The Clash Of Zionism And Arab Nationalism Essay - 1846 Words

Introduction to Middle East Politics Midterm Essay Minahil Tauseef Clash of Nationalisms The clash of Zionism and Arab nationalism has led to the longest running conflict in the history of the world that shapes the politics of the Middle East to this day. The roots of the modern Arab–Israeli conflict can be found in the rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism towards the end of the 19th century. The source of the conflict is territorial claims over a small piece of land that is the historical homeland for two different nationalities. Palestine has historically held great significance for the Jews. Zionism transformed that religious attachment and made it into a basis for a claim onnational grounds that this is their national home. This set them in potential conflict with another nationality, the Arabs, who seePalestine as historically and currently belonging to the Arabs, and in the Pan-Islamic context, as Muslim lands. Over the course of this paper, I will talk about why the Arab-Israeli conflict was inevitable and why these two ideologies were fated to clash. In order to understand the clash, we must first understand the importance of the region that has been the focus of two conflicting territorial claims. The Jewish claim to the state of Israel is rooted in the nearly six-thousand-year old belief of Jews that Israel is the homeland promised to them by God in the Torah. Jewish history has been a continuous cycle of exile and return to the â€Å"promised land†. The desire toShow MoreRelatedThe Rise Of Zionism And Arab Nationalism1407 Words   |  6 PagesThe rise of Zionism and Arab Nationalism in the nineteenth century triggered major political tensions in the region of Palestine. The conflict among the Zionists and Arab Nationalists is primarily due to the politics of territory and is essentially not comprised of religious opposition. In fact, before the advent of Zionism and Arab Nationalism, Jews and Palestinians shared a local identity due to mutual tolerances. This identity, which took precedence over religion, created a viv acious communityRead MoreThe Historical Context Of Palestine1532 Words   |  7 Pagesnation, which is to be discussed later in detail, as it falls into the category of religion. As Islam expanded rampantly in the years 630-730 A.D., Jerusalem and Palestine were incorporated into Islamic rule, exposing Jews to the Arab rule as well as initiating the clash of religions that thrives to the present day. In A.D. 691, Dome of the Rock, a Muslim temple memorating Muhammad s ascension to heaven was built upon the ruins of the Jewish Temple, thus provoking the latter on the religious groundsRead MoreThe Conflict Between Palestinian Arabs And Jews2267 Words   |  10 PagesThe conflict between Palestinian Arabs and Jews is a phenomenon that stems from the struggle over land defined exclusively as a â€Å"Holy Land† by both groups. Their competing claim to this territory and the constant struggle for exclusive political control has created irreconcilable differences. Jewish claim over the land is based on a covenant made between God and Abraham and the need for haven from the growing anti-Semitism in Europe. Palestinian Arabs claims to the land are based on the ir continuous