Occupation and its Impact on Identities and Self-Determination

The Palestinian territories are the West Bank and Gaza.

 Theodor Herzl– Austro-Hungarian architect of the ideology  A movement originating in 19 th -century (1896) Europe  A bulwark against European and Russian anti- Semitism  The quest for a homeland for the Jewish people that would be their refuge from persecution

 British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour’s promise/ guarantee to British Jewry  Letter by Balfour to Lord Baron Rothschild, central figure of the British Jewish community  Written in 1917

Dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet. “His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. Yours sincerely, Arthur James Balfour (Foreign Secretary of Britain)

“Zionism, be it right or wrong, good or bad, is rooted in age-long traditions, in present needs, in future hopes, of far greater import than the desires and prejudices of the 700,000 Arabs who now inhabit that ancient land.”

 From the Palestinian perspective, the founding of the Jewish state was a Nakba, a catastrophe, a disaster.  From the Jewish perspective, the 1948 war that was the Nakba for Palestinians is referred to as the war of independence.  Right of Return: Palestinian refugees who fled their homes during the 1948 war demand the right to return to their homes.  Green Line: The boundaries of the state of Israel before the seizure of territories in the 1967 war.

 First Intifida (uprising) – 1987; waged by Palestinian men, women, and children, through acts of civil disobedience and stone throwing  Oslo Peace Process– 1994; land for peace  Israeli settlements – despite Oslo increased from 1994 to 2000  Second Intifida – 2000; more militant, rise of Hamas, departure from Gaza by Israel

 Adopted in 1947  The establishment of two independent states, one for Palestinians and one for the Jewish people  Jerusalem is to be under international authority, administered by the United Nations  Establishes the borders of the Arab Palestinian state and the state of Israel.

 Adopted in 1967 following the 6-day war between Israel and the Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.  Calls for the withdrawal of Israel armed forces from the territories occupied during 6-day war.  Affirms the right of every state in the region to its borders and sovereignty and right to live in peace  Calls for a just settlement of the Palestinian refugee problem.

 settlements-west-bank and B’Tselem website settlements-west-bank  Israel invaded the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967 and has occupied it since. These lands are called the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).  According to international law, the Occupation is illegal. It is also illegal, under international law, for Israel to build settlements and populate occupied territory with its own civilian population.  Number of Settlements and “Outposts” As of mid-2011, Israel has built 124 official settlements in the West Bank, and 12 settlements in East Jerusalem. There are, in addition 100 unofficial outposts. (B’Tselem website)  The Jewish rate of population growth in the settlements, at 5.8%, is far higher than in Israel proper (1.8%), leading to a rapid rise in settler the population. In 2010, some 311,431 Israelis lived in the West Bank; 190,425 Jewish settlers live in East Jerusalem.

 Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories.  Established in 1989 by academics, journalists, attorneys, and Knesset members.  Documents and endeavors to educate the Israeli public about violations of Palestinians’ human rights in the Occupied Territories.  Attempts to combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public and help create a culture of human rights in Israel.

 Palestinian population (2009) in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is 4 million.  1.2 million Palestinians live in Israel.  5 million Palestinians live as refugees in Arab countries; they demand a right to return.  1 million Palestinians live in other foreign countries.  Jewish population in Israel (2012) – 6 million

25’ wall that snakes its way through the West Bank; does not follow the Green Line