Palestinian Resistance and Obstacles to Peace?

Palestinian Liberation Organisation Objectives: Liberate Palestine through armed struggle Granted UN observer status 1974 Labeled a terrorist organization until Madrid Conference 1991 1993 recognized right of Israel to exist

Black September Fedayeen: Loose collection of Palestinian resistance 1967 United under the PLO actions in Jordan including the destruction of three hijacked international airliners and attempted assassination of the king prompted military response Jordanian victory in July 1971, Fedayeen expelled Syrian intervention threatens to start regional war Center of Palestinian militancy relocates to Lebanon

20th Knesset

RULING COALITION (67) OPPOSITION (53) Zionist Union (24) Joint List (13) Yesh Atid (11) Meretz (5) 30 Likud 6 United Torah Judaism 7 Shas 10 Kulanu 8 Jewish