The war between Gaza and Israel

Where is Israel located? Locate in on a map.

Israel, slightly larger than Massachusetts, lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Egypt on the west, Syria and Jordan on the east, and Lebanon on the north.

Why was Israel created?

Israel was created in 1948 to establish an official homeland for jewish people.

Where are the Palestinian Territories? Locate on map.

Gaza strip is in the border between Israel and Egypt and West Bank is between Israel and Jordan.

What is happening in Israel and Gaza?

Their is a fight for territories between Israel and Palestine. Israel bombed Hamas targets in the Gaza strip in response to repeated rocket fires from Hamas.

How many palestinians have died, and how many israelis?

900 palestinians and 13 israelis.

What is Hamas?

Islamic Resistance Movement a militant Islamic political movement that opposes peace with Israel and uses terrorism as a weapon; seeks to create and Islamic state in pl

ace of Israel.

What was the US response to this attacks?

United States supports Israel, and says that in order to the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable cease-fire.

What happened when Israel was declared a state in 1948?

After the war concluded in 1949 and resulted in a 50% increase in Israeli territory, the establishment of Israel, the country has had an ongoing co

nflict with Palestinians, hounders of thousands of whom have been displaced and surrounding Arab countries.

What did Israel agree to in the Oslo accords?

Israel committed to withdrawing from parts of the Gaza strip and the West Bank and agreed that a Palestinian Authority would be set up.

How did Hamas come to power in Gaza?

In 2006 they won the elections by having a majority in the Palestinian legisl

ative council.

To which "old battle" does the article´s headline refer?

The same battle Israel has been having with Palestine since it was created.

What seem to be the hopes underlying Israel´s assault on Gaza?

That the assault in Gaza would do more than just stop the rocket fire with which Hamas had broken a cease-fire las month.

How would a clear Israeli victory affect the region?

A clear victory for Israel would make it easier for Egypt, Jordan and countries farther afield to declare common cause against Islamic militancy and its main sponsor in the region, Iran.

How would a clear Israeli victory affect the United States?

An international peacekeeping force made up of a Turkish and Arab troops could clear the way for a restoration of political control in Gaza.

Why does Iran have much at stake in the outcome of the current crisis?

Because they are a powerful country and they sponsor Hamas and Hezbollah, so if this ones fail, Iran will be suffering the consequences.

How likely is it that the Israeli assault will be successful?

Even though history contradicts this; Israel has a big possibility of wining because now they are more prepared and they have the United States in their side.

What are some of the divisions in the Middle East that this conflict has highlighted?

Egypt has a peace treaty with Israel and kept his border to Gaza shut last week and its president, Hosni Mubarak, quarreled openly with leader of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant Shiite group that now shares power in Lebanon. And at meeting of the Arab league Saudia Arabia´s foreign minister gently and indirectly redukes Hamas for provoking the conflict. 

What happened in Lebanon in 1982? How are the Gaza attacks similar?

Israel largely lost, in Lebanon in 1982. It invaded to eliminate the threat 

of Yasir Arafat´s forces.

In what ways might the attacks of Gaza backfire?

They may fail like they did in 1982, and also in Iran interferes, the situation will get worse.

Why does Mr. Abbas say he will walk away from the peace talks begun by president Bush in 2007?

Because fighting was emboldening palestinian resistance.

What lessons has Israel learned from Lebanon?

to lower their expectations and be more prepared, like this time.

How will the Obama administration be able to capitalize on the situation in Gaza?

Obama does not support war. He once suggested throwing American wight behind regional talks that would include Hamas, but that may no longer be a possibility.

In this picutre; there is a kid, a refugee, watching his shelter being destroyed by the effects of the war.

His is a 11 year old Palestinian boy.

He is shocked and sad, watching his "house" gone, it also makes him worried. He looks confused he doesn´t know what is going on and what has happened to his place.

I think he would tell the "other side" and also his, to stop the fight. Innocent people like him have been affected and they have nothing to do with the conflict. They are children who only want to live their childhood in peace.