The Israeli-

Palestinian conflict
Monday, January 6
th
2014
Hanneke, Kensey, Brynn, Julie-Ann
Part A
Background information that explains the nations historical and
contemporary conditions, and their conflict with Israel

By: Julie-Ann Johnson
Gaza Strip
Gaza strip is wedged between the Mediterranean
Sea and Israel. To the southwest, it shares a border
with Egypt. The region has a long history of rulers
and occupants, such as the ancient Egyptians, the
Philistines, the Arabs, the Christian Crusaders, and
the Ottomans. Gaza at one point became part of the
British Mandate of Palestine. It was also occupied
by Egypt in 1948, in the aftermath of the first Arab-
Israeli war. During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel
took control of the region.

Israel and the Gaza Strip
However, Israel eventually left Gaza Strip as part of its
obligations under the Oslo Accords (which also
supported rights of the Palestinians to self-government).
For about 10 years, the Palestinian National Authority
and Israel shared power in the Gaza Strip. with the PNA
administering civilian control and the Israelis overseeing
military affairs as well as the airspace, borders and
settlements.
Finally Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ended their
military rule in the region and withdrew all Israeli
settlements. This brought all areas of the Gaza Strip
under Palestinian administration.

Conflicts between Israel
and Gaza
Many Conflicts have happened between Israel and Gaza, such as:
The 1947-1949 war. Arab/Palestinians fought against Israel and lost.
Israel had conquered most of Palestine. Three-quarters of a million
Palestinians had been made refugees, and over 500 towns and villages
had been obliterated. Every city, river and hillock received a new,
Hebrew name. They were pretty much tying to erase all Palestinian
things.
The 1967 War and USS Liberty. In 1967, Israel conquered still more land.
It in which Israeli successful surprise attack on Egypt. Israel occupied the
final 22% of Palestine that they didn't get in 1948 the West Bank and
Gaza Strip.
Also during the Six Day War, Israel attacked a US Navy ship, the USS
Liberty, killing and injuring over 200 American servicemen. President
Lyndon Johnson recalled rescue flights, saying that he did not want to
"embarrass an ally." And pretty much everyone declared it was
obviously an act of war against the United States,

Part B
Palestinian arguments for self-determination

By: Brynn Braat
Palestinian Rights for Self
Determination
On 11 December 1948, the United Nations adopted Resolution 194
which set up the UN Conciliation Commission for Palestine
(UNCCP) and resolved that (Palestinian) refugees wishing to
return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors
should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date.
A day earlier 10 December 1948, member states of the UN had
adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),
marked as Human Rights Day. The UDHR, regarded by most
states as the authoritative international standard for human
rights, calls for fundamental human rights including the right to
leave any country, including his own, and to return to his
country. The Charter of the United Nations enshrines both self-
determination and the right of return, with all other human rights
conventions, covenants and declarations flowing from the aims
and ideals set out in Charter.
Self Determination
Palestinians have not exercised full Sovereignty over the
land in which they have lived during the modern era.
Palestine was administered by the Ottoman Empire until
WWI, and then overseen by the British Mandatory
authorities. Israel was established in parts of Palestine in
1948, and in the wake of the 1948, and in the wake of the
1948 Arab-Israeli war, the West Bank were occupied by
Jordan, and the Gaza Strip by Egypt, with both countries
continuing to administer these areas until Israel occupied
them in the Six-Day War. Historian Avi Shlaim states
that the Palestinians' lack of sovereignty over the land
has been used by Israelis to deny Palestinians their rights
to self-determination.
Palestinians
After the 1948 Palestine war and the accompanying
Palestinian exodus, there was a hiatus in Palestinian
political activity. In the 1950s, a new generation of
Palestinian nationalist groups and movements began to
organize clandestinely, stepping out onto the public
stage in the 1960s. The traditional Palestinian elite who
had dominated negotiations with the British and the
Zionists in the Mandate, and who were largely held
responsible for the loss of Palestine, were replaced by
these new movements whose recruits generally came
from poor to middle-class backgrounds and were often
students or recent graduates of universities
Part C
Israels arguments against Palestinian self-determination

