A Global Crisis: When You Don't Know What to Do, and Whatnot

Welcome to The Porshanality Podcast! A curiously sermonic podcast playground for adulting over 30. Because let’s keep it real, life will keep life with swift transitions, but together we can honor the moments we are in and keep on living. I am your host, Porsha Williams Gates. I’m an entrepreneur, coach, ordained minister, spiritual advisor, writer, and more. Join me weekly on Wednesdays as we grow and live together in community.

Let's be honest. What's happening between Israel and Palestine is a lot. This "conflict" (i.e. apartheid and terrorism) has historical roots that expand beyond recent news. Social media has blown the story up in ways that appear to be one-sided. Some are feeling lost in the sauce on the subject and are searching for the right words to say. Beloved, it's ok if you don't have the words.

In this episode, I make an attempt to share some context to what is happening and what we can do when we don't know what to do or say. For the practical parts of this conversation, tune into the audio.

Now, to understand "how we even got here," it is important to note that the following statements are a rough overview. The Palestinian-Israeli "conflict" is a long-standing political and territorial dispute between Israelis and Palestinians, primarily over the area known today as Israel and the Palestinian territories (West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem). The roots of the conflict are deep and involve historical, political, and religious factors. Here's a bit of historical background to bring folks up to speed:

1. Ancient History: The region, historically known as Canaan, then later as Judea and Israel, has been inhabited by various groups over millennia. The ancient Israelites established the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah there. Over time, the area witnessed multiple invasions and rulers, including the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and many more.
2. Islamic Rule: In the 7th century AD, Muslim Arab armies conquered the region, and it became part of various Islamic caliphates for over a millennium.
3. Ottoman Rule: By the early 16th century, the Ottoman Empire took control, which lasted until World War I.
4. British Mandate: After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to govern the region. During this period, the Zionist movement, which sought a homeland for Jews in response to centuries of persecution in Europe and Russia, gained momentum. This led to significant Jewish immigration to Palestine as an attempt to return to their homeland post-holocaust.

Key Events:

1. UN Partition Plan (1947): Following increased tensions and violence between Jewish and Arab communities and the end of the British Mandate, the United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. The Jewish leaders accepted the plan, but the Arab leaders did not because they already lived in the land.
2. Formation of Israel (1948): In 1948, the State of Israel was declared. Neighboring Arab countries intervened in disappointment, leading to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Israel retained its declared borders and expanded its territory. This war resulted in a significant number of Palestinian Arabs either fleeing or being expelled from their homes, an event Palestinians refer to as the Nakba ("catastrophe"). Over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced and lost their homes and resources.
3. Six-Day War (1967): Tensions led to another war, during which Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and Sinai Peninsula. Israel later returned the Sinai to Egypt but kept the other areas. The continuing Israeli occupation of these territories is seen by Palestinians as a denial of their right to self-determination and statehood. The presence of the Israeli military in these areas and the associated security measures are major points of contention.<