The Fault Line

An Examination of a Selection from Thomas Friedman’s From Beirut to Jerusalem

Mido Aly

The Palestinian Nation

• From 1949 - 1967, Palestinian territories of Gaza and West Bank divided; Gaza controlled by Egypt, West Bank by Jordan

• Palestinian identity divided, lost?

• 1967, West Bank and Gaza (nearly 2 million Palestinian Arabs) come under Israeli Control

• Shift in Palestinian behavior

The Palestinian Problem

• Attempts at Assimilation (Economic vs. Social)

• Palestinian identity shifts, though personal belief does not coincide with communal action

• Life for Palestinians… Difficult (Work, Home)

• Life for Israelis… Difficult (Home, Frustration)

Solutions in Sight?

• No way to organize mass civil disobedience (Leaders, Economy)

• Palestinian Violence (18:1 Spontaneous)

• Israeli Courts (held without charges, Shin Bet)

• Samson option?

Earthquake!