Today, the Middle East has become more dysfunctional due to various Countries changing governments, and others becoming more chaotic. However, what most Middle Eastern countries have in common is that they don’t like Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The reelection of Benjamin Netanyahu has affected not only the Middle East, but America as well. Today, the United States is at a stand still with Israel as opposed to many years when they shared the same views of their enemies. With the current U.S. Foreign policies and the reelection of Prime Minister Netanyahu it seems that this friendship and other close allies might be dissolving. Depending what the next few months bring, it will determine whether Israel will sustain a relationship with the U.S. or will this once unbreakable friendship be pulled apart.
The recent negotiation with the U.S. and Iran over a possible nuclear deal has brought much discontent with Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu. Benjamin Netanyahu believes that this deal with Iran will ultimately be the end of Israel. On April 6, 2015, David Jackson from USA Today released an article expressing Benjamin Netanyahu’s feeling about the deal on how the deal will leave Iran’s nuclear Infrastructure in Place. On the other hand, President Barrack Obama believes that this will bring a new era of peace and nuclear free weapons in Iran. President Barrack Obama went on to radio and said, “international inspectors will have unprecedented access to Iran’s
A common misconception about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is that it is deeply rooted in religion. However, it instead is a dispute over claims on the same land. Israelis believe that they are entitled to the land now known as Israel, while the Palestinians believe that they are entitled to this same land in which they call Palestine instead. Religion does, however, come into play as both sides believe that their God actually gave them this land, and giving it away would simply be unjust. After viewing both articles, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict by Mark Tessler, and Palestine, Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict A primer by Joel Beinin and Lisa Hajjar, I believe that truly understanding the Israeli-Palestinian and its entirety means breaking it down in a historically
For the America, maintaining the “special relationship” with Israel is in line with its interests. First, due to the special geography, Israel can serve as an important backing for the U.S. to preserve its dominance in the Middle East. Second, a powerful Israel with strong military capacity can help the U.S. fight against Islamic extremists and terrorists. Third, supporting Israel is in accord with the broadest conception of the American national interest --- supporting like-minded societies, because US-Israel relationship is based on moral obligation, shared cultural and political values and common strategic interests. Therefore, Israel constitutes “the most enduring and the most immediate interest” (Pollock
Back in 1948 when Israel was founded, World War II was over, and the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was just beginning. This paved the way for the United States to make a strategic move that has shaped the course of American policy to this day. In order to attempt to keep communism from spreading to the volatile region that is the Middle East, the United States created an unwritten alliance with the only country in the Middle East that was willing to do so: Israel. Fast forward to present day and the Cold War is no longer relevant to the purpose of “special relationship” between the US and Israel, but many new benefits have arisen that make the alliance worth maintaining. Critics of the alliance cite the idea that Israel receives more in aid than the United States get in return in benefits and that having Israel as an ally is more of a burden than it is worth. The three main categories in which the United States receives benefits from its alliance with Israel are political, economic, and military. Although critics of the United States’ alliance with Israel believe it is much too burdensome, the political, economic, and military benefits outweigh the negatives and make maintaining the alliance valuable in the future.
When analyzing US involvement in the Middle East since World War II, it is impossible to not talk about the impact Israel has had on the region. In the international community Israel is widely considered an “expansionist arm” of the United States in the Middle East. The US and Israel’s
The Middle East as a whole is not viewed in a very bright light within the United States, and Iran is no exception. Many Americans view that Iran and it 's people are full of hatred for the U.S. and that they all have the same ideology and hatred that their government has shown. What Americans don 't know is that this is not the case. Many Iranians are oppressed and resent their government, though they won 't outright say it for fear. There are Iranians who resent the U.S. as well, but those Iranians dislike U.S. not because of religion or any other cliche reason that many Americans would believe. The only thing Americans see and hear is what the news and government has to say regarding Iran. This American viewpoint stemmed from the 1979 Iranian Revolution in which the U.S. favored shah was overthrown and the U.S. consulate was attacked. This made it seem as if the Iranians were irrational and bloodthirsty against the West for no reason, but they had a very good reason for being filled with anger.
The United States was the first country to recognize Israel as a state in 1948. Since then, Israel has become and will remain America’s strongest and most reliable ally in the Middle East. The United States and Israel are bound closely by military and economic assistance as well as strategic cooperation; Israel’s contributions have helped the United States military advance to counterterrorism and homeland security. As President Barack Obama states “The United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and greatest friend”.
