People have been wishing for “peace in the Middle East” for a very long time. I remember repeating that exact phrase as a kid, not knowing its tremendously complicated underpinnings.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for more than a half century, yet many people don’t take time to get the facts before jumping to one side of the issue. It’s convenient to see Palestinians as a group of hateful terrorists, especially after the misrepresentation of Arab people in popular culture after Sept. 11. It’s easy to say terror attacks alone have derailed the peace plan. However, after examining the events that have taken place over the course of the conflict, a clear conclusion is harder to reach.

Who or what is responsible for prolonging the war between Israel and Palestine? It seems the most common answer to this question is religion. People think Jews and Muslims can’t get along. People believe Islam is a violent and dangerous religion.

While it’s true most Arabs are Muslim, most Muslims are not Arab — and to draw a conclusion from the actions of a minority representation of either group is dangerous and irresponsible. Muslims and Jews lived in peace in ancient times. After the start of Islam, the Muslim majority recognized the rights of dhimmis — people of the book. Christians and Jews were not killed because they didn’t worship Allah.

The word “jihad” has also taken on a different meaning. Ask an American what it means, and nine times out of 10, he or she will respond, “holy war.” This is untrue. A jihad is a struggle against evil. Historically, the most important jihad has been the struggle within. Islamic militants have modified the definition to maintain solidarity within their organizations.

While religion may play a part in the current conflict, it’s not a major player. In recent times, land grabs are the main reason for lack of peace. Assassinations on the part of Israel and suicide bombings — or homicide bombings, if you watch Fox News — on the part of Palestinians are merely consequences of Israel’s need for resources.

Sharon’s plan for withdrawal from certain occupied territories — the ones that are undesirable — is something that has the potential to permanently damage the peace process. Sharon and those before him have played the rest of the world for fools. The Israeli government has encouraged establishing settlements in occupied territories since day one, even subsidizing relocation. With the recent stamp of approval by President Bush, their efforts will be rewarded, just as similar efforts were rewarded in 1948.

In the late 1800s, the Zionist movement helped relocate tens of thousands of Jews to the area now in question. After Theodore Herzl and others lobbied for a Jewish state, Lord Balfour declared in a letter to Lord Rothschild, a Jewish leader in Britain, that a home should be secured for Jews in Palestine. No specific call for a state was mentioned in the letter, but nonetheless, the Balfour Declaration was important for Jewish leverage on the issue. So, Jews relocated to the area, and after the Holocaust, they were given a state.

After Arabs attacked the new state, Israel defeated them and began relocating citizens to the occupied lands. Contravening international law, Israel will likely be able to keep the land they obtained illegally, due in part to terror attacks carried out against them. They’ve won the sympathy of the world again and will probably prosper now as they did then.

Two recent assassinations carried out by Israel have demonstrated well the lack of good intentions toward Palestine. I hardly think firing missiles from an Apache helicopter at a quadriplegic was an act to bring peace, even if the guy was a known leader of terrorists.

Instead of bargaining and talking with Palestinians, Sharon fishes for support in friendly waters. Last week, he talked to one of his few supporters in the international community and received U.S. approval. Bush feels it is “unrealistic” to expect Israel to abandon all of its illegal settlements. Well, Mr. President, sometimes we can’t take the easy route. The green line must be upheld.

“This is a historic moment,” said Bush about Sharon’s plan for withdrawal. It certainly is. Apparently, our country can pick and choose which U.N resolutions Bush wants to uphold. Resolutions were paramount when he wanted to invade Iraq. Now, they’re not so important. If Israel is allowed to go forward in this way, peace will never happen. Ever.