Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Break it down - The Israelis and the Palestinians are fighting for land in the Middle East

In 1882, Jews from all over the world (called Zionists) travelled back to their ancient homeland in the Middle East after being displaced throughout the world during the time of the Roman Empire. In 1882, the land was generally known as Palestine and it was a part of the Ottoman Empire. After WWI, Palestine came under British control. Origin

Origin cont. After WWII, the leading world powers in the United Nations decided to support the creation of separate nation-states for the Jews and the Palestinians. The Palestinians declined the offer and the Jews accepted it. The Jewish state became Israel in Hundreds of thousands of Jewish people returned to Israel after years of persecution in Europe, including the Holocaust.

And we all celebrate!! BUT WAIT How did the Arabs respond?

Response The nations surrounding Israel immediately declared war against the new nation. The 1948 War, or the Israeli War for Independence, lasted until 1949.

The conflict continues Thousands of Palestinians were displaced and fled to surrounding Arab countries. The 2 areas of the territory that did not become a part of Israel were the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Israel captured these areas and East Jerusalem in 1967 and the Palestinians living there came under Israeli control. Palestinians have demanded that the Israelis leave Gaza and the West Bank ever since.

Violence Violence often erupts on the borders of the West Bank and the Gaza strip as the conflict continues.

Peace The PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) agreed to the creation of a separate Palestinian state in The Oslo accords were supposed to bring peace, but violent conflicts in the West Bank and the Gaza strip resulted in failure. Continued peace talks since the 1980s have not resulted in peace. Extremists on both sides do not accept the creation of a separate Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Organizations The PLO, Hamas, and Fatah All of the organizations have supported violence in removing Israeli occupation. However, the PLO officially denounced violence when it signed the Oslo Accords. Hamas is the most violent group who refuses to accept Israel as a state.

Palestinian Refugees More than 6.6 million Palestinians have become refugees due to the conflict and live in countries surrounding Israel or in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Refugees receive aid from the United Nations. Jenin, a Palestinian refugee camp

Developments In 2005, Israel evacuated 8,500 Israelis from settlements in the Gaza strip and 500 more from the West Bank. Some view this as a step toward peace while others simply think Israel is trying to appease the Palestinians. Israel Separation Wall- construction began in 2003 on the border of the West Bank and Israel. Israel constructed the wall to protect its citizens from Palestinian terrorist attacks. Palestinians in the West Bank protest the construction of the wall.

Peace? Is a peaceful solution possible? Many Palestinians and Israelis have not given up hope and are working together to advocate peace between their peoples. One Voice project: a grassroots movement in support of a two- state solution based on the 1967 borders. -promote non-violent means -one main goal is to show that there are people on both sides that want peace -One Voice is primarily a youth movement and has received international attention

Sources html fans-urge-more-lopsided-negotiations/

Activity PowerPoint requirements: Slide 1- Title, author, and date article was written Slide 2- Main idea Slide 3- Define 4 unfamiliar terms Slide 4- List places involved Slide 5- Memorable quote Slide 6- Key Players (important individuals or groups involved) Slide 7- What (if any) role did religion play?