Israeli and Palestinian Conflict

Where in the World

History of Israel B.C. - Semitic people called Hebrews leave Mesopotamia(now Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran) and settle in Canaan (now Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and parts of Lebanon and Syria) B.C.- King David conquers Jerusalem and establishes an Israelite Kingdom. 721 B.C.- Israel is conquered by the Assyrians. 605 B.C.- Judah is controlled by the Babylonians B.C.- Israel is under Persian rule B.C.- Alexander the Great Defeats Persia and conquers Israel C.E.- Israel is under Roman rule. 630s C.E.- Muslim invasions take place The Crusades. Christians from the west fight for Jerusalem because of its significance as the place where Jesus lived The Ottoman Turkish empire controls Palestine.

A Modern Conflict Rooted in Ancient History According to Jews, their claim goes back 3,000 years when Jewish (Hebrew) kings first ruled from Jerusalem. According to Palestinians (both Muslim & Christian), the land has belonged to them since the Jews were driven out by the Romans in 135 A.D. According to Arabs, the land has belonged to them since the Mohammed-led conquest of the area in the 7 th century.

Jewish Religious Sites The City of Jerusalem The Temple of Jerusalem The Western Wall

Biblical Readings Genesis 17: 1-8 Genesis 22: 9-14 Exodus 1: 1-12 Exodus 3: 4-10 Exodus 11: 1-10 Exodus 12: Second Samuel 5: 1-5 Second Samuel 6: 1-10 These verses illustrate the deep roots that Judaism has in Israel and Palestine. These may give some insight as to why post-World War 2 Jews wanted an independent state so badly.

Qur’anic Readings Surah 2: Surah 5: Surah 6: Surah 22: Surah 27: Surah 42: 1-9 These verses of the Qur’an show how Arabs also have understandable claim to Israel and Palestine. They also see themselves as sons of Abraham, the inheritors of the Holy land.

Islamic Religious Sites Dome of the Rock Al-Aqsa Mosque

1914 Teodor Herzl leads Zionist movement - a movement dedicated to creating a Jewish State in Palestine. 1800s – Pogroms (persecutions of Jews) begin in Europe Zionists begin settling in Palestine WWI begins. Middle East on the Eve of World War I T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

The Middle East in 1914

In World War I, Britain’s T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) infiltrated the Ottoman territory to stir up Arab revolt against the Turks who had joined the Axis powers. Britain did not want to lose the support of Jews nor Arabs during the war and made promises to both groups. Arabs were concerned about the increased immigration of Jews to Palestine. Jews were making requests for a homeland to be carved out of the region when the war ended. “His Majesty’s Government views with favor the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this objective as long as it is understood that nothing shall be done which may harm the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine….” ~ Britain’s Balfour Declaration 1917 T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

A Conflict Complicated by Modern Events Implications of the Holocaust. Geopolitics - increased importance of oil in the Middle East Political maneuverings in response to this fact.

6 million Jews were killed under Hitler’s programs of forced confinement, relocation, starvation, labor and extermination World War II This leaves a profound imprint on European and American culture and society with regard to attitudes regarding racism and anti-Semitism.

Palestinian-Israeli Conflict I.Creation of Israel (1947) 1.United Nations decided to partition Palestine between Jews and Palestinians. 2.Jewish state = Israel. 3.Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia & Syria declare war on Israel. II.The Suez Crisis (1956) 1.Egypt gains control of the Suez Canal. 2.Israel (w/ Britain & France) fight for control of the canal. A.Outside pressure to stop the war. III.The Six-Day War (1967) 1.Israel strikes Middle Eastern airfields. 2.Arabs backed by the Soviets. 3.15,000 Arabs dead. IV.Yom Kippur War (1973) 1.Joint Arab attack on Jewish holy day. 2.Creates a truce after a few weeks.

Conflicting Ideals Jewish point of view: After the Holocaust and World War 2, Zionists wanted to reclaim Israel as a Jewish state. They also wanted to make Israel, then populated by Arabs, a state populated by Jews. The National Jewish fund, which bought and developed Israeli land, refused to sell or even lease back property bought from Arabs in order to strengthen and expand the territorial grasp of Israel as well as force Arabs out of the country.

Conflicting Ideals Arab point of view: As Arabs grew aware of the Zionist intentions, they opposed further Jewish immigration into Israel. The Arabs realized that this was a direct threat to the existence of Arabs and Arab society in Palestine. Since 700 C.E., Palestine’s population was mostly Arab. This meant a threat to 1200 years of history.

Effects of creation of Israel Palestinians became refugees in other countries throughout the middle east.

Map of Palestinian Refugees -½ of the people in the camps are children -Another 3.4 million refugees living outside of camps

Loss of Palestinian Territory

Israel Puts up a wall around Palestinian areas to prevent terrorist from moving into Israeli areas

The “autonomous” West Bank A collection of islands separated by Israeli settlements and checkpoints Sources:

Checkpoints in “Palestinian-controlled” territories

Terrorism is a constant threat in Israel

What the Israelis want A complete end to all attacks in Israel and on settlers and soldiers in the occupied territories -or- International acceptance of Israel’s right to maintain and expand existing settlements in Judea and Samaria (Israel plus the West Bank and Gaza) Ability to construct roadblocks, walls, and fences in the occupied territories to protect Jewish settlers Control over all of Jerusalem including the temple mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque Control over water resources in Judea and Samaria, as well as in the Golan Heights

What the Palestinians (under PLO/Arafat) want An independent state on 22% of the territory of the original Palestinian Mandate Borders that would correspond to the pre-1967 alignment Removal of settlements and roadblocks in the occupied territories Shared control of Jerusalem Ideally: “Right of return” for the refugees of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and their descendents

US involvement As the de facto head of the UN, the US has taken the lead in protecting Israel against Arab & Soviet aggression Some 5 million Americans are Jewish; many Jews and non- Jews have sympathy for the Jewish side of the conflict More Americans are Muslim than Jewish, but these persons currently have less political and economic influence in US society.

Fiscal dimension of US involvement Israel has been the largest recipient of US foreign assistance in post-WWII period In the late 1990s Israel was receiving about $3 billion annually from the US govt. in the form of economic assistance In the late 1990s Israel was receiving another $2 billion annually from other US sources (philanthropy and private loans) Israel receives further US assistance in the form of military support in Israel and throughout the Middle East, and loans with repayment waived