Issues in Israel and Gaza

     The issues in Israel and Gaza have always occurred; this is not an issue that just suddenly happened. After World War 2, Jewish people were given parts of Palestine, but the Arabs who already lived there denied them. Gaza went to war in 1948, and the Palestinians who lived there fled to Israel, the new Jewish home. Hamas, a terrorist organization, soon rose to power after 2005. They refuse to recognize Israel and are using violence to gain back Palestinian territory. This is why rocket fires are constantly mentioned recently in the news. The Palestinians have no army, but they fire rockets on Israel, endangering the citizens.
     The Israeli army is fighting back through airstrikes, the recent one killing more than 200 Palestinians. Many countries are working to solve the fighting between Israel and Gaza, but nothing has worked so far. I believe the best solution is for Hamas to claim Gaza and the West Bank and create the new country Palestine. In return, Hamas should promise not to take over Israel or harm any of its people, while allowing the Israelis already living on the West Bank to live in peace.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/20436092
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/israel-gaza-conflict-what-you-need-to-know-1.1919373

Prompt Week 5

Hey guys!
You should have blogged/be blogging now about what is going on in Israel and Gaza. Discuss what the issues are and what you think some solutions may be.

Good luck!
Ms. Krissy

Uprising Issues in Iraq

  An al Qaeda breakaway group, that is apparently supported with other Sunni groups and fighters, have captured large portion of northern Iraq. Recently taking northeastern Syria, to create an Islamic state or caliphate. The Iraq's minority Sunnis accuse the Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki of discrimination. Many blame the Prime Minister for refusing to form a more inclusive government. Because of this, many militant fighters take advantage of the breakdown and cross the border. The Iraqi territory recently seized by militants is populated mostly by Sunnis, many that see the Prime Minster more of a threat than the Islamic state. The Prime Minister is unwilling to share powers with the Sunni Arabs. The Sunni Arabs, of course protested. Thousands were arrested or detained and hundreds were killed by the government. Obama promised to send military aid to help Iraq fend off insurgency.
  Recent development have renewed the possibility that Iraq will be divided into 3 separate regions or nations. A Shiite section, a Sunni area, and a Kurdish zone. 
  ISIS, an acronym that is named the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, refers to the group's stated goal of restoring an Islamic state or caliphate. ISIS is a brutal group that is currently in conflict with al Qaeda. This is a political civil war about one group ignoring the needs of the other portion of their country. This fight is more of a power struggle than a religious war.

Religious War or not? 
What is going on with Iraq?
What is going on in Iraq (CNN)

MIddle Eastern Conflict

   Israel and Palestine are still at it in the Gaza strip. Hamas and other allied militants are firing rockets, mortars, and missiles into Israeli cities and towns, as time ticks on the rockets are finding their ways deeper and deeper into the country. At the same time, Israel is conducting airstrikes and air raids into the Gaza Strip. Israeli airstrikes are hitting civilians, Ceasefire Broker and Video on Israeli Airstrikes, enraging many. Israel says it's investigating into the matter, but I doubt anything will actually happen. Israel says that dozens of "terrorists" have been neutralized, but the Palestine health ministry says that many of those who have perished to the airstrikes were women and children. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon both pleaded to Israel and Palestine to exercise restraint, to prevent another full-blown war in the Middle East. Israel's Iron Dome system has intercepted many rockets shot by Palestinian militants. And Israel also has drones to in its arsenal for reconnaisance. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip does not have any type of defense to Israeli airstrikes other than directing its  citizens to nearby cover, but there's not always a warning. 

Articles Used, you should look at these - 
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28245343

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28258448

Caliphates

Recently, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an establishment of a caliphate on the first day of Ramadan, stretching from Aleppo in Syria to Diyala in Iraq. This is some background information about caliphates that was started by Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.vox.com/2014/7/10/5884593/9-questions-about-the-caliphate-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask

Issues in Iraq

     Al-Qaeda forces have been taking control of major cities in Western Iraq, creating a religious civil war. ISIS, or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is backed by Al-Qaeda forces, and is currently one of the wealthiest terrorist groups around. It all started with continuous tensions between the two groups of Iraq, the Shiites and the Sunni. Current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is a Shiite Muslim, along with many of the government officials. ISIS consists of Sunni militants, and they feel that they are left out from politics. This minority group has continued to gain extreme members due to the civil war going on in Syria, offering refuge to those who need it in return for trust.
     Most people view issues in Iraq as a bad thing. ISIS's attacks have continuously resulted in poor security for the citizens. Iraq's army itself is doubtful of its ability to continue to provide protection. To make matters worse, tens of thousands of refuges are escaping to Iraq from Syria. The Iraqi army needs to maintain the security of the border, and this is tiring out the security forces.
     These issues in Iraq are mostly bad, but there is some good. Today, citizens are able to protest about the poor government in Iraq. Provincial councils are becoming more influential to the government, and politics has become local to develop a civil society. The citizens of Iraq are not joining in on the violence, and society is working with the councils to provide better basic needs. Under Saddam Hussein 10 years ago, this was not occurring at all.
     Different countries have different views on this because no one knows what to do to solve Iraq's issue. In the United States, troops being in Iraq was negatively viewed, which is why President Obama withdrew all US forces in 2012. Now, there are "military advisors" there to assist Iraq, and the US cannot possibly withdraw completely from Iraq's issues. For sure, it is in everyone's interest to solve this long war. Continuous violence is not going to do any good for anyone.

http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/all-series/bullet-points-your-guide-to-understand-everything-thats-going-on-in-iraq-right-now/
http://www.usip.org/olivebranch/iraq-today-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly

The violence and conflicts happening in iraq

The Violence and Conflicts Happening in Iraq

     There are many conflicts and riots going on in Iraq today. There are two major terrorist groups in Iraq now. Al- Qaeda formerly led by Osama bin ladan and  ISIS is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  Isis is currently the strongest terrorist group and is stopping Al-Qaeda from taking over Baghdad. ISIS is killing people on the streets of Iraq who disagree with what ISIS is doing and Shiite Islamic people in Iraq. ISIS also kills Al- qaeda members, and soldiers from other countries who do not help ISIS. ISIS is now damaging many places in Iraq. Many people fear that if ISIS takes over Iraq then Iraq will be badly damaged and easy to take over by another country. Many other countries are now sending military support to Iraq so ISIS can be stopped.Iran is currently one of the countries that are sending military support to stop ISIS.  Even though Iran is helping Iran cannot stop ISIS. This is very important because if ISIS takes over many people that dislike ISIS can be killed and Iraq will lose a lot of people. It is important that more countries send support to Iraq so ISIS will be stopped.