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Opposing Viewpoints
by Heather Holliday
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The Dome of the Rock
Photo: AP/Wide World |
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Both
sides know what they want. And both sides know what the other side must
do to settle the differences. But neither side has been able to satisfy
the other that they can, or will, keep agreements that might end the violence
in the Middle East. On one side is Ariel Sharon, Israel's current Prime
Minister. His job is to ensure the safety for the citizens of Israel. On
the other side is Yasir Arafat, leader of the Palestinian Authority. His
goal is to form an independent Palestinian state, with its own government
and Army for security. Below is a brief outline of the major issues on which
the two sides differ.
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Jerusalem's
holy sites
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Palestinian Viewpoint
The Palestinians also claim Jerusalem. They want East Jerusalem
to be the capital of an independent Palestinian state. Palestinians
also claim the rights to the hill that Jews call Temple Mount,
which Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary. It is in Jerusalem's
Old City, which was under Palestinian control until the 1967
war. In addition, two Islamic holy sites sit on top of the hill.
Arafat has been unwilling to compromise on his demand for control
over the hill, as well as for the entire eastern portion of
Jerusalem.
Palestinian Point of View
"East Jerusalem and the holy sites should be under Palestinian
control. It's our capital. But everyone, Muslims, Christians,
and Jews, should have the right to pray at their holy sites."
-Nour Asbah, 14, Ramallah
"We believe Jerusalem is a holy city for all three religions.
It's our capital and was occupied by the Israelis. We should
have the right to have Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian
state, but everyone in the world should have the right to
come and pray in their holy places."
- Saed Obiad, 16, Ramallah
"I don't know if the Jewish temples really existed and were
destroyed, but in history we know that Palestine is for the
Arabs. We want the holy sites and East Jerusalem to be under
Palestinian control. If the Jews want to pray at the Western
Wall, they should have access, but I don't believe there is
evidence that the temples existed."
-Amjad Rafidi, 16, Al Bireh, a suburb of Ramallah
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Palestinian Borders
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Israeli Viewpoint
Israel does not accept responsibility for the 4 million Palestinian
refugees who fled their homes during wars in 1948 and in 1967.
In turn, Israelis do not want Palestinians and their descendents
who are refugees to return to Israel. Israel's fear is that
the return of so many refugees would wipe out the state's Jewish
majority—and Israel would stop being the world's Jewish
state.
Israeli Point of View
"I don't want them to come here and I don't think they have
a right to come back at all.
They don't understand it's impossible. They raise generations
saying this is your real home. They're so stuck on that idea.
It's the Palestinians' fault for raising them like that. We're
already in a fragile position. All the Arabs should come together
and help their brothers. I think they're pushing them aside
and making it Israel's problem. Instead of blaming us, they
should blame their brothers."
- Michal Tal-El, 16, Jerusalem
"I think that there should be a Palestinian state and that
they should have the right to return there, but it should
be the Palestinians' business, not ours. I don't think they
have the right to return to Israel."
- Benjamin Weiman-Kelman, 17, Jerusalem
"I agree that the refugees should come back, but to certain
places. I don't think the refugees will get their land back
in the north or Jerusalem. I don't think the Israeli government
will kick Jews out from their homes. There are Jews here and
I think we should be a majority since we have a risk to our
lives in Israel. My grandparents lived in Egypt and they were
deported and they don't get to return."
-Jonathan Gozlan, 16, Jerusalem
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Palestinian Viewpoint
Palestinians who were forced out of their homes over the last
53 years want the right to return. Some 4 million Palestinians
had to flee Israel during wars in 1948 and 1967. After the 1948
war, the United Nations passed a resolution allowing Palestinian
refugees to return. The Israelis refused. After the outbreak
of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, another wave of Palestinians were
displaced, many of them for the second time. Some Palestinians
today still carry the keys to their former homes in Israel.
Palestinian Point of View
"All my uncles are refugees from Lod [near the Ben Gurion
Airport]. They were kicked out and now are living in Ramallah.
All refugees should have the right to return; it's their land."
-Amjad Rafidi, 16, Al Bireh, a suburb of Ramallah
"These people were moved from here by force. They should
have the right to come back; it's their homeland. There is
room for compromise, but in principle they should have the
right to come back."
- Nour Asbah, 14, Ramallah
"Israel should be responsible and guarantee homes for these
people, either in the Palestinian state or in the place in
Israel from where they came. If they don't want to come back,
they should receive compensation."
-Saed Obiad, 16, Ramallah
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Palestinian Refugees and the "Right of Return" |
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Israeli Viewpoint
The Israelis want to continue to control some, if not all, of the
Gaza Strip and West Bank. Israelis have vowed not to lose control
of these areas. Israel
also says that they need to keep a military presence in parts of the
West Bank to defend themselves. In addition, Israel
wants Jewish settlements they have built in the Gaza Strip and
West Bank in the last 53 years to remain part of Israel.
Israeli Point of View
"I think Gaza for sure should be handed over by the Israelis. We
should evacuate those settlements. I don't know what they're doing
there in the first place. As far as the West Bank goes, each settlement
is different. Some are too settled [to be evacuated]. They know
that they're risking their lives to live there, but they're also
risking our security and putting the IDF soldiers at risk."
- Michal Tal-El, 16, Jerusalem
"I think it should be pretty much the 1967 borders. But you can't
expect people to leave their homes. On the other hand, they have
to. It goes both ways. It's not a simple thing. I don't see how
it can be done."
- Benjamin Weiman-Kelman, 17, Jerusalem
"I'm against settlements. I think they should be evacuated. I
think we should be realistic. I know Israel won't evacuate the largest
settlements."
- Jonathan Gozlan, 16, Jerusalem
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Palestinian Viewpoint
The Palestinians insist that they should control the entire Gaza Strip
and West Bank, including East Jerusalem. They claim this land is rightfully
theirs because it was under their control until Israel seized it in
the war of 1967. They want Jewish settlers there to relocate and for
Israelis to stop building any new settlements.
Palestinian Point of View
"Why are they allowed to occupy our land? We should have the right
to build our own state and live like any other nation in the world
as a free independent state. They should take all the settlements
out."
- Nour Asbah, 14, Ramallah
I think we should have the right to have our own state, with control
of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. All the Jews born in
these places should have the right to stay here under our control,
but not the settlements. They came from other places."
- Saed Obiad, 16, Ramallah
"If I was in a position of leadership I would never agree on just
Gaza and the West Bank, because we know that all the land is ours.
But Israel exists and we are negotiating, so at least we should have
absolute control over the West Bank and Gaza."
- Amjad Rafidi, 16, Al Bireh, a suburb of Ramallah
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