Israelis

Disclaimer: I haven't officially taken classes in these subjects yet, so what I have here is remembered (possible misremembered, in some cases) facts that I have gleaned from books and articles I've read. Anything I say is up for correction.

So.. the Israelis are finally pulling out of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Seems amazing to me that after all this time, someone was finally willing to command that these Jews give up a portion of their holy land.

Without knowing much about the subject, I recall that I had done some research awhile back to determine who was really the primary aggressor in this "war." I know that, in a biblical timeline, Jews were certainly in Israel first. At least, I think that's so. I know that there were Egyptians first, but I believe that they stayed mostly in Egypt, because.. well.. who would want to venture beyond their fertile river when life was so near to perfect? Also, there were Babylonians, Sumerians, that almost certainly were there prior to the time when Judea was established. They, too, were not in modern-day Israel, though, as the fertile crescent (Mesopotamia) in which they settled was in modern-day Iraq.

I recall reading that Jews established themselves in Israel. Soon afterwards, the Christian religion was born out of Judaism, and although I am not certain what became of them, I feel that they must have migrated northwards, toward Europe. At this time, Europe must have been controlled by Greeks and/or Romans, Scandinavian and Germanic tribal peoples, and the Celts, farther north. I believe that some Christians must have also gone south, to settle in Egypt. Some Christians undoubtedly stayed near their holy land. I think Rome must have been controlling Judea at this time, because it was the Roman emperors (and nearby governments) that did not stop the Jews from suggesting the crucifixion of Christ. It is debatable which group actually performed the act, but it is certain that both Jews and Roman Christians were involved.

Around the year 600 (I think AD) the Muslim religion was gaining ground due to their prophet, Mohammed. The numbers of Muslim followers grew greatly, as did the numbers of Christian followers many years before this. The Muslim numbers grew so great that many Jews migrated northwards, toward Europe.

At this point, at which I believe most of what I've already said is factually correct or partially correct, I have no idea what happened. I'm not even exactly sure how it came to be that the Jewish homeland was no longer Eastern Europe, but Israel. I had thought that the United States worked in the Middle East to "create" a country to put the Jews into it, refugees from World War II. And once this nation had footing, it was attacked by Muslims, who believed that Jews had "taken over" their holy ground. That's what I remember.

Given all of this as my historical backgroundon the subject, I think the Palestinians have been fairly patient. It is certainly true that they have some support from the Muslim community around them (both from genuine fraternization and from the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" adage). I believe they lived there in some number before the great influx of Jews.

I certainly know that Israel is regarded as holy ground by all three major religions, and I definitely believe that even though a larger population is forced into or settles into the land of a smaller population, that doesn't mean that the smaller population should be forced out.

I think that many of the Jewish reactions to this situation are overblown and exaggerated. I realize that if I were forced to move to Nevada because a small group of Native Americans were given California back as their own country, I wouldn't like it. I might cry. In private. But I would also feel a gratitude that our government was finally being forced (or was doing willfully) what amounts to much more as an apology for their behavior in the settlement of this country. In this case, Jews were there first, but that's really not the point.

What's crucial here, is that over a million people will be able to say to themselves and the world, "Look, this is my country. We have prevailed. I have a home to go to and I don't have to be as afraid." The fact that some Israelis wanted to have control over their entire holy area is understandable, but the extent to which they are taking their anguish is a little unnecessary. It needs to be repeated that it is not only their holy land. If Christians from America decided that they needed to have Bethlehem, for example, we could go right over there and take it, and Israelis would have even less land. I'm not advocating that, because we have enough trouble already.

It needs to be pointed out that even if we feel bad for the individual Israelis who are being forced from their houses, it is just like the people who continue, year after year, to live in Florida during hurricane season. They know what the result may be, or their being in that place, but they choose to stay, hoping that God, or fate, or the weather, will change its mind and somehow be their savior in whatever they may want.

It's like the teenagers or adults who refuse to work or go to school or do anything that it takes to be successful, but still pray to God for material things. You can't get everything you want, and it's time that the Israelis learned how to share. How would they like it if Jerusalem was declared an international city, one with no formal residents, or one in which people could pass without reason, only that it is the holiest city of three major religions? They would be furious, and in a way, I wouldn't blame them. But if something is precious to you, you must know that it may be equally precious to others, and be willing to share, if it is that sort of thing. Land is the kind of thing that you can share.