Arab- Isreal Conflict

For the remainder of my blog entries for this course I was planning on writing about material other than the Israeli- Palestine conflict since I have written about it and it has been discussed in so many different view points in class. However I find it hard to steer clear of an issue that spans over such a long period of time in Middle Eastern history. I think I find this topic so interesting because it regards current events and this is the first time that I have studied something in history that continues to take a toll on the world today.
After looking at the website: www.deiryassin.com which was created by Palestinian Jews in memory of and as an account of what had happened with one massacre in particular during the first stages of tensions between Palestinian Jews and the Arabs. Reading further into the subject as an entire history rather than just an account of a specific event in the Charles Smith's book "Palestine and the Arab Israel Conflict" I am having a difficult time fully understanding the entire history behind the origins of this decade long conflict, however I do find it interesting and useful to know since this conflict has not yet seen an end and does not show much sign of stopping.
It was interesting to learn about the origins of Zionism and put that into perspective with all the hardships Jews have had to face throughout history. What I am having such a hard time understanding and always have throughout my education in history is how religion, something that is supposed to be so spiritual and good can cause so much pain in the world. I cant help but think how every major conflict throughout history, not only in the Middle East but in Europe was centered around religion.
I also find it coincidential that Britain and France seem to have major involvement in many conflicts. In the case of the origins of the Arab Israel conflict, Britain played a major role. They had the British mandate ins Palestine and Trans Jordon in 1922 which caused issues among the Arabs who rioted in 1929 because of Jewish immigrants to Palestine and its increasing numbers. The British limited their immigration with the White Papers. There is so much European involvement in this conflict it is impossible to put it all in one blog entry, I just cant help but notice how issues like foreign presence in other territories only causes problems.
It is interesting, and shocking to think of these riots and massacres and mandates and arguments over land and how they still continue today. The idea of a Zionist movement and Arab nationalism and British Imperialism seems to me to be something that would have been solved thorough the years yet it hasn't been. I think the situation only got worse as I learned for the video To Die in Jerusalem. Never the less, it is interesting to learn the origins of such a conflict although in my honest opinion- I think this is the most complicated historical conflict to learn about. I am looking forward to the class colloquium on the Smith book to help put any linger confusions into perspective for me. My next blog will most likely be a continuation of this one. I am interested to see if my opinions and/or views change after class discussion.