PRO Israel and/or CON Palestine Statements

PRO Palestine and/or CON Israel Statements

1. Two-State Solution PRO: "Well, there has emerged, over the course of the past ten years at least, a sense that the only way out of the situation in the Middle East is to establish a State of Palestine alongside Israel so that there will be an end of conflict. There is no other solution to end the conflict in reality. There is an international consensus about it as reflected by the so-called Road Map Quartet [the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations], which is after all the whole world. You have the United States, you have Europe, you have the Russians and the United Nations, which is the whole world, and then there is the Arab League, which is twenty-two different states, and there is the previous Palestinian administration, and the Israeli administration, all of them committed to the two-state solution." -- Ziad J. Asali, MD President and Founder of the American Task Force on Palestine Interview with Bernard Gwertzman of the Council on Foreign Relations June 2, 2006

CON: "The paradigm of the Two States will not bring abo stability. No! . . . (The Two-State solution) is not relevant. relevant . . . (The Palestinian state) will undermine the Sta Israel. From there, the confrontation will go on.

The State of Israel is ready to give the Palestinians an independent Palestinian state, but the Palestinians are no ready to give us an independent Jewish state . . . Every agreement you make will be the starting point of the next irredenta. The next conflict. The next war.

The establishment of a Palestinian state will lead at some stage to war. Such a war can be dangerous to the State o Israel. The idea that it is possible to set up a Palestinian s by 2008 and to achieve stability is disconnected from real and dangerous."

-- Moshe Yaalon Lieutenant-General and former Chief-of-Staff of the Defense F Quoted by Uri Avnery in "The Bogy http://gush-shalo May 3

2. Significance of Jerusalem to Jews and Muslims PRO:"For the Jewish people, Jerusalem is not a city containing holy places or commemorating holy events. The city as such is holy and has, for at least two and a half millennia, served as the symbol of the historic existence of a people hunted, humiliated, massacred, but never despairing of the promise of its ultimate restoration. Jerusalem and Zion have, become 'the local habitation and the name' for the hope and meaning of Jewish existence, and of its continuity from the days when, according to the authors of the biblical books, God spoke of a certain place that he would choose, to the days of the return which -- however improbable it might seem -- was never in doubt for the Jew. Understanding the symbolic function of Jerusalem in Jewish tradition, we come to see that even the avowed secularist's use of this symbol has a measure of legitimacy about it, unparalleled in other traditions."

CON: "According to Islamic tradition, it was the second ca 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, who recognized this location [Jerus as marking the site of the Prophet's night journey. The ca supposed to have done so immediately after the conques Jerusalem, during a visit to the city whose historicity is in question, but which most scholars agree probably took pl The Muslim conquerors understood that this entire site ha been the location of the temple first built by Solomon who repeated destruction is described in the Qur'an, and what found on their entry into the city was in fact the deserted platform on which the Herodian temple described by Jose had stood until its demolition by Titus in 70 A.D., At the southern end of this platform the caliph 'Umar ordered the erection of the first of several structures to bear the name Masjid al-Aqsa, the al-Aqsa Mosque, adjacent to which hi successor 'Abd al-Malik was to build the Dome of the Roc few decades later."

-- Zwi Werblowsky, PhD Professor of Comparative Religion at Hebrew University "Meaning of Jerusalem to Jews, Christians and Muslims," Israel Universities Study Group for Middle Eastern Affairs 1978

-- Rashid Khalidi, PhD Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia Univ Jerusalem in H

3. Refugee Populations PRO: "During United Nations debates in 1947 over the partition of Palestine, Arab delegates warned that the formation of a Jewish state might lead to violent retaliation against Jews in their countries. 'The masses in the Arab world cannot be restrained,' an Iraqi diplomat said at the time. The immediate outcomes ranged from anti-Jewish riots in Yemen and Syria to the revocation of citizenship for Jews in Libya to the confiscation of their property in Iraq. After the overthrow of King Farouk of Egypt in a military coup in 1952 and Israel's invasion of Sinai in 1956, Egypt declared Jews enemies of the state. For its part, Israel mounted operations to transport tens of thousands of Jews from Iraq and Yemen. While 856,000 Jews lived in Arab nations in 1948, only 7,800 were there in 2001, the American Sephardi Federation reports. About 600,000 went to Israel, the remainder to the United States and Western Europe." -- Samuel G. Freedman Professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism "Are Jews Who Fled Arab Lands to Israel Refugees, Too?" New York Times Oct. 11, 2003

CON: "At the end of hostilities early in 1949, the United Nations estimated that there were 726,000 Arab refugees Israeli-controlled territories, about 70 percent of the Arab population of Palestine. The exact number is difficult to determine because it is impossible to know the true numb Arab illegals living in Palestine when the war broke out an number of Bedouin who had become refugees. A figure o about 600,000 to 760,000 is probably more accurate...

