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The Cycle of Violence The outbreak of the 2nd Intifada began with the leader of the far right-wing Likud party, Ariel Sharon, visiting the second holiest Mosque in the world. Many Israeli and Palestinian officials, including Yassir Arafat, knew that Sharon’s visit would lead to violence so great that no Palestinian or Israeli security force would be able to quell it. Regardless, Eduh Barak gave Sharon permission. His visit started a general Palestinian uprising against the Israeli colonists, which is known as the Intifada. The violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians operates in a cycle. The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) occupy Palestinian territories, humiliating and terrorizing them. Palestinians, who are angry at the occupation, will fight back in the form of suicide bombings and terrorism. The resistance from the Palestinians is perceived as a threat and causes the IDF to go farther into Palestinian territories, and make the grievances of the Palestinian people harsher. Occupation breads terrorists, and terrorists further Israeli occupation. The question is, how to stop this cycle of violence. How do we give the Palestinian people their freedom and humanity, while still protecting Israeli civilians from attacks? It must first be realized that violence is not the problem. Violence is the result of the thirty-five year problem. The problem is the continued occupation of Palestinian territories, by the Israeli military. Israel must take the first step by leaving Palestinian lands, and dismantling their illegal settlements. This will eliminate the Palestinians’ reason to fight back, thus restoring peace.
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