RP332 The War That Never Ends

 RP332 The War That Never Ends

In ancient times, the land known as Israel was the home of the Jewish people. The Romans conquered Judea, as they called it, in the first century B.C. For the next 2,000 years, this small piece of desert would be part of many successive empires. As time passed, most Jews left for other parts of the world. In their place came Arabs, who called the land Palestine and themselves Palestinians.
After World War II, the United Nations decided to give most of Palestine back to the Jews. This involved removing countless Palestinians from their homes. Fighting broke out between the long-time Arab residents and the new Jewish arrivals. The Jews ultimately won the struggle and Israel was founded in 1948.
Armed conflict immediately broke out again, however, this time between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Over the next 25 years, a series of wars would be fought in the region. Some were started by the Jews, and some by the Arabs. Israel won them all, however, and the Palestinians continue to suffer under a harsh Israeli occupation. As a result, many have turned to terrorism in an effort to force the Jews out.
What can be done? Israel insists it has a right to exist and be recognized as a Jewish state. It also says it has the right to keep the territory it has captured. Arab countries refuse to recognize Israel until it gives back all of that territory. They also want the descendants of Palestinians who lost their homes when Israel was created to be allowed to return there.
The conflict between the Arabs and Israelis has had a major impact on the wider world. Western countries, especially the United States, support Israel politically, military, and financially. This has caused many Arabs and other Muslims to resent the West, sometimes violently. Many people throughout the world sympathize with the Palestinians. They wonder why the West ignores Israeli abuses and calls the Palestinians victims.
In the current political climate, attitudes on both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict are only growing harder and more extreme. Whatever else may happen, the war that never ends will continue for a long time to come.