Exact figures are not possible, but according to Benny Mo in his study of the Palestinian refugees, the British estima February 1949 that about 320,000 Palestinians moved int already resided in, the eastern portion of Palestine, which controlled by the Arab Legion, and into Transjordan. Approximately 210,000 were in camps in the Gaza region 100,000 went into Lebanon, and 75,000 to Syria. A few w Egypt and others to Iraq. Some 150,000 remained within Jewish state."

-- Ian J. Bickerton, PhD Professor of Middle Eastern History at the University o South W

Carla L. Klausner, PhD Professor of Modern Middle East at the University of Mis Kansa A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli C PRO Palestine and/or CON Israel Statements

PRO Israel and/or CON Palestine Statements

4. Palestinian Refugees' "Right of Return" PRO: "Implementing the Palestinian 'right of return' amounts to abolishing the Jewish people's right to self determination. It will make the Jewish people a minor ethnic group at the mercy of Muslims, a 'protected minority', just as fundamentalist Islam would have it. It would mean eradicating Israel."

CON: "Many people do not believe that any ethnic group the right to guarantee an ethnic majority in a nation-state, therefore do not believe that Israeli Jews have the right to demand a perpetual Jewish-majority state. However: eve those who support a Jewish majority in Israel should be a accept the Palestinian Right of Return, since acceptance this right will not necessarily overturn the Jewish majority -- Amos Oz Founder of the Peace Now movement Israel." "Doves Should Re-examine Their Perch," The Guardian Jan. 5, 2001 -- Palestine Solidarity Committee/Seat Joint position statement with Palestine Information P Posted on their website www.palestineinformatio Accessed on Apr. 10

5. Legality of Israeli Settlements in the West Bank PRO: "Israel possesses legal rights with respect to the West Bank and Gaza Strip that appear to be ignored by those

CON: "Determines that all measures taken by Israel to ch the physical character, demographic composition, instituti

international observers who repeat the term 'occupied territories' without any awareness of Israeli territorial claims. Even if Israel only seeks 'secure boundaries' that cover part of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, there is a world of difference between a situation in which Israel approaches the international community as a 'foreign occupier' with no territorial rights, and one in which Israel has strong historical rights to the land that were recognized by the main bodies serving as the source of international legitimacy in the previous century." -- Dore Gold, PhD Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations "From 'Occupied Territories' to 'Disputed Territories'" Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs editorial Jan. 16, 2002

structure or status of the Palestinian and other Arab territo occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, or any part the have no legal validity and that Israel's policy and practices settling parts of its population and new immigrants in thos territories constitute a flagrant violation of the Fourth Gen Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and also constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

Security Council Resolution 465

-- United Natio (PDF) 14.3KB

Mar. 1

6. Terrorism PRO: "A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be achieved through an end to violence and terrorism, when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror and willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty."

CON: "...the Zionist state remains the cause of more regio grievance and sheer terror than all the Muslim states combined. Read the melancholy Palestinian Monitor on th Internet; it chronicles the equivalent of Madrid's horror we after week, month after month, in occupied Palestine. No pages in the West acknowledge this enduring bloodbath, alone mourn its victims. Moreover, the Israeli army, a terr -- Quartet on the Middle East A Diplomatic Alliance organisation by any reasonable measure, is protected and "A Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State rewarded in the west." Solution to the Israeli Palestinian Conflict" Apr. 30, 2003 -- John Pilg Australian journalist and documentary film "The Unmentionable Source of Terror AntiWa Mar. 20 7. Israeli Wall / Security Fence

PRO: "The security fence is not an obstacle to peace, as the Palestinians are trying to portray it. In fact, by providing a barrier to terrorism, it will help restore quiet to the region and thereby increase the chances of achieving peace." -- Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) "Saving Lives: Israel's Security Fence," www.mfa.gov.il Nov., 2003

CON: "This wall is not about security. It is about entrench the occupation and the de facto annexation of large areas the Palestinian land."

