History 12
Tannis Potter
Consider the previous quote from Isaac Asimov. To what extent is the creation of Israel, in his words, "a ghetto in a small corner of a vast Muslim sea"
The conflicts and tense hostilities between the Arab and Jewish populations began at the end of the 19th century. It was during these years where two different ethnic groups strived to gain sovereignty for their people in the Middle East. While the growth of anti-Semitism grew rapidly amongst nations in Europe after WW1, Jews began to immigrate to the Arab homeland called Palestine. This marked the beginning of the Zionist movement that later resulted in the deterioration of Palestine, and the creation of Israel. Israel is to some extent “a ghetto in a small corner of a vast Muslim sea” due to their history in the secluded pockets of Europe, and their strong belief in Zionism. However, Israel is a progressive, developed country that fails to fit the mold of a stereotypical ghetto.
Prior and during WW11, the Jewish population was scattered into a number of cities surrounding Europe, due to anti-Semitic factors. The quality of life that Jews faced was unbearable. Overcrowding, starvation, disease and poor economic standards was the reality of life during these hardships. Matters became worse during WW11, when the definition of a “ghetto” was altered. Jewish ghettos were transformed into death camps, “for the purpose of persecution, terror and exploitation of the Jewish population”(Wiki, 2015). In relation to Asimov’s interpretation of Israel, the word “ghetto” was tied to the Jewish populations history of anti-Semitism.
Since Israel’s establishment in 1948, the conflicting concept of Zionism became a prominent political issue in the Middle East. The Jews strived to take back their ancestors “homeland”, where they perceived themselves as “the chosen people of god”, or “the pure race”. Israel by definition became an isolated nation who segregated itself from the surrounding Arab world. It expanded its land through military victory and powerful allies, in order to ensure its self-imposed isolation. One of Israel’s former foreign ministers wrote, “Israel must strive to exclude the Arab-Islamic sphere from the Jewish homeland, because according to Zionism, Israel “must be totally free from any Arabs”(Azza, 2010). This statement reveals that Israel is to some extent an isolated, powerful minority in a vast muslim sea. It may have been a ghetto upon its establishment; however, it has evolved into a progressive, dominant nation.
Modern day Israel fails to fit the mold of the stereotypical “ghetto”. A ghetto is commonly described as being an impoverished, or slum area of a city that is viewed as “unrefined, low class and cheap”(dictionary, 2015). In 2013, Israel was “ranked 19th among 187 nations on the UN human development index”(Wiki, 2014). This ranking displays how Israel is a progressive and highly developed nation. The economic development and technology boom in Israel is largely tied to the exceedingly growing educated population. It has one of the largest market economies consisting primarily of its science and technology sector (tradingeconomics, 2015). Economically, modern day Israel is one of the most progressive countries on the planet that cannot be associated with the stereotypical definition of the word “ghetto”.
In essence, Israel’s segregated history in Europe defined them as individuals from the ghetto. While anti-Seminitsm was at its peak, they were forced into isolated, impoverished parts of Europe, where disease and starvation became their reality. After Israel was established, they segregated themselves with their belief in Zionism and exclusion of the Arab population. However, Israel is a progressive and economically growing nation that doesn’t fit the stereotypical definition of an impoverished and insufficient “ghetto”.
Tannis Potter
Consider the previous quote from Isaac Asimov. To what extent is the creation of Israel, in his words, "a ghetto in a small corner of a vast Muslim sea"
The conflicts and tense hostilities between the Arab and Jewish populations began at the end of the 19th century. It was during these years where two different ethnic groups strived to gain sovereignty for their people in the Middle East. While the growth of anti-Semitism grew rapidly amongst nations in Europe after WW1, Jews began to immigrate to the Arab homeland called Palestine. This marked the beginning of the Zionist movement that later resulted in the deterioration of Palestine, and the creation of Israel. Israel is to some extent “a ghetto in a small corner of a vast Muslim sea” due to their history in the secluded pockets of Europe, and their strong belief in Zionism. However, Israel is a progressive, developed country that fails to fit the mold of a stereotypical ghetto.
Prior and during WW11, the Jewish population was scattered into a number of cities surrounding Europe, due to anti-Semitic factors. The quality of life that Jews faced was unbearable. Overcrowding, starvation, disease and poor economic standards was the reality of life during these hardships. Matters became worse during WW11, when the definition of a “ghetto” was altered. Jewish ghettos were transformed into death camps, “for the purpose of persecution, terror and exploitation of the Jewish population”(Wiki, 2015). In relation to Asimov’s interpretation of Israel, the word “ghetto” was tied to the Jewish populations history of anti-Semitism.
Since Israel’s establishment in 1948, the conflicting concept of Zionism became a prominent political issue in the Middle East. The Jews strived to take back their ancestors “homeland”, where they perceived themselves as “the chosen people of god”, or “the pure race”. Israel by definition became an isolated nation who segregated itself from the surrounding Arab world. It expanded its land through military victory and powerful allies, in order to ensure its self-imposed isolation. One of Israel’s former foreign ministers wrote, “Israel must strive to exclude the Arab-Islamic sphere from the Jewish homeland, because according to Zionism, Israel “must be totally free from any Arabs”(Azza, 2010). This statement reveals that Israel is to some extent an isolated, powerful minority in a vast muslim sea. It may have been a ghetto upon its establishment; however, it has evolved into a progressive, dominant nation.
Modern day Israel fails to fit the mold of the stereotypical “ghetto”. A ghetto is commonly described as being an impoverished, or slum area of a city that is viewed as “unrefined, low class and cheap”(dictionary, 2015). In 2013, Israel was “ranked 19th among 187 nations on the UN human development index”(Wiki, 2014). This ranking displays how Israel is a progressive and highly developed nation. The economic development and technology boom in Israel is largely tied to the exceedingly growing educated population. It has one of the largest market economies consisting primarily of its science and technology sector (tradingeconomics, 2015). Economically, modern day Israel is one of the most progressive countries on the planet that cannot be associated with the stereotypical definition of the word “ghetto”.
In essence, Israel’s segregated history in Europe defined them as individuals from the ghetto. While anti-Seminitsm was at its peak, they were forced into isolated, impoverished parts of Europe, where disease and starvation became their reality. After Israel was established, they segregated themselves with their belief in Zionism and exclusion of the Arab population. However, Israel is a progressive and economically growing nation that doesn’t fit the stereotypical definition of an impoverished and insufficient “ghetto”.