Edition

 #1  
March  27th,  2010  
 

Olive  Tree  Initiative  

Bitter  Olives:  Discussion  &  Debate  on  Israel  Palestine  
 
Inspired  by  the  March  15th  movement,  "End  the  Division",  the  political  wing  of  Hamas  led  by  disputed  Hamas  
Prime  Minister  Ismail  Haniyeh  has  invited  Palestinian  Authority  President  Mahmoud  Abbas  to  Gaza  to  
negotiate  a  new  coalition  government.  
 
Hostilities  have  recently  increased  between  Israel  and  Gaza,  as  rockets  and  missiles  hit  cities  in  southern  Israel  
and  Israel  orders  air  and  artillery  strikes  on  the  Gaza  strip  –  both  on  a  daily  basis.  

News  and  Suggested  Readings  

 
1. Israel  strikes  Gaza  targets,  killing  eight  
2. PA  must  choose  between  peace  with  Israel,  Hamas  
3. A  small  war  is  starting  along  Gaza  border  
4. Hamas  Risks  Unwinnable  War  as  It  Raises  Tensions  with  Israel  
5. Is  a  Palestinian  Uprising  Next?  
6. Palestine's  Youth  Revolt  
7. We  Now  Return  to  Our  Regularly  Scheduled  Conflict  
8. No  Spring  in  Palestine  
 
You  are  not  required  to  use  any  of  the  sources  above;  they  are  listed  for  convenience.  

Questions  To  Keep  in  Mind  

 
1. Will  Israel  and  Gaza  develop  into  a  new  war,  and  what  will  look  like?    
2. Should  and  will  the  international  community  get  involved  more  directly  to  solve  the  disputes  and  
attacks  between  Israel  and  Hamas-­‐run  Gaza?  
3. What  effects  could  a  conflict  between  Gaza  and  Israel  have  on  relations  between  the  Israeli  
government  and  the  Palestinian  Authority  (West  Bank)?  Keep  in  mind  the  differences  between  
Netanyahu  and  Olmert  (when  Cast  Lead  occurred),  the  current  lack  of  any  negotiations,  effects  of  the  
Palestine  Papers,  and  the  current  state  of  Arab  revolts.  
 
These  questions  are  only  guiding  suggestions,  and  not  required  to  be  answered.  

Submitting  an  Editorial  

 
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