Pscmesreljsp 342 Spring 2019politics And Religion In The Israeli ✓ Solved

PSC/MES/REL/JSP 342 | Spring 2019 Politics and Religion in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Final Exam Essay—due on Tuesday May % of final grade) Answer 1 essay question (see back page) based on the course material from Weeks 8 through 15. â— The essay should be roughly 10 pages long in text; 12 point font; double spaced; reasonable margins. â— The essay should draw on the materials presented thus far in the course (including the required readings; class notes; PowerPoints; handouts; films/videos etc.). You may refer to other material/s from outside of the course & syllabus, but this should be kept to a minimum. â— Appropriate citation and footnoting is expected for this assignment (see below). â— At the top of the exam, or on a cover page, specify the question that you answering.

Submission Instructions: Turn in the essay by 4:00pm to the Department of Political Science in 100 Eggers Hall. There will be a folder with my name on it at the front desk. Please place your paper inside the folder. (In order to avoid having your paper misplaced, please do not stick it under my office door!). I prefer not to receive papers via email, unless there is an emergency situation that prevents you from being on campus on the due date. Be sure to have late papers stamped and signed by an office staff person.

Late papers will be marked down. Writing Tips: â— You may use any citation style (in-text citation; bottom-of-page footnotes; or endnotes) as long as you use it consistently throughout the paper. Note: If you use ‘in-text’ citation, a Bibliography-References/Works Cited page is required. â— Lengthy summaries of the readings should be avoided. â— Do include your own opinion, but also incorporate the diverse viewpoints & claims presented in the course materials. â— The best essays will draw on materials from across multiple weeks of the course thus far. Be sure to consider a variety of relevant materials to ‘build’ your answer to the question. NOTE: STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A “C†OR LESS ON PRIOR ASSIGNMENTS, OR THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED MULTIPLE QUIZZES OR THE MIDTERM EXAM, MAY CHOOSE TO ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS .

A BETTER GRADE FOR THE SECOND ESSAY WILL OFFSET EARLIER LOWER GRADES; THE GRADE FOR THE SECOND ESSAY WILL BE CONSIDERED IN LIEU OF MISSING WORK. 1. “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a conflict rooted in religious difference and is not a holy or religious war. Rather, it is fundamentally a struggle between two competing nationalisms.†Discuss this quotation. Do you agree that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be viewed as a conflict between two peoples over contested land and territory?

To what extent do religion and religiously-motivated actors need to be incorporated into an explanation of the conflict? [Note: if you answered this question for the midterm, feel free to note if your views have changed or remained the same]. 2. “While there are many obstacles to peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ongoing incitement and lawlessness at the societal level, and even incitement by political officials is the main problem.†Discuss this quotation. Do you agree that incitement is the key factor stymying a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? If yes, why are other issues not as salient?

If not, what other factor/s need to be considered? 3. “The Oslo peace process from failed primarily because Palestinian and Israeli policymakers failed to turn key spoilers into stakeholders for peace.†Discuss this quotation. Do you agree that Israeli and Palestinian leaders should have done a better job at achieving societal ‘buy in’ for peace? What could they have done differently?

4. “Hamas can never support peace with Israel because it is a radical Islamist terror organization that traffics in antisemitic tropes and canards.†Discuss this quotation. Do you agree that Hamas should only be understood through the lens of religion and its interpretation of Islam? What, if anything, can Israel do differently to defeat Hamas while protecting Palestinian civilian lives in Gaza? VIDEO TRANSCRIPT The following video focuses on identifying the legal concerns an educator may face.

ID: 02-VIDEO-53a9ae2cdd7d03bc8b9c17c4 A Ride to School Dilemma RECORDED ON Mar 06, 2018 TAGS Ethics, teaching, ADMIN/555, EDU/215, CUR/525, EDU/315 Speakers: Host, Ron Clark, Theresa Miller, Ms. Miller HOST: Ron Clark has been teaching science at Franklin Middle School for more than four years. Recently he noticed one of his students, Theresa Miller, has been arriving later and later to first period class. Today she showed up a full thirty minutes after the class started. THERESA MILLER: I’m sorry, Mr.

Clark. I know I’m late again. RON CLARK: Theresa, this is turning into a real problem. THERESA MILLER: There’s nothing I can do about it. My mom got another job and she doesn’t get home from work until after eight.

RON CLARK: That’s alright. Look, I’ll talk to your mom and we’ll figure something out. I could tell Theresa was upset. She lives outside of the district so we don’t provide bus transportation for her to get to school. I called Theresa’s mom several times; never got ahold of her.

I left her a message to please get in contact with me at her earliest convenience to talk about her daughter’s late arrivals. RON CLARK: This note doesn’t help Theresa. She’s still missing half of my class. RON CLARK: Yeah, I know where that is. It’s actually not far from where I live.