-- Nasser Al-Kidwa, DDS Palestinian Ambassador to the "Palestinians Open Case Against Ba Associated Feb. 23

8. Arab State Relations with Israel PRO: "It must be a peace that makes Israel a part of the neighborhood, a neighborhood that extends from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, across the breadth of the southern Mediterranean, to the coast of the Indian Ocean... On behalf of all those who seek and strive for peace in my part

CON: "Israel is our enemy and does not want peace. Pea would mean that Israel would have to return the occupied territories again. Israel was built on aggression and the rejection of peace, and nothing changes." --Bashar Al-Assad

of the world, I ask you now to exert that leadership once again. We ask you to join with us in an historic effort of courage and vision. We ask you to hear our call, to honor the spirit of King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin, and help fulfill the aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace today." -- Abdullah bin Al Hussein, II King of Jordan Speech before a joint session of the U.S. Congress Mar. 7, 2007

President of the Syrian Arab Re Quote from meeting with German Foreign Minister F Walter Steinmeier in Damascus, Apr

9. Hamas and the Peace Process PRO: "We should give Hamas time. I'm sure that Hamas will develop, will evolve. We should not prejudge the issue. We object to whatever policies on the part of the Israeli Government right now that are cutting the right of the Palestinians to receive their dues. So it's only a matter of time on that. We are sure that the Palestinians will recognize the requirements of the situation as they stand today: the roadmap; the need for a political peaceful settlement amongst the Israelis and the Palestinians; they need to see the two states living side by side in secure and recognized boundaries for both. So these are issues that the Palestinians and the government of Hamas, when composed, will have to face such requirements." -- Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit Egyptian Foreign Minister Quoted from meeting with U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice in Cairo, Egypt Feb. 21, 2006

CON: "It is clear that in light of the Hamas majority in the [Palestinian Legislative Council] and the instructions to fo new government that were given to the head of Hamas, th [Palestinian Authority] is - in practice - becoming a terroris authority. The State of Israel will not agree to this. Israel w not compromise with terrorism and will continue to fight it full force. However, there is no intention of harming the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population. Israel w hold contacts with the administration in which Hamas play part - small, large, or permanent."

-- Ehud Olmert, LLB Israeli Prime M Remarks to the Israeli C Feb. 19

10. United States as an "Honest Broker" PRO: "It is critical that the United States take an active role in helping to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by playing the role of the honest broker at the negotiating table with the trust of both sides and ability to facilitate direct talks between the parties. The U.S. is the only country that can be successful in this role because of its longstanding and special relationship with the State of Israel." -- Howard Dean, MD Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Remarks at the Arab American Institute (AAI) Oct. 18, 2003 JOHANNES KYRLE, Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, said the Austrian Government attached great importance to the Middle East Seminar, which had been jointly organized with the United Nations Department of Public Information and which should serve as an example of Austria's continued commitment towards the Middle East peace process.

CON: "To say that the United States is an even-handed b is a preposterous mischaracterization. The United States very much in Israel's camp. All the information we have o negotiations during the last seven years of the peace proc has shown that the United States has presented the Israe point of view in the discussions and remains a partisan of Israel."

A few months ago, on 23 June 2008, in this same room, Austria had hosted a donors conference for the reconstruction of the Palestinian refugee camp Nahr el-Bared in Lebanon. Furthermore, within two weeks time, from 17 to 19 December, Austria would organize a conference together with the Arab League, Europe and the Arab World - Connecting Partners in Dialogue also at the Hofburg Palace.

The Austrian Government was strongly committed to dialogue and international cooperation as the only meaningful way to resolve international political crises like the Middle East conflict. A month ago, Austria had been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the coming two years, and the Middle East peace process would figure prominently in its work during that term.

However, the Middle East peace process had reached a critical juncture. Almost exactly one year ago in Annapolis, on 27 November 2007, the international community had committed themselves to a new negotiating effort aimed at reaching a just and lasting solution to decades of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. One year later, they had to admit that the ambitious goal of reaching a settlement within one year had not materialized. But Mr. Kyrle was certain that important groundwork had been done on which peace could be built.

Austria felt a sense of urgency about the situation, Mr. Kyrle said. Facts on the ground were changing daily, with the representatives of both sides affected by the continuous conflict and in nearly every realm of their daily lives. Austria, therefore, called on the Government of Israel to stop the expansion of the settlements and of the barrier, as well as to ease the manifold restrictions on the Palestinian people to allow for an improvement in their living conditions, and to create and safeguard support for the political process.

At the same time, Austria fully recognized Israel's security concerns. The Israeli population had to be able to live free from any terrorist threat, including the threat of rockets being launched from within the Gaza Strip, Mr. Kyrle said.

The international community needed to continue and strengthen its support and encouragement of efforts leading to a two-State solution. The European Union, as a member of the Quartet, would do its utmost to make sure that even this period of (political) transition would be a period of progress for the peace process, Mr. Kyrle concluded. One-third of the registered Palestine refugees, more than 1.4 million, live in 58 recognised refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The other two-thirds of the registered refugees live in and around the cities and towns of the host countries, and in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, often in the environs of official camps. While most of UNRWA's installations such as schools and health centres are located in refugee camps, a number are outside camps and all of the Agency's services are available to both camp and non-camp residents.

http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=86