Waqf
A waqf (pluaral of awaqf) is a property that produces income and that may benifit a community after the person who owns that property dies. This land is supposed to be protected and not given to the government. This agreement was created in Arabia before
Islam was created. It is said that Muhammed created this agreement with a slave who owed him money. Before the Israeli Independence war 15% of Palestine’s land was under waqf but during the war, any government official who had administered waqf
had to flee. In 1965 waqf rights were once again given to families but the land was under the supervision of a board. This board had the ability to manage,sell, and dispose of the land if it was not serving it’s purpose. Waqf continues to cause many arguements and disputes still today.

Jericho
Jericho is located on the west bank of Palestine and about four miles from the Jordon River. The tale of Jericho is described in the old testament by Joshua. The story is told that after the Jews had been exiled for fourty years they decided to rebel and proteset. They marched around the wall around the city and shouted their protests and the wall tumbled down. This event was considered a miracle and is said to have taken place around 1550 BCE but scientest believe that the wall tumbled because of an earthquake. The Babylonians captured Jericho and rebuilt it but then the Roman’s gained control and destroyed it once again. In 747 Muslims gained control of Jericho until the Israeli Independence war. During this war many refugees fled to this city and in 2005 it was turned over to Palestinian Authority.

Fayruz:
Fayruz was born Nuhad Haddad on November 21, 1935, in Beirut. As a chorus member at the Labanese radio station, Fayruz met Assi Rahbani, a composer who would become her husband. After marrying Assi Rahbani in 1953, She became very famous in the Arab World. Although her son is now singing, she is still healthy and singing.

Masada:
Masada is a hebrew word meaning “Fortress”. Masada is a rock mesa overlooking the Dead Sea in the eastern Judean Desert. There are four ways to get to 1,350 feet high plateau, the Snake Path from the east, the White Rock ascent from the west; and one approach each from the south and north. Masada emerged as a symbol of Jewish and Zionist resolve because of the many events that have occured there.

United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic was a union between Egypt and Syria. On Nov. 18, 1957, the Syrian parliament met with a visiting Egyptian delegation. The meeting was set up for an attempt to make a Syrian-Egyptian Federation. After some adjustments, the union was approved on Feb. 1, 1958.

Abu Nidal
Abul Nidal was the leader of many radical groups in Palestine, including the Fatah Revolutionary Council and the Palestine Secret Organization. All these groups were equally notorious and by the mid 1980s, Nidal was considered one of the world’s most lethal terrorists and was the CIA’s top target. After many events, Nidal committed suicide on August 19, 2002, after being detained by Iraqi forces.

Bush, George Walker
Born in New Haven, Connecticut on July 6 of 1946, George Bush would then move with his family to Texas. He would then leave again to attend Phillips Academy and Yale. After graduation he would join the Texas Air National Gaurd, return form service, and attend Harvard. He then became govenor of texas in the year 1994. He then attempted to jump form this position to the presidency, and although there is some skeptisism about the election, he ultimately would be succesful. On September 11, 2001, the events at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and had it not been for heroics on a third plane, the White House. Bush used this to begin his war on terror, which has exhausted many American resources and funds. Many Americans find him to be the major reason for the United States’ problems.

Jenin:
On the days of April the 3rd through the 11th of 2002. A bloody battle took place beetween the Isreali Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian terrorists. This battle led to the IDF taking back many towns that had been turned over to Palestine. Which then led to 28 suicide bombings by Palestinian terrorists.

Cole Smith
P2

Sorry this is so late, but I didn’t have time friday night because I was in a car accident.

Mizrahi Judaism
Mizrahi Jews descend from North African and Middle Eastern Jewish communities. They currently make up over half of Israel’s population. Mizrahis fled there from persecution in their home countries after the establishment of the state of Israel. Many remain in Arab/Muslim countries of Northern Africa and the Middle East. The faith itself is fairly relaxed in regard of the Torah and observation of the commandments. Total observation is ideal, but any more than none is acceptable.

Louis Lipsky
Born on Nov. 30, 1876 in Rochester, NY to Polish immigrant parents. When he was 21, Lipsky became a journalist and began editing a Jewish weekly paper. He was ahuge advocate of Zionism in the U.S. Eventually he became the editor of the weekly “New Palestine” and continued to write Zionism articles. From 1911 to 1930 he devoted himself entirely to Zionism and in 1925 became the president of the Zionist Organization of America. He wrote many books including A Gallery of Zionist Profiles (1956) and died in 1963 in NYC.

