Massacre in Gaza

I. Massacre in Gaza
The Muslim News
March 4, 2008
http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=14015

II.
Over the past seven days a horrible tragedy has been taking place. There has been a massacre of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. These attacks have been made by Israeli armed forces. Over one hundred and seventeen Palestinians have died so far. Women and children are the direct target of the Israeli forces. The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a statement criticizing the forces. He criticizes them for using "excessive force" and has demanded the forces to stop its operations in Gaza. Numerous countries have also made demands like this asking Israel to halt air and land attacks. Clearly, Israel's government and Prime Minister have disregarded their pleas. The Prime Minister claims that Israel has the right to self-defense after rocket attacks were fired from Hamas 'militants' in Gaza. These attacks however, are in response to Israeli raids, demolitions, and various other attacks which have grown in the past few weeks. These attacks are an extension of a harsh blockade Israel has put upon Gaza in early 2006 when Hamas's electoral victory in Gaza and the West Bank happened in January of 2006. The aim of the Israeli's is clear. They want to weaken the elected Hamas and take it out of power. Their hope was that the suffering of the people of Gaza would lead them to rebel against the Hamas but the plan back fired. Since the blockade, the people of Gaza have been brought closer together as well as closer to the Hamas leadership. This blockade is the center of the problem and the Israeli regime should lift it immediately. The President of the Palestinian authority should ask the Prime Minister of Israel to end this blockade. This will help to restore credibility with the Palestinian and Arab people.

III.
1. This article best relates to the theme impact of interaction among and within major societies. The societies of Israel and Palestine are interacting in a rather violent way. The major cause of this interaction and violence is because of a struggle for power. Power is usually a key reason for any societies to go to war.
2. This conflict between Israel and Palestine has a lot of history to it. The issue can actually almost go back to the time of Islam and the crusades. There was this constant struggle for power and "ownership" over the holy lands. This issue definitely relates to that issue early in history. The issue clearly still goes on today between Israel and Gaza, who border each other and who are constantly fighting to maintain or recapture their power of these disputed lands.
3. The author of this article is Dr. Chandra Muzaffar. He is the president of the International Movement for a Just World, also known as JUST. This group is designed to spread awareness about worldly affairs and issues. It also tries to create a just and fair world by educating people around the world about the problems people are faced with daily. There is a possibility he is Muslim but there is no direct indication of this.
4. Their might be some bias in his point of view because he represents an organization that is "pro-peace". His point of view might more towards making Israel and Palestine stop fighting and find peace between them selves. Another person might say that they are fighting for a good reason and should continue to do so until someone wins.
5. To gain a full understanding of the issue I would like to hear from a Israeli as well as a Palestine. I think their point of view is definitely missing from this article. This article is written by an outsider so I want to hear the view of an insider. I think both of their point of views would help me fully understand the reasons why they are fighting and what one thinks of the other and visa versa.
6. I think that this issue is some what pointless. I think that it is horrible that all of this violence is going on. I do feel though, that all of this could have been prevented. I think that this is just a series of attacks going back and forth between Israel and Palestine and that it will just continue until someone gives in. It is almost like when two stubborn people are in a fight and neither of them will give in so they continue to fight back and forth.