Ravi Popat's List: Israel Palestine conflict

• Jimmy carter was in Dasmascus to discuss the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and a peace treaty with Syria. Mr Carter said that he got a promise from hamas that they would respect the creation of a Palestnian in the West Bank, if the Palestinian people agreed on this in a referendum, but Khaled Meshal of Hamas made a televised broadcast declaring that The only way that hamas would accept the creation of a Palestinian state was if they got pre 1967 borders, and if they got East Jerusalem as their capital city. another thing that they wanted was the right of return to the Palestinian people. Mr.Meshal also said that he wanted all Palestinians no matter where they live, to be given the chance to vote. He also said that there was not going to be a referendum because the PLO had had not included Hamas, instead he reignited the tensions between the 2 parites. He also said even if Palestine was made its own country, they still would not recognize Israel.There was one Positive outcome though, as Mr Meshal said that through Egypt there was talk of a ceasefire; for a period of calm. - Ravi Popat on 2008-05-15

• A Checkpoint is built by the border police, and it is built to limit the movement of the Palestinians in and out off the West Bank.Normally Israeli citizens will not be stopped, and foreigners will not be stopped.Palestinians require permits, and usually it takes them a long time to get past the checkpoints.there have also been cases when people have died. sometimes it has been pregnant women, and other times it is people who require medical attention, and have not recieved it in time. i will now give a description of what a checkpoint is lie. it is a concrete block in the road, where soldiers with guns wait. sometimes these soldiers may take hours to check the palestinains papers. - Ravi Popat on 2008-05-15

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  The west Bank has many checkpoints along the border, which for many Palestinians is a very humiliating part in the Israeli occupation of West Bank, although the Israeli's insist it is nesscessary for protection. These checkpoints limit the movement of the Palestians living in the west Bank. The new plans will take away 10 checkpoints including some of the largest, which are in the West Bank. These are both good for the Palestinan's as it gives the abiltiy of more freedom to roam in and out of the west bank, and it will relieve some officers on the west bank of their duty. these ideas have been presented to the Israeli Government, and the Palestinian Authority. what is surprising about this is that the part was partly put forward by two ex-Israeli generls, who both administered the West Bank. This is the first series of talks about Palestinian access across the West Bank border. One checkpoint near a town called Nabulus was taken down, a couple of weeks ago, and this was well received by Palestinian citizens in the area. - Ravi Popat on 2008-05-15

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  This Wall also known as "the thing" is made of concrete and at times is 8 meters high. the reason why Israel is building the wall is because they want to prevent suicide bombers from entering Israel as this happened often during the Intifada. another problem with this wall is that it does not go along the 1967 border, and therefore cuts into the West Bank. another reason why people object this is because if Israel want to make peace with their Arab neigbors, this is not the way to do it. one town that suffers greatly from is a town called Qalqilya which is cut off on three sides by the wall, and they are cut off from the farms and the markets. also the only way out/in is through a checkpoint, which is manned by Israeli troops.According to the Palestinians the reason why they built the wall is for long term occupation - Ravi Popat on 2008-05-15

• Mr Abbas also said his hands were extended in peace, as Palestinians mark the "catastrophe" of Israel's creation.

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  As Palestinians recalled the "Nakba" (catastrophe) 60 years ago, Mr Abbas said in a televised speech: "It is time for this occupation to leave our land and blood.
• "It is time this mankind's shame, which is called the Palestinian people's Nakba, to end."

• Mr Bush said: "Israel's population may be just over seven million.  

  "But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307m strong, because the United States of America stands with you."
• And he backed Israel's refusal to negotiate with the Islamist Hamas movement, saying it should never be forced to deal with "killers pledged to its destruction".

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• The main point of this article is that PA leader Mehmoud Abbas wanted to get Israel out of their land. The Palestinians call the day tha marks Israel's independence day "catastrophe" day, which is known as Nakba day to the Palestinians. a good sign though was the fact that Mr. Abbas said that the Palestinians hands were extended in peace. George Bush was stated pledging his armies full support to the cause. he said something along the lines of that even though Israel has a population 7m the 300m people of the United states are behind them, and he also said that Israel were right in not negotiating with Hamas. He called them killers.
  - Ravi Popat on 2008-05-16