2 Discussions and 2 questions

Answer the two discussions below. Make sure to answer each question. Include some references .

For much of Israel's history, it fought the terrorist activities of Yasser Arafat and the PLO. Today, the PLO is a legitimate political party within a semi-autonomous government, exercising authority over the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Discussion 1

· In your view, was Israel correct to negotiate with the PLO and allow Arafat to enter the political mainstream?

· Should Israel do the same with Hamas now that they have successfully entered the political process via 2006 elections in the West Bank and Gaza (and have consistently won a greater number of governmental posts since therein)? Explain your answer.

· Also, assess differences in leadership, organization, goals, ideology and degree of militancy, etc.

Although Palestinian groups switched their rhetoric to religion, with the arrival of Hezbollah and Hamas in the 1980s, each twist in the struggle seemed to bring a new source of violence. However, the complex manifestations of terrorism have a common root; they are based in the ethno-nationalist animosity between Israel and Palestine, regardless of Hezbollah’s entry into Palestinian politics.

Discussion 2

· Is Hezbollah more legitimate than other terrorist organizations? Explain your answer. Explain how you used the concept of legitimacy to answer the question.