Gaza Attack Said to Kill Israeli Soldier

I. Gaza Attack Said to Kill Israeli Soldier New York Times, March 6, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Israel-Palestinians.html?_r=1&ref=world&pagewanted=all

II. On Thursday, March 6, 2008, a gunman entered a rabbinical school in Central Jerusalem, killing eight people, and wounding nine. This ambush was the first major attack by Palestinian militants in Jerusalem since a suicide bomb attack killed 8 people in February 2004. The gunman was killed before he was able to cause anymore harm to an already devastating situation. The gunman is rumored to be from east Jerusalem (the Palestine section) and to be a member of the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh and Gaza, a Palestinian extremist group. Ironically, one the same day the attack launched, Egyptian officials were supposed to attempt on an arrangement of a truce between Israel and Palestine militants. The US backed this attempt for peace. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice responded to the attack in calling it barbarous, and that “there is no cause that could ever justify this action”. Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, reacted in a similar matter, saying that, “It is clear that those people celebrating this bloodshed have shown themselves to be not only the enemies of Israel but of all of humanity”. In a response to the shootings, Hamas (a Palestinian political group) reportedly said '”We bless the operation. It will not be the last''. Meanwhile, Gazans prayed to God, in an act of a great victory, while others celebrated in the streets. Actions like these leave an already grieving city of Jerusalem in fear.
III. A. The AP theme this article relates to is State-building, expansion and conflict. The entire reason why Israel and Palestine are fighting is over the land that is currently the “State of Israel” (named on May 14, 1948). The entire theme of State-building… relates back to political structures, forms of governance, nationalism, revolts, and global organization, which is exactly what the issues of Israel and Palestine are between.
B. The historical background of this issue goes back to World War I, when Britain made a promise to Arab leaders that historic Palestine would become independent. Although in the Balfour declaration, Britain indicated its support for a Jewish land in Palestine, which led to a further divide of the Ottoman territory. When anti-Semitism became a major factor in Europe, Jewish people wanted a place to call their own, forming the idea of Zionism. After World War I, Britain arranged for the League of Nations to make Palestine a British Mandate (currently a colony, awaiting independence). In 1947, the UN voted to make Palestine into two separate states, a Jewish state and an Arab state. Palestinians rejected that opportunity by going to war with Israel, which eventually led to Israel gaining larger borders and forcing Palestinians to become refugees. Ever since then, there has been a constant battle between the two states, with each gaining and losing land.
C. The only reference to an author in this article is of the Associated Press, which is a news service with not much connection to the fighting states.
D. This article provides some bias throughout the text. The article is definitely not in favor of the Palestinians. This can be supported by just reading the article. If the author were writing from the point of view of the Palestinians, he or she would have added degrading messages and giving reasons why the attack was legitimate and needed. I don’t believe that the author is leaning directly towards the Israelis or the Palestinians, although he or she added quotes supporting the attacked (Israelis) and debasing the attackers (Palestinians).
E. I feel as though that there isn’t a missing voice missing in this article. The opinions of both states’ leader’s were heard, the response of the Palestinian’s was accounted for, the reaction of the Israeli civilians was noted, and even the point of view of the US was heard. All parties associated with this event were accounted for.
F. This article was very hard for me to read, due to the fact that one of my friends lives in Israel and has to live though all of this terror everyday. I can’t even imagine the pain one must feel having to keep a watch out in fear that a gunman would open fire in a haven of learning, a place that’s supposed to be safe. I agree with Noelle when she compared this situation to the Columbine attacks a few years back. Although, in Israel, the reason for violence isn’t limited to a few insane kids. Random acts of violence, like this one provide an excellent example for what goes on in Israel daily, all for the fight for land, money power. Isn’t that what society is all about?