Kurdistan, Kashmir & Palestine

Governments of the surrounding countries, and the rest of the world were unwilling to take in the resultant refugees, forcing them to occupy what have become long-term camps. Two major wars later, Israel had expanded its borders to include Judea and Samaria (a.k.a. the West Bank). This incorporates much of the ancient country of Canaan, which religious Jews believe that God gave to them. Meanwhile, most fundamentalist Muslims believe that Allah intends the entire Middle East to be Muslim. Thus began a decades-long presence in Palestinian lands by the Israeli army. The Palestinians call it an occupation; the Israelis call it a disputed territory and occasionally occupied lands. Although a trading of land for peace has worked successfully in other cases -- notably Egypt -- it has proven to be an elusive goal between the Palestinians and Israelis. 

The Palestine National Authority -- a quasi-governmental agency in the West Bank and Gaza ₂ --  planned Infitada II, a popular uprising, to start in the fall of 2000. A visit by Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem was considered a provocative act by the Palestinians and used to trigger their uprising. Infitada II is often portrayed in the media as a two-sided conflict between Palestinians and Israelis; between Muslims and Jews. That may be overly simplistic. On the Palestinian side, there are many groups, each with a different agenda. Their goals range from exterminating every Jew in Israel, to coexisting with Israel. On the Israeli side, there are at least three politically powerful groups: the settlers who are illegally living in Palestinian land, small religious political parties which have traditionally held the balance of power in the government, and secular Israelis who are in the majority. With perhaps a half dozen different groups involved in the conflict, resolution has proven impossible.

Almost a decade later, not much has changed. The actors have changed. Some Palestinians have launched rockets into Israeli villages, the Israeli army invaded the Gaza Strip. Both Palestinians and Israelis have been accused by various groups -- including the UN, of crimes against humanity.

Site navigation: Home page > Religious violence > Worldwide > here