Middle East - Mayhem

Have you ever given a thought as to why this conflict in middle east has been on going forever and why there never seems to be a common ground to work things out? Why does Israel attack Gaza and West Bank with ever increasing artillery might? Why do the people of Palestine never give up suicide bombs or firing rockets at Israel?

To understand this conflict one has to know the history of Middle East. In my earlier article named “Middle East a brief history” I have tried to give the brief info leading up to the conflict and how the geographic boundaries have changed over this period of time.

One the so called Jewish state was created out of Palestine ( though there was/is no Palestine to start with – I am addressing the ethnic population that lived there and where forced to move out of their home to accommodate for the new Jewish immigrants, this is the population I address as Palestinians).

Today both Israel and Palestine kill each other, one in the name of holy land and securing its people and the other in the name of Jihad and fighting a holy war. It is surprising how both the parties justify being HOLY!. May be it can be sublimely justified as both are Abrahamic religions!

Today Palestine is limited to Gaza and West Bank with majority of population being Arabs. These two territories are not connected and movement between Gaza and West bank is heavily scrutinized and tedious to get a permit.

With the attack on Gaza in full swing and running into the 18th day I was wondering why does Israel attack the civilian population – more importantly I was stunned by the disparity in death toll.

- Israel death toll – 13, of which 10 were soldiers
- Gaza death toll – 878 ( 42% women and children - 96 women and 273 children)

I was forced to think why? No matter how Israel justifies it, the numbers just do not add up.

This is when I gave it further consideration look at the following numbers:

- Population of Israel – 6 million
- Population of Palestine – 4 million

Land area in square mile

- Land area Israel -: 7,849 sq mi
- Land area Palestine : 2402 sq mi [West Bank: 2,263 sq mi (5,860 sq km); Gaza Strip: 139 sq mi (360 sq km)]

Birth Rate:

- Israel: 17.4/1000
- Palestine: West Bank: 31.0/1000 Gaza: 38.9/1000


Does anything strike as odd here? I do know numbers by themselves do no means anything but let me frame them into a sentence may be then you will get the bigger picture.

Israel – the total land area is approx 8000 sq mi on which approx 6 million people live with an average birth rate of 17.4/1000 – this has to be interpreted as for every 1000 people 17.4 births take place

Palestine – total square mile inclusive of Gaza and West bank appr 2400 sq mi with 4 million people living with an average birth rate of 35/1000 that is for every 1000 people 35 infants are born.

Do you see the disparity? If the current birth rate in Palestine continues then it will over take the population of Israel. Imagine a situation were half the population ( this is very hypothetical) of Palestine becomes Jihadist – even if one Palestine manages to kill one Israeli it will be a staggering blow to Israel. With the literacy rate at 97% Israel is facing adverse effects of literacy, and this is more so true when women are educated – they tend to have fewer kids and towards the later part of life. Hence Israel for its own existence cannot let this happen – look at the recent numbers as of yesterday 01/12/2008 by the invasion of Gaza – 42% killed were women and children. Does this justify my argument?

One other reason for the Jihadists in Palestine is the refugee camps they live in and with the atrocities they face it would be better for them to die – at least they get a descent funeral!.

I do not think this conflict will ever come to peaceful negotiations at least in my life time. Having said that Israel is at fault – I would also want to bring to light that Palestinians are no less culprits of their fate – the very Arab nations that supported them in war of ’67 and made them culminate/accumulate in territories - today merely talk big and preach Islam to the core without really relating it to the current world/society.

Why does Saudi Arabia the richest of the Arab world refuse to take any refugees? Would it be difficult to after all work out a deal? Saudi sits on the largest oil deposits in the world – if it had wanted to it could achieve a lot by just stopping the flow of oil. But again a country that follows strict Islamic law to an extent that women have to cover from head to toe and aren’t allowed to drive – makes every exception in the oil facilities of ARAMCO where no rules apply – WHY, Isn't this hypocrisy? Because, if you ask the westerners, the brain behind the facility, to follow Shari ya - what do you think will be the outcome? And without the western brain even the mighty sultan realizes that he will not be able to afford gold plated bathroom fixtures!

It will take ages for Middle East to catch up to the western world until then they would live with the heads high up with false sense of ego in heart. They wouldn’t mind a western women driving around in ARAMCO, in Saudi Arabia as long as it translates to CURRENCY!!! As for Palestinians they are securing a place in heaven by being martyr in holy war.

- Common Joe

References: BBC Archives at www.news.bbc.com; www.wikipedia.com; www.infoplease.com ;