 1948 on two-thirds of the occupied Palestinian land, and on June 5, 1967, Israel occupied the rest (West Bank and Gaza Strip).
Two wars have left thousands of Palestinians dead, hundreds of cities and villages destroyed and hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in exile away from their native land -- inhabited now by illegal Jewish settlers who immigrated from all over the world.
Palestinians are struggling for the right to exist freely and independently, and have an internationally recognized state on one-third of that original land. All we hear on the news are the suicide bombings that take place in Israel; we never hear about the oppression, racism, apartheid, killing and destruction imposed on the Palestinian people by the illegal and internationally banned Israeli occupation.
The conflict is not an equal war. This is an unjust occupation committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people. Currently, Palestine is the only country in the world that is occupied by a foreign invader. Therefore, it is the Palestinians' legitimate right to defend themselves like any other nation in the world.
Citing a few suicide bombings from the 1990's does not tell the whole story. We have to look at the roots of the conflict to be able to understand it.
The following gives historical perspective to Israeli military aggression against unarmed Palestinian people:
The Massacre of Baldat al-Shaikh (Dec. 31, 1947) in which over 600 unarmed Palestinian men, women and children were slaughtered; the Massacre of Dair Yasin (Apr. 10, 1948) in which a whole village of 500 unarmed Palestinian civilians were slaughtered by Israelis; the Massacre of Lid (July 11, 1948) in which about 426 unarmed Palestinians were slaughtered; the Massacre of Kufr Qasim (Oct. 29, 1956) in which 50 Palestinian men, women and children were killed; the Massacre of Khan Younis refugee camp (Nov. 3, 1956) in which 250 Palestinians were killed and nine days later, another 275 Palestinians were killed; the Massacre of Sabra and Shatila refugee camps (Sept. 16-18, 1972) led by the current Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, in which about 3,500 unarmed Palestinian men, women and children were slaughtered; the Massacre of al-Aqsa Mosque (Oct. 8, 1990) in which Jewish extremists, along with Israeli soldiers, opened fire on Muslim worshippers -- killing more than 20 Palestinians and wounding 150; the Massacre of Ibrahimi Mosque (Feb. 25, 1994) in which Jewish settlers opened fire on Muslim worshippers, killing 50 Palestinians and wounding 350 others; the Massacre of Qana (Apr. 18, 1996) in which about 160 innocent Lebanese people were bombed by Israeli air forces and the Massacre of the Tunnel (Sept. 25-27, 1996) in which over 70 Palestinians were killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli helicopters.
The list goes on and on, leading up to present day. In Palestinian cities and refugee camps, about 1,600 Palestinians have been killed and 20,000 injured.
The conflict seems complex, but the solution is simple. Following the United Nations' internationally-recognized solutions, the world needs to pressure the aggressor -- Israel -- to give the Palestinians the land taken in 1967 (which is only one-third of their original land).
Stop the brutal killing of innocent Palestinian citizens in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, stop racism and apartheid by all its means, and give back their freedom, civil rights and autonomy.
History has taught us if peace is not based on justice and equality it will not last. We pray that God will grant the Middle East eternal justice, love and peace.
More information
www.palestineonline.nu/israblchis.htm
www.palestineonlinenu/nilsonmandela.htm
www.alkhilafah.info/massacres/palestine
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