RON CLARK: Look, I know you need to work. Look, do you have a friend or a relative who can drop your daughter off? [End of Audio] VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Paper for above instructions

Question 1: “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a conflict rooted in religious difference and is not a holy or religious war. Rather, it is fundamentally a struggle between two competing nationalisms.” Discuss this quotation. Do you agree that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be viewed as a conflict between two peoples over contested land and territory? To what extent do religion and religiously-motivated actors need to be incorporated into an explanation of the conflict?

Introduction

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a complex and multifaceted struggle that continues to dominate headlines and geopolitical discussions. While often framed as a religious battle between Jews and Muslims, it is essential to recognize that the core of the conflict lies in the competing nationalisms of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The nuanced historical, political, and social contexts suggest that religion, while influential, is not the primary reason for the ongoing violence. Instead, the territorial disputes and national aspirations of both groups drive the conflict. This essay will argue that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fundamentally about competing nationalisms, while also considering the role that religion plays in shaping identities and actions.

Historical Context of the Conflict

The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marked by the rise of nationalism among both Jews and Arabs. The Jewish longing for a homeland in Israel, further emphasized by the atrocities of the Holocaust, gave rise to the Zionist movement aimed at establishing a national state for the Jewish people. Conversely, the Arab population in Palestine asserted their claim to the same land, leading to inter-communal tensions. These movements were primarily defined by their national aspirations, not solely by religious differences (Smith, 2010).
The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 resulted in the displacement of a significant number of Palestinians, creating a deep sense of grievance, which further polarized relations. The Palestinian narrative is largely focused on their right to self-determination and return to their homeland, which is a nationalistic, rather than a religious claim (Masalha, 2012).

Competing Nationalisms

Nationalism, the belief in the political existence and sovereignty of a group based on shared characteristics such as culture, language, and history, fuels the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Israelis, national identity is intertwined with the historical connection to the land of Israel, bolstered by the Jewish faith. For Palestinians, national pride is rooted in the collective memory of historical existence in the land, emphasizing rights to self-governance (Khalidi, 1997).
Zionism seeks recognition of the Jewish nation and its right to exist within a secure sovereign state, whereas Palestinian nationalism emphasizes liberation from occupation and the freedom to establish an independent state. Both movements perceive the land as an existential necessity, leading to a protracted struggle over territory (Young, 2014).

The Role of Religion

Religion does play a significant role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it should be viewed as a secondary factor rather than the primary cause. The contention over Jerusalem, a site sacred to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, epitomizes how religious significance fuels nationalist sentiments. Holy sites act as symbols that catalyze political claims, lending a divine dimension to territorial disputes (Hirst, 2014).
Moreover, religious leaders and institutions often become pivotal players in national discourse, sometimes amplifying tensions rather than mitigating them. For example, Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist organization, frames the conflict through a religious lens, emphasizing jihad against perceived oppression (Milton-Edwards, 2013). This religious rhetoric resonates particularly among sections of Palestinian society but does not represent the entirety of the Palestinian identity, which is also characterized by secular and socialist sentiments (Baruch, 2020).

Incorporating Religion into Understanding the Conflict

While it is essential to recognize the influence of religiously-motivated actors and narratives, policymakers and scholars should refrain from attributing the conflict solely to religious divides. Doing so oversimplifies the dynamics and obscures the underlying issues of land, power, and identity that are central to the conflict (Said, 1994). Recognizing both nationalism and religion's interplay can facilitate a more nuanced understanding, which is vital for any future peace negotiations.
Furthermore, the regional political landscape interacts with both nationalism and religion. Countries that have historically opposed Israel have utilized the conflict to bolster national identities based on Arab nationalism and Islamic solidarity (Morris, 2000). This introduces layers of complexity that underscore the importance of a broader analytical perspective focused on both religious and nationalistic narratives.

Conclusion

In summary, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be primarily viewed as a contest between two competing nationalisms over contested land, rather than as a purely religious war. While religion enhances the fervor of the struggle and provides meaning to many individuals, it is not the root cause of the conflict. Addressing the competing national claims, aspirations, and histories of both Israelis and Palestinians is crucial for any meaningful dialogue or resolution. Acknowledging the role of religion in shaping identities is necessary but should be approached within the larger framework of national interests and territorial disputes.

References

1. Baruch, S. (2020). The Secular and the Sacred: New Perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 52(2), 235-256.
2. Hirst, D. (2014). The Gun and the Olive Branch: The Roots of Violence in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Nation Books.
3. Khalidi, R. (1997). Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness. Columbia University Press.
4. Masalha, N. (2012). Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History. Zed Books.
5. Milton-Edwards, B. (2013). Hamas: A Beginner's Guide. Pluto Press.
6. Morris, B. (2000). The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited. Cambridge University Press.
7. Said, E. W. (1994). The Question of Palestine. Vintage Books.
8. Smith, C. (2010). Palestinian Identity and Nationalism in the Modern World. Cambridge University Press.
9. Young, J. (2014). Nationalism in Israel: The Challenge of Palestine. Middle East Report, 270, 32-38.
10. Zureik, E. (2016). The Politics of Suffering: Palestinian Identity in the Diaspora. Ethnicities, 16(4), 549-569.