During the seventh century a religion known as Islam arose in the Arabian peninsula. Although at first glimpse it may have seem as non threatening, soon there after, Islam erupted out of Arabia, rapidly taking control of the Middle East. Subsequently both Persia and the Christian Byzantine Empire were completely defeated and absorbed into the Islamic world. Islamic forces urged there followers to ensure that the world was under their political control. If it must be spread by the sword then so be it. Throughout the rest of the seventh century, Arab armies advanced inexorably northwards and westwards. For the next 300 years Christians and Muslims engaged in a protracted struggle. Nonetheless it was not until November of 1095, that Pope
Israel has a new friend in town, and his name is Donald Trump. On Wednesday, he and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met for the first time under the Trump presidency, and while the meeting looked awkward from the outside, it showed potential for a serious relationship between the two countries. The friendship between the two leaders is a major shift from the tense relationship shared by Netanyahu and Obama, signaling a warmer relationship with the Jewish State. Trump, who has bragged about his Jewish family and co-workers throughout the election, now will brag about his relationship with the Jewish State. President Trump’s policies regarding Israel are excellent for Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East.
The Palestinian and Israeli conflict is the one of self-determination gone all wrong, with a foreign immigrant population has expelled the indigenous people of the land to set up their own nation that is exclusively non-secular and intolerant towards other religions and ethnicities. The Palestinian Israeli conflict is one of the oldest and the most long drawn conflict of the 21st century. Palestinians continue to suffer in the Gaza strip or in Jordanian refugee camps as Israelis live on the land that is rightfully the Palestinians.
To begin, the country we chose to do our research one was Israel, because of it vast religious affiliation amidst the religious groups within its borders. Israel is comprised of a major part of the Holy Land, a region of significant importance to all Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Baha’is within Israel. Firstly, the Israeli system of government is based on a parliamentary democracy. The prime minister is the head of the government as well as the leader of a multi-party system. The government is comprised of 3 branches; the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch. Executive power is exercised by the government; legislative power is vested in the Knesset and the judiciary is independent of the Executive and Legislative Branch. The word ‘Knesset’ originates from the Hebrew word, meaning ‘assembly’. The Knesset acts as the parliament and the legislate branch of Israeli government. The Knesset passes all laws; elects the President and Prime Minister; approves the cabinet and supervises the work of the government (Knesset, LookLex). In addition, “the political system of Israel and its principles are set out in 11 Basic Laws” (The Political System of Israel, Wikipedia), because Israel doesn’t have a constitution. Furthermore, the predominant religious groups within Israel are Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze. A recent census from 2015 showed that the
Pilgrimage is no more! For hundreds, even thousands of years, pilgrims across the Middle East have been undertaking immensely costly and onerous journeys to reach holy sites, such as: Mecca, Medina, Damascus, among many others. Although, their reasons for the visit varied, they all shared a common underlying importance— to please God. This great tradition, which brought millions of Muslims spiritual elevation and honor by obeying Allah, does not exist anymore. Colonialism and modernity have taken their tolls on Islam, which left very little of its purest form untainted. The industrial capitalist agenda of the west sped up technological advancement, which subsequently warped the world into a smaller, more easily accessible place. No longer did a pilgrim must rely solely on his own feet, or that of a camel’s. While the Middle East became a smaller place, new ethnic, religious, and geographic borders were raised that, ever so rapidly generate logistical, religious, as well as, ethical issues which Islam must continually contend with. So, has true pilgrimage really been destroyed and simply replaced with a purely commercialized shell? Despite some of the arising negative aspects and challenges, I argue that spiritual pilgrimage persists to this day; it has merely adapted to the world’s increasing volatility.
Conflict between Israel and Palestine has led to wars, injuries, and massacres. These two countries have argued and fought for decades, ever since 1917. Both countries have been through many tough moments and bombings. The major disagreement is the fact that both countries fight over land. Each side of argument has a "right and wrong" effect. In recent events, the number of stabbings have been increased by the month, and has been seen, as an organized terror attack.
It’s definitely a religious war. That the land struggle especially happens in Jerusalem and the holy sites can explain this. And also, two leaders both use “religion in recent
Israel is an extremely valuable ally in a region with significant strategic importance. Strong support from the U.S. provides Israel with more freedom in the region. The ability of the United States to depend on the partnership within an area of so much strife allows them to influence the region with their own interests in mind. Right of entry to their ports in the Mediterranean Sea provides the U.S. easy access to the coastal borders of Egypt and Libya, and working together to counter enemy air threats benefits both countries (Blackwill & Slocombe, 2011). Surrounded by conflict and terrorism, Israel proved it was worthy of the U.S.’s support with its strong values and cultural history.
After more than 50 years of war, terrorism, peace negotiation and human suffering, Israel and Palestine remain as far from a peaceful settlement as ever. The entire Middle Eastern region remains a cauldron waiting to reach the boiling point, a potent mixture of religious extremism, (Jewish, Christian and Islamic), mixed with oil and munitions.