Israel is in a situation unlike any other country around the world.
Israel has been fighting for its survival since it became a country in 1948. It
is surrounded by hostile nations that want to destroy or at least diminish it.
There is tremendous tension between the Palestine Liberation Members and Israeli
officials and citizens. There have been peaceful rallies and bloody bus
bombings. People in Israel today are unsure about preceding peace
negotiations or standing firm in stopping present-day terrorist activities.
Protests, shouting matches, and violent disputes between Israelis are common
occurrences. No one person, the college professor, the taxi driver, or the
merchant is sure that their solution to these life and death problems is the
On Friday, May 14, 1948, after much deliberation the modern state of
Israel was voted into existence by the United Nations. Finally, the Jews around
the world had a country to call their own. Unfortunately, the road ahead of
them was not an easy or peaceful one. There are many organizations that have
dedicated their existence to destroying the people and country of Israel.
The leader in this battle against Israel is Hamas, the Islamic Resistance
Movement. Hamas uses many tactics to achieve its goals of terrorism.
These tactics include intensive educational/propaganda programs in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip areas. Suicide bombings, riots, rock throwing,
car bombings, stonings, and many other destructive terrorist activities
are also used periodically to gain news attention to their radical
fundamentalist beliefs. Since its formation in
1988 Hamas has vowed to do anything possible to halt the peace process which
they feel is unfair to Palestinians and other Arabs. The group is not condoned
by the Palestine Liberation Organization, yet very little concrete action has
been taken to stop this group. The philosophy of Jihad, or holy war, is the
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