Israel has declared a formal end to its military rule of the Gaza strip. On 11 September 2005 the last 3,000 Israeli troops were pulled out. All 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip had been dismantled, and the Israelis who had set up home in the Gaza Strip since the 1967 war were evicted.
Evaluate comments on the Middle East. Script an imaginary meeting of young people involved in the conflict.
Non-violent conflict resolution
Case study of a conflict
[A] Provide students with as much background to the conflict as you feel appropriate.
[B] Read the group some of the following comments submitted to the Newsround website by kids.
Read out the comments one at a time.
After each statement help students to identify what strategy (if any) the comment is proposing.
- Prompt - 1 Military action, 2 transfer of lands, 3 disarmament, 4 discussion, 5 tolerance, 6 more compassion, 7 discussion, 8 more compassion, 9 transfer of lands, 10 self-defence,
Vote on whether they think the sentiment expressed will make the Middle East more or less violent.
Kids comment on the conflict
 Israel is fighting a war on terrorism against the Palestinians, why can't the world get behind it like it does with America? It is exactly the same...
Sam, 15, London
 There wouldn't be any violence or bloodshed if the Palestinians were given their land back. It shouldn't have been taken from them in the first place.
Sara, 15, Wales
 The countries are wasting their money on bombs and weapons when it could be used to help the injured.
Tara, 15, Epsom
 I have been to the middle east a number of times. It's nothing like the news shows. You don't notice the violence and everyone in Israel is very hopeful and caring. I think that it is tragic that both side can't sit down and discuss their problems.
Debs, 15, Manchester
 We should be doing more to stop the violence. It doesn't matter what other people believe in, just worry about what you believe in.
Stacey, 16, Kent
 It is awful to see that people are getting hurt over land and religion. Many innocent adults and children are getting killed. I would hate it if I lost some of my family in the violence.
Sophia, 13, Croydon
 Why can't people talk about their problems rather that fighting about them?
Lucy, 14, Horsley
 I feel really sorry for the people who live in the middle east. I would be so scared.
Hannah, 10, Crowthorne
 The land should be returned to its rightful owners, the only reason that so many people are dying is because the Palestinians are willing to risk their life have the land back.
Emzi, 11, Studley
 The Israeli people do not want war or bloodshed. They are just defending themselves and their land.
David, 13, London
Print off these reports by young people involved in the conflict.
Ahmad is a 16-year-old Palestinian from Ramallah.
16-year-old Iris describes how Israeli children live in fear.
Mike is a Palestinian boy who lives in Bethlehem. He had Israeli friends until Israel's barrier was built right through his garden.
17-year-old Elad knows people killed by the conflict, he believes peace talks are the only way forward.
Students script an encounter between Iris, Ahmad and Elad. Imagine they meet on a train.
What arguments might Ahmad and Iris have? How would Elad and Mark try to resolve these?
If time allows act out the meeting.
Produce a poster for younger students telling them how to resolve arguments.
Points could include:
Getting a third person to act as go between
Making a deal
Signing a contract
Remind students of the differing strategies for peace that were drawn out from the comments.
Which were likely to produce less violence?