Border Conflict
Borders have historically been a fraught topic. Empires, countries, and states since the beginning of time have gone to great lengths to defend and enlarge the borders of their country.
Nowhere are borders more controversial and disputed than in Israel. Since its inception, Israel has had to fight to keep its land, and has more than once been pressured to give up land it justifiably conquered in war. In 1947, prior to Israel’s independence, the UN Partition Plan attempted to define the borders of a Jewish and Arab state. The Arabs rejected the plan out of hand, and after Israel subsequently declared its independence, the neighboring Arab countries invaded and declared war. However, Israel emerged victorious—and with an area 50% larger than had been allotted to it in the Partition Plan. The state at that time did not, though, include the Golan Heights or East Jerusalem. The Six Day War, in 1967, changed that as Israel annexed the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, reuniting the divided Israeli capital. Israel did not completely annex the West Bank, but began settling the area and creating villages.
Though Israel defeated Jordan and Syria and can rightfully claim those areas as their own, many have called for Israel to return to "pre-1967 borders"—in other words, a land without east Jerusalem, without the West Bank or Gaza Strip, and without the Golan Heights. Many who believe the land rightfully belongs to Israel have compared this to France demanding that the United States return the entire Louisiana Purchase, or Mexico reclaiming Texas. Somehow, though no other country in the world would entertain the thought of returning land it conquered in a war, it has become acceptable to envision the future of Israel without many of its key areas.
Israel shares a border with four Arab countries—Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. The Egyptian border is the least disputed; Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula, twice, but returned it to Egypt, and the demarcation line remains the same as when it was first drawn in 1906. Although Egypt temporarily occupied the Gaza Strip, they have since relinquished any claim to it and Gaza’s fate—whether part of Israel or an envisioned Palestinian state—remains uncertain.
Although Israel annexed the Golan Heights after 1967, the annexation was not internationally recognized, and certainly not by Syria. A number of villages along the border, including Shebaa Farms, have been subjects of dispute first between Lebanon and Syria, and then between those countries and Israel. In fact, Israeli control of Shebaa Farms was one of the motivations for Lebanon continuing to attack Israeli settlements. The Lebanese-Israeli border has also been fraught with tension and attacks. After Israel unilaterally withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, the "Blue Line," indicating the border between the two countries, has been recognized by the United Nations as the official border.
After the signing of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty in 1994, that border, too, has been relatively quiet. Jordan has withdrawn claims to the previously occupied West Bank, and the bodies of water including the Gulf of Aqaba, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River, have provided natural demarcation lines and led to comparative peace on the eastern border.
The areas of the Gaza Strip and West Bank are the two most hotly contested areas. Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 caused a great deal of panic in the Israeli public. Many feared (it turns out, realistically) that unchecked Palestinian control and growth in those areas would lead to more terrorism at Israel’s doorstep. Israel, they contend, needs "defensible borders," borders which strengthen and protect Israeli citizens, not undermine that security.
Many Israeli leaders have been adamant about not returning further to pre-1967 lines, but the pressure from the international community is great, and in the eyes of many, the Gaza withdrawal is viewed as a first step toward capitulating to those demands. Retreating behind pre-1967 borders leaves many Israeli citizens—including those in the Gush Etzion bloc, and residents of Maale Adumim and Givat Ze’ev, defenseless.
What do you think?
2:23 pm
Israel’s enemies are fanatics. They have no intention of giving up. Fanatics such as these do not spend their lives fighting for a bad cause and then decide to quit their war. It took 46 years after WWII to bring down the Soviet Empire– with millions killed in proxy wars during that time.
7:16 am
Israel seems to always be having to submit to unreasonable demands from a world that will not do the same. I support Israel’s claim to its land. We should heed what is being done to them. We may be next if this is allowed to happen to them.
11:04 am
I fully support the right of Israel to define its borders. Is it easy for any nation to be able to protect its territorial integrity when almost completely surrounded by enemies?
6:41 pm
Isreal belongs to the jews,it is their land, given to them by God, according to the Bible, he will see they keep it. They have fought for it, since the beginning of time and no one has the right to tell them what to do with their own country. i stand with Isreal.
9:01 pm
Israel has not received all that God intends her to have, but when she does the world will throw it arms up even more, demanding what I expect will be won as Israel defends herself.
9:37 am
The 12 tribes of Israel given by Father should be rightfully belongs to Israel today. This is the Will of the Father. International Rights watchgroups & authorities should Not be imposing restrictions on Israel just because Muslim countries controls a large portion of Middle East.
9:20 am
We (as Americans) had better decide real fast where we will STAND. These are God’s chosen people…I’m on God’s side!! I don’t think Israel should have to give up anything that is hers. They have fought and died for their country just like we have in the support of freedom all over the world. It is EVIL that this one tiny country can’t seem to keep what they have fought for. We should do all we can to help them.
2:24 pm
Why should Israel give up its land? The land was originally given to them by God. God has chosen them as his very own. To stand against them is to stand against God. I for one want no part in anything that goes against God.
4:40 pm
my prayers are daily with israel…i also pray for
myself, that even under the threat of death….
i will never denounce israel or the chosen ones..shalom….doral
3:06 am
Isaiah 62:1-5, “Regarding Zion (Israel), I can’t keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can’t hold my tongue, until her righteousness blazes down like the sum and her salvation flames up like a torch. Foreign countries (Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Palestine) will see your righteousness, and world leaders (U.S.A, Russia, Britain, Italy, France et al) your glory and you will get a brand-new name straight from the mount of God. You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s Hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you rejected and your country will no more be called Ruined…. ” (Message Bible). This prophesy shall come to pass in Jesus Name.
5:01 am
Amen!
8:37 am
When Israel fully returns to the Lord God YHWH, God will fully return Israel and the land He promised to them in covenant. Biblical history bears this out!
Psalm 122:6 instructs us to: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” and explains that there will be peace within her when their people love God. Then, they will be secure!
Romans 11:26 promises that: “All of Israel will be saved” when it no longer has a “hardening in part”.
I love God, and love the Israel He wants to bless when they come to with their “whole heart, their whole soul, and their whole strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
9:15 pm
I would like to know why there is no pressure by American Christians on the President to honor former President Bush’s pact with Israel concerning the weapons and armments that Obama had redirected elsewhere. Of all the evils that America is guilty of Ie. abortion, homosexuality to name only a couple, the one that scares me the most is the fact that the left led by Obama is pulling away from Israel as an ally. This is dangerous for America to literally pull out from under God’s protection as a friend of Israel
5:53 pm
The U.S. has never been an ally of Israel. Only those inside our country who love Israel ever influenced or restrained our various government administrations regarding her. Fortunatel, there are many of us, but let us be realistic. The good news is that of all those who love and support Israel, is God Himself. And if He is for us, no one, absolutely no one, can stand against us.
Shalom and Maranatha
8:32 am
Anybody can seek permission from the gov’t of Israel and stay there but nobody should attempt to take their God given portion.I pray that God strengthens the IDF to crush their enemies while people of good will continue praying for their success.
6:52 pm
there are no other options but to keep what land you gain, and to serve the people with actions and gifts to welcom those who join the greater good for prosperity ,and let them secure
them selves and what they have been given with intell straight to Israels security joining the cause for Israel, and the people who work for this earn the right of land then take more land.
6:02 am
Do not give 1 more inch up of israel up.the more you give back the more the ememies of Israel will try to get take back . until israel is not longer. Trust in the LORD!!!
ROM 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
11:45 pm
you are all nutjobs we do not live in a time where conquering land means you have a right to it you claim israel to be a 21st century free nation and you use this mideval reasoning for them to get as much land as they can