Border Conflict
Empires, countries, and states since the beginning of time have gone to great lengths to defend and enlarge their borders. Nowhere are borders more controversial and disputed than in Israel.
Since its inception, Israel has had to fight to keep its land, and has more than once been pressured to give up land it claimed when it was attacked. In 1947, prior to Israel’s independence, the U.N. Partition Plan attempted to define the borders of a Jewish and Arab state. The Arabs rejected the plan out of hand, and after Israel subsequently declared its independence, the neighboring Arab countries invaded.
However, Israel emerged victorious – and with an area 50 percent larger than had been allotted to it in the Partition Plan. The state at that time did not, though, include the Golan Heights or East Jerusalem. The Six Day War, in 1967, changed that as Israel annexed the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, reuniting the divided Israeli capital. Israel began settling the area and creating villages.
Israel defeated Jordan and Syria when the Arab countries attacked, and has kept the land it won in battle (in some cases for defensive purposes). But many have called for Israel to return to “pre-1967 borders” – in other words, a land without East Jerusalem, without the West Bank or Gaza Strip, and without the Golan Heights. Some who believe the land rightfully belongs to Israel have compared this to Britain demanding that the United States return the thirteen original colonies, or Mexico reclaiming Texas. Somehow, though no other country in the world would entertain the thought of returning land it conquered in a war, Israel is expected to do so.
Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 caused a great deal of concern for Israelis. Many feared – it turns out, realistically – that unchecked Palestinian control of Gaza would lead to more terrorism at Israel’s doorstep. Israel, they contend, needs “defensible borders,” borders which strengthen and protect Israeli citizens, not undermine that security.
Many Israeli leaders have been adamant about not returning to pre-1967 lines, but the pressure from the international community is great, and in the eyes of many, the Gaza withdrawal was viewed as a first step toward capitulating to those demands. Most leaders believe that retreating behind pre-1967 borders would leave many Israeli citizens defenseless.
What do you think?
10:42 am
Israelis were wrong to give the land they conquered back.
i can say ahead israel no backward inroder to defend your civilians
6:19 pm
am I wrong in saying that Israel has not surrendered Gaza/lost posession. The UN should negotiate Jordan giving/surrendering enough,
land for so called Plaestinians Abbas/Hamas and their followers, and much more land than they could
have gained in Israel, “if” a two state agreement
were made.Other than that, hold on to every inch that they have won against murderous attacking neighbors.
Cheers
Dave/durban SA
12:35 pm
The UN should NOT negotiate. This land has been disputed between the Israelites and the Palestinians since the Land was given up in 2005. Israel and Palestine should peacfully negotiate this problem, with a third party country as witness. Diplomacy and peace is one of the only options for this issue to be resolved. If the countries can lay down thier weapons and forget the past, which won’t happen, and make attempts to resolve the issue, then EVERYONE will be better off.
6:08 pm
If Abbas turns the keys to the West Bank over to Israel as he threatend, Everyone would be better off. He should just do it with equal citizenship allowed for all people of Israel. Hamas should be evicted from Gaza no matter what else happens. Meshaal will keep War for everafter and Gaza will just be a training ground for Global Jihadists. Very few things are black&white, either or, but this is. Hamas will make word trouble for everafter.
5:05 pm
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says:”—
the land that is the inheritance of the twelve tribes of Israel is described in great detail in chapters 47 and 48 of the Book of Ezekiel. Praise the Lord!!
9:27 am
were in possession of land previously. Jordanians were never in possession of any land before Britain gave it to them….
9:25 am
taken during the war with Mexico. This issue is because Britain imposed its will on the Accord in the UN for the creation of Israel and all surrounding nations.Giving land to certain people who never
9:23 am
The conquering nation always keeps the land it conquered. If you ask Israel to return the land, then you must ask Britain to return the islands it took from Argentina, the US must return all land
9:26 am
Germany kept it’s land after ww1 and ww2. Japan still speaks it’s native language also. Nations that have won wars and conqured nations do not always claim title to lands won in those battles.
I do however feel for the Jewish people and understand, as much as an outsider can, the need for a safe and secure nation. A place for your childeren to call home and sleep in peace.
6:32 pm
i beleive that God holds Isreal in the palm of his hand and covers it with the other hand it will miraculously be protected. the jews are God’s chosen people and he gave them the land. one would have to be crazy to try and take it away.
11:37 am
It was a huge mistake for Israel to give up the Gaza strip back in 2005. No one should give up God’s land that was promised to Abraham, not even Israel.
7:19 pm
We can say amen to that.
12:41 pm
if Israel gave up any that God gave them,is,nt it now out of God,s hands,? they made their own bed?,are they now in Ishmaels spot and must wander
9:57 am
This land was promised to Abraham by God.
9:45 am
Pray for the peace of JERUSALEM: they shall prosper that love thee.
9:10 am
I will not nor ever will be a believer in ‘clean’ vs ‘unclean’ human beings.
12:30 pm
I feel Israel was justified in obtaining land from the 1967 war. What country has ever given back land they rightfully obtained from a war?
Doing this certainly did not further peace!!! I pray Israel stands on this issue of never returning anymore land.
1:37 pm
All I hear from this “nassor” guy is, bla-bla-bla. It’s called common since. You win, you keep. Israel made a big mistake returning what God gave them, to the arabs (small “a”).
4:48 pm
So if Iran overuns israel than its too bad for israel?
1:25 pm
No. If Iran overuns isreal than Iran is in trouble. it States in the bible that Isreal is the promise land. If you Knew what you were talking about, than you would know that isreal has never lost a war. Therefor I believe that this record will still stand. During the Tribulation Force there will be a country from the west (of Isreal) that will try to destroy Israel, AND that fire will rain down from the sky destroying those forces. Some believe that, that this is the rath of God.