Page 71 - Social Science.docx

Elusive Peace
an "act of terrorism" in the eyes of Hamas. In return, Hamas has long been engaged in terrorist activities against the citizens of Israel, mitigating peace between the two states.
In the Fall of 2020, stretching into the Spring of 2021, Israel has turned to acts of war as an act of defense. Israel launched a military offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Targeting more than 50 locations, the rockets were a response to the rockets fired at Israel. Hamas sent approximately one hundred projectiles at Israel in one day alone. Israel has since said that this operation was an attempt to regain stability for the citizens of Israel. Also, they say it was aimed to limit and destroy Hamas while also destroying terror infrastructure within the borders of the state of Israel.3 In response, the intent of Hamas is to drive the people of Israel out of Israel. Israel has suffered nearly 6,000 rocket attacks to its lands for the past two years. Even during months of peace Hamas has terrorized the country. Israel, however, has not backed down and has returned every attack with a well-planned response. Israel, with the attempt to save civilian lives, has often been willing to open checkpoints to allow trading with Gaza to improve relations, but Hamas has denied all talks.4
Israel has the more experience with counter-terrorist measures than any other modern nation. Israel enacted the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance in 1948 as a response to Arab hostility. The Ordinance defined terrorism to include acts or threats of violence against an individual or the entire state. They created this to allow them to respond accordingly when an attack met their guidelines of terrorism. This is just one example of what they have done outside
3 Stephani Butnik, "Israel Initiates Military Offensive Against Hamas in Gaza," Tablet Magazine, July 8, 2014. doi:10.1107/s0108768104025947/bm5015sup2.hkl.
4 N. A., "Israel's Right to Defend Itself," Gale In Context, January 23, 2009. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A192644082/GPS?u=gullprep&sid=GPS&xid=9c4c3b99.
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