By: Kensey Heemskerk
Canadian Protections
A small amount of Canada had voted no for the practices
of Israel affecting the human rights of the Palestinian
people which also included East Jerusalem. Canada
supports Israel with their wants to live in peace within
certain boundaries, and Canada also recognizes that they
want to have their own security system that is safe.
Canada sees that the Palestinian people want rights to
self-determination and support the independence of the
Palestinian state. Along with the United Nations Canada
still continues to support and respond to the
development needs of Palestinian people. At the Paris
Donors Conference in December of 2007, Canada had
announced that they want to commit to $300 million over
5 years toward improving the security of Palestine.
Canadian Palestinian
Peace
Canada believes in peace between both Israel and
Palestinians and they are committed to the goal of
peace between these two. Canadas role within the
conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is to
help them with achieving the goal of bringing peace
between the two. Newspaper columns that have
been critical to Palestinian leaders and the United
Nations, were written by a Toronto lawyer who will
be Canadas next ambassador to Israel.
Israel- Palestine
Israel does not want for the Palestinians to have the right to self-
determination. Israel has repeatedly and constantly denied the
Palestinians the rights to self-determination using many different pretexts
that defy legal logic. In UN Resolution of December 7, 1973, which allows
equality of rights, the international body had expressed their concern over
the preventing by Israel of Palestinian people from practicing their
absolute rights on their own land. Israels settlement policy in Palestinian
land is a violation of human rights and it is stated that in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights that "no one can be forcibly stripped of
one's property." This policy however has not been respected towards the
case of the Palestinians. Because of this the Palestinians are still endanger
of house demolition and expropriation of their property. By Israel being
in presence of the Palestinian territory it deprives them of their
democratic rights. So if Israel does not give the Palestinians whatever
territory they demand, they will have to choose between their democracy
and their Jewishness.
Part D
Canadian Perspective on the Israeli- Palestine Issue

By: Hanneke Kassies
Canadas Support for Israel
and its Security
Canada supports Israel's right to live in peace with
its neighbors within secure boundaries and
recognizes Israel's right to assure its own security.
Israel has a right under international law to take the
necessary measures, in accordance with human
rights and international humanitarian law, to
protect the security of its citizens from attacks by
terrorist groups. Canada and Israel share friendship
and strong, growing bilateral relations in many
areas based on shared values, including democracy.
Canadas Support for
Palestine and its Security
Canada recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination
and supports the creation of a sovereign, independent, viable,
and democratic Palestinian state, as part of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace settlement. Canada recognizes the
Palestinian Authority (PA) as the governmental entity in the
West Bank and Gaza. Canada also recognizes the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) as the principal representative
of the Palestinian people. Canada continues to support
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and is working with
him in terms of much needed reform. Canada continues to
support and respond to the humanitarian and development
needs of the Palestinian people. Canada announced a
commitment of $300 million over 5 years towards improving
Palestinian security, governance and prosperity.
Respect for human rights and
international humanitarian law
Canada believes that Israel and the Palestinian
Authority must comply with their obligations under
international human rights law. Their respect for
human rights and international humanitarian law is
key to ensuring the protection of civilians, and can
contribute to the creation of a climate conducive to
achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace
settlement.
Biography
Dweik, M. (2014, January 9). Palestine-israel journal. Retrieved from
http://www.pij.org/details.php?id=478
Kontorovich , E. (2013, December 17). Commentary. Retrieved from
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/12/17/israel-palestine-and-democracy/
Rees, S. (2014, January 9). Aljazeera. Retrieved from
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/01/palestinian-nationhood-end-politics-
compromise-now-20141872748334615.html
"Nearly Half Canadians Say Ottawa's Policy on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 'strikes Right Balance'
Add to ..." The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/nearly-half-canadians-say-ottawas-policy-on-israeli-
palestinian-conflict-strikes-right-balance/article554580/
"Canadian Policy on Key Issues in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." Canadian Policy on Key Issues
in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2014. http://www.international.gc.ca/name-
anmo/peace_process-processus_paix/canadian_policy-politique_canadienne.aspx?lang=eng
"Palestinian People." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_people