Plight of Israel

Long ago I was told that the problem in the Middle East went back so far that it was impossible to understand or solve. At the time, I was content to accept that.

I have now reconsidered and spent time looking at the situation from an historical point of view over the past century. A certain pattern seems to develop. The nations of the world continue to ask more and more of this people. Even before they became a recognized nation, their land was ripped from them.

Britain created a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine with the Balfour Declaration of 1917. There existed some controversy and the years since have seen disputes and bloodshed as this people struggle to survive.

• 1922 The Transjordan area was cut from Palestine. This area had been part of the original British Mandate and had been ratified by the League of Nations. With this dissection, the Jewish people lost 2/3 of their land.

• 1947 By ruling of the United Nations, Palestine was divided between the Jews and Arabs. The Jews accepted this. The Arabs did not.

• 1948 Israel was declared an independent state and immediately had to protect itself from the surrounding Arab countries in its War of Independence.

• 1956 After 4 years of terrorist raids from bordering Arab states, particularly the Gaza strip, and being cut off from the Suez Canal, Israel captured the Sinai peninsula. Soviets convinced Israel to withdraw with no peace treaty. The US guaranteed shipping protection to Israel.

• 1964 The PLO Charter was adopted by Arabs. It called for the complete destruction of Israel.

• 1967 Israel's shipping was blocked. US did not send aid. In the Six Day War Israel defeated Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan, capturing Sinai, Gaza, Judea, Samaria and Golan Heights.

• 1972 Israeli Olympic athletes are killed at Munich.

• 1973 Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in Yom Kippur War.

• 1979 In the Camp David Accords, Israel returned Sinai.

• 1985 Israel withdrew from Lebanon with a security zone between them.

• 1993 In the Oslo Accords, Israel ceded most of Gaza and parts of the West Bank in exchange for recognition from and peace with the Arab nations.

• 1994-95 Terrorist attacks from Palestinian areas killed more than 200 Israelis.

• 1994 In the Cairo Agreement the PLO committed to amending its charter, but did not.

• 1995 In the Oslo 2 Accords the PLO committed to amending its charter, but did not.

• 1997 In the Hebron Accord the PLO committed to amending its charter, but did not. No changes have ever been made, and its purpose continues to be the destruction of Israel.

Israel acquired territories in defense of aggression waged against it. No country in history has been required to return land to an aggressor, but we have required this of Israel. Israel is not an "occupier" in this area. Israel has been called an "occupier" for so long that the world just believes this lie.

It seems to me that Israel has been giving and giving and only receiving promises in return -- promises which are quickly forgotten or absolutely broken. Haven't we asked enough of this small nation?