Analysis, The Arab-israeli Conflict, Ethnic And Religious Factors

Arab-Israeli conflict was developed from the dispute about Palestine between the Palestinian and the Jew before the founding of Israel. It has been a regional hot problem which lasting longest time, related to most complex factors, most difficult to be resolved by political means and attracting high attention of international society. There are complicated factors about Arab-Israeli conflict which include territorial dispute, the intervention of western great nations, struggle for water and the contradictions of economics. This thesis begins with the general theory of international conflict and the analysis on the effect to it of nationalism and religion, then inquires into the factors of nationalism and religion in Arab-Israeli conflict mainly. There are four parts in the thesis.Part one discusses the general theory of international conflict, and analyzes the effect of nationalism and religion to it. International conflict is a long-time and common state of international relations. In this part, the concept, development and types of international conflict are introduced. It can be divided into five levels by its violent extent, which are language symbolic conflict, general conflict, antagonistic conflict, international crisis and international war. The inner relationship between nationalism and international conflict is decided by internal and external factors which are the essence and role of nationalism and the environment of crisis. Being an ideology and social superstructure, religion is related closely to politics, nation and country. It has dual social functions. This attribute and function of religion make it the reason of international conflict.Part two first relates generally the historical development of Arab-Israeli conflict. Then it introduces briefly the political and economical factors in Arab-Israeli conflict which includes territorial dispute, international factor, struggle for water and contradiction of economics.Part three analyzes separately the effects of Arabian and Israeli nationalism to Arab-Israeli conflict through two parts. Zionism led to the break of Arab-Israeliconflict. After the founding of Israel, Zionism developed into national expansionism and pacifism in two opposite directions which has hindering or pushing the Arab-Israeli conflict and Middle East peaceful process separately. Arab nationalism is compound; with which there appeared country nationalism .There are internal and external reasons for the forming of this unique feature of the nationalism of Arab countries. This thesis sums up three concrete aspects which are the dual characteristics of Arab nation, the different social structure and the political connotation of Arab nationalism. The development in Palestine from Arab nationalism to country nationalism of Arab countries has affected the changes between Arab countries and Israeli relationship together with the Middle East peaceful process. Arab nationalism plays a positive role in uniting Arab countries to resist Israel. But with the establishment of country sovereignty, the "nation is above sovereignty" theory of Arab nationalism will lead to negative influences that it will destroy the unity of Arab countries. The rising of country nationalism plays a positive role as well as a negative one in Arab-Israeli conflict and the peaceful process. It is an important reason for Arab nations to be defeated again and again in Arab-Israeli conflict that the national benefit is above Arab nationalism. At the same time, it is one of the inner causes for Israel making peace with Egypt, Jordan and Palestine.Part four inquires the religious factor in Arab-Israeli conflict. This part is divided into next three parts. First, the characteristics and different religious ideas of Judaism and Islam are introduced. The character of Judaism is the unity of religion and nation. Its religious ideas include mainly "The Chosen People" idea, "The Promised Land" idea and "The Contract" idea. Islam is a kind of religion of political and fighting characters. Its thought of "Jehad "is deep-rooted. Secondly, the stimulation of religion to Arab-Israeli conflict is narrated from four aspects. (l)The contradiction and conflict between Judaism and Islam existed since ancient times. (2) The ideas of "The Promised Land" and "Messiah" were used by Zionism to accomplish its mission. After the founding of Israel, the two ideas are the religious...