The Effects of Terrorism on the Israeli Society Essay Example

United Nations (Cohen 2).

In the early 1950's, Israel saw a significant increase in Jewish immigrants due to the Holocaust (Cohen 2). At the same time, tensions rose as peace agreements between Israel and neighboring nations were lacking, resulting in the rise of terrorism. Specifically, Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip started attacking nearby Israeli communities (Cohen 3).

Israel faced subsequent attacks due to the excessive utilization of the Jordan River and their occupation of bordering territories, according to Cohen (3). In 1956, they invaded the Gaza Strip and proceeded towards the Suez Canal. As a means to halt the conflict between Israel and Egypt, Britain and France targeted Egyptian bases. This ultimately led to Israel being expelled from Egyptian territory by the United Nations. Despite the reopening of the Suez Canal to all parties, ongoing violence along the border continued due to the lack of peace treaties.

During the subsequent years, there was a continuous occurrence of acts of terrorism and warfare. In the 1980's, the Gaza Strip and West Bank experienced an anti-Israeli occupation campaign called the Intifada (Cohen 5). Throughout this period, the Intifada served as Israel's primary source of terrorism (Cohen 5), functioning as a terrorist revolt against the peace process and causing increased pressure for peace. The United States and Russia both encouraged Arabs and Israelis to pursue peace (Cohen 5). By the early 1990's, significant progress had been made with several peace treaties being signed that transferred most power to Palestine.

According to Cohen (6), despite Palestine's substantial control over the Gaza Strip and West Bank, terrorism remained prevalent. The Gaza Strip and West Bank experienced Palestinian attacks which were met

with retaliation from Israeli extremists. In 1995, the peace process was abruptly halted when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who opposed it, was assassinated by an Israeli student. This event led to a significant escalation in terrorism (Cohen 6). Over the years, several factors have contributed to this continuous terrorism, primarily driven by the aspiration to gain control of Jerusalem, a sacred territory.

Various terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Palestine Liberation Front, have been strongly supporting the ongoing conflict over Jerusalem between Palestine and Israel since 1948. Among these groups, Hamas is the largest one and enjoys a significant number of supporters in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Additionally, they receive financial support from Iran.

The Hamas group has been held accountable for most terrorist acts since the Declaration of Principles signing in 1993 (Potential 1). They reject making peace with Israel and will undertake any measures to reclaim the sacred Jerusalem (Potential 1). Another factor contributing to this persistent terrorism was the assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. The peace process started gaining momentum in 1995. The progress achieved was commendable; however, it faced some opposition.

Opposition to the peace process was expressed by various groups, such as Hamas and the PLFP (Cohen 6). Yitzhak Rabin, a well-known advocate for peace, was assassinated by an Israeli student who strongly opposed the peace process. This unfortunate event abruptly halted the peace process and led to uncontrollable terrorism. More than 300 individuals have lost their lives in over 100 suicide bombings that targeted buses, restaurants, and public spaces in Israel (Terrorism 4).

The increase in terrorism has

primarily been attributed to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with the Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000 acting as a significant trigger. Palestinians have persistently resisted Israeli opposition in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, resulting in numerous deadly attacks within mainland Israel.

The disruption of peace talks caused by the Al-Aqsa Intifada had a significant impact on Israeli and Palestinian societies (Cohen 7). As a consequence, terrorism and loss of life in Israel have affected its citizens physically and emotionally. Survivors of terrorist attacks often suffer from lingering stress that can last for days or even weeks (NCPTSD 1), experiencing various emotions such as shock, fear, anger, resentment, guilt, shame, grief, helplessness, and hopelessness (NCPTSD 1).

A significant number of people in Israel often experience a lack of motivation and difficulty focusing after a terrorist attack. They may also have memory issues and frequent anxiety. These common reactions are attributed to the constant state of terror that exists throughout the country, affecting approximately 85% of Israelis who encounter one or more of these symptoms.

Israel's population is highly susceptible to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can be triggered by various factors, such as the constant threat of death or injury, the loss of loved ones, or witnessing others being killed (NCPTSD 2). These factors are prevalent throughout the country on a daily basis. Children, in particular, are more prone to stress-related disorders compared to adults (NCPTSD 2). Moreover, individuals who have experienced multiple terrorist attacks face greater challenges in dealing with these traumas and have a higher probability of developing PTSD (NCPTSD 2). The recovery process typically takes around 3 to 4 weeks for those who have undergone

a single terrorist attack (NCPTSD 2).

According to the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) 2, individuals who have experienced multiple attacks usually take about one to two months to start feeling better. Those who have lost a loved one in an attack generally need around six months to one year for recovery. In some cases, seeking professional help may be necessary for the recovery process. NCPTSD 2 provides several signs that indicate the need for professional assistance, including ongoing feelings of upset or fear, significant behavioral changes after trauma, inability to fulfill work or childcare responsibilities, deterioration of relationships, substance abuse, feelings of jumpiness or experiencing nightmares, persistent thoughts about the attack, and an overall inability to find enjoyment in life.

Accessing professional help in Israel is challenging for citizens because of the ongoing issue of terrorism. The Middle East peace process, initiated in the 1970s, has aimed to tackle this problem. A significant advancement towards peace took place when President Jimmy Carter of the United States arranged a meeting at Camp David in 1978 that involved President Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel (The Camp 1).

During the meeting at Camp David, Carter, al-Sadat, and Begin collectively devised the Camp David Accords with the aim of achieving peace in the Middle East (The Camp 1). The main focus of these accords was to determine the future of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (Reich 1). Within this framework, it was agreed that Israel would remove its military presence from these areas and allow residents to choose their own governing authorities (Reich 2).

In addition, negotiations concerning the West Bank and Gaza

Strip were assigned to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and representatives of the Palestinian people (Reich 2).

Despite the successful achievement of peace between Israel and Egypt following the Camp David Accords, many Arab nations reacted unfavorably. Several Arab states distanced themselves from Egypt, suggesting that terrorism persisted even after the accords (Reich 3). However, this did not impede the peace process as numerous bilateral and multilateral negotiations occurred between Israel and different Arab countries in their pursuit of establishing peace.

Israel conducted meetings with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine (Bilateral 1). From 1996 to 2000, Israel and Lebanon participated in over twelve bilateral discussions. In 1996, Israel launched a campaign against the Hizbulluh terrorist group based in Lebanon. In April 1996, both countries convened to discuss this issue.

The text given provides information about Israel from MSN Encarta. It is sourced from www.msn.encarta.com/encyclopedia_761575008_10/Israel.html (11/18/06) by Cohen, Shaul. For more details on the Arab-Israeli Conflict, you can refer to www.msn.encarta.com/encyclopedia_761588322_2/Arab-Israeli_Conflict on MSN Encarta.

html; (11/2/06)

The website www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/disasters/fs_children_disaster.html, accessed on 11/18/06.