Lots of the music in the Middle East aren’t just for entertainment like in the West, but usually something political, social, or religious is behind the words. There are many different instruments used, some that even Western countries might recognize, but the most important instrument for them is the human voice. Lots of the famous musicians were involved in religious activities or politics. In some Middle Eastern countries, Western classical music is popular. To this day, new types of music are surfacing.

Anthony Zinni:

This man started out as a U.S. Marine Corps general, became the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, and finally became the envoy for U.S. to Israel and the Palesteinian Authority. During his job as the envoy, he went back and forth to Israel 3 times, meeting with the Israelian leader and the Palesteinian leader. One his third trip there, he believed he was making process until a sucide bomber bombed a hotel holding a Passover Seder, which made the Israelis attack back, soon cutting away any ties the two nations had made. He retired afterword, still acting as an advisor and critic.

Quibya Massacre:

The Israelis attacked a town called Quibya, which lies on the West Bank. During this time, Quibya was under Jordanian rule. The Palesteinians had recently made multiple raids on the Israelis, and then murdered a woman and her two children. That was when the Israelis wanted revenge. They decided to attack Quibya because, for one, it was close, and two, this was the spot that all the attacks were believed to have come from. The Israelis blew up multiple homes, claiming that the ones that they did were empty. AFter the raid, the Israelis tried to make it seem like nothing big happened. No one believed that, and soon the Israeli government was getting lots of critizism from their citizens.

Hasidic, or loving kindness, Judaism was created in Eastern Europe in the 18th century. The Jews were being persecuted at the time. This made them turn to there faith. Jews began intense Talmudic study, which then established Hasidic Judaism. These believers show their inner spirituality by performing practices and traditions to bring them closer to God. The founder of Hasidism is Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. He is believed to perform miracles and is known as a rebbi, which means master or teacher. Rebbes are one reason Hasidic and Orthodox practices are divided. Men in the Hasidic religion generally wear black pants, white shirts, and a black hat. Women wear long black skirts. Men do not shave there side burns because in there holy book it states one should not shave the side’s of one’s head.

Al Qaeda

Al Qaeda, base or foundation, is a terrorist group created by Sheik Abdullah Azzam in 1987 or 1988. He was a college professor and was a teacher to Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was influenced by Azzam. The terrorist group was funded by Osama and they trained recruits to fight against the Soviets in jihah, or holy war. Al Qaeda has many goals. They want to destroy Israel, rid Islamic world of the influence of Western civilization, fight against opposing governments of Islam, and aid Islamic groups. The groups most horrific attacks were on the U.S. on September 11. Four planes were hijacked and crashed.

Qassam Rocket

This mixture of potassium nitrate and sugar is used to attack Israel. The rocket is named after Sheikh Izz al-Din al-Qassam. The weapon is inaccurate and has a short range, but is easily set up making it a good hit-and-run weapon. This rocket was made to secure the barrier between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The first rocket was launched in October of 2001, but never made it out of Gaza. Sderot was the first city hit by a Qassam rocket. On March 5, 2002 the city was struck. The first Israelis to die from Qassam fire were two children, ages four and two on September 29, 2004. The Qassam rocket has upgraded since it has first been used. The rocket size has increased 188 pounds. The range has also increased about 19,000 yards.

-Geneva Accord
The Geneva Accord was signed on December 1, 2003, and was created to motivate peace between the state of Israel and the surrounding Palestinian peoples. Specifically, the accord created an independent Palestinian nation located mainly on the west bank and the Gaza Strip. In return, the Palestinians had to recognize the existence of Israel. Palestinians would also have to stop all violent actions against Israel. The agreement was not well liked by the Israeli people.

-Ramla
Ramla is located in central Israel and has a population of about 65,000 people. During the Arab Palestinian days, it was the capital. The city of Ramla was first captured by the Arabs in the Israeli War of Independence. Since Ramla was located on a major railway junction, it was of vital military importance. Ramla came under Jewish control when it was captured July 9-12, 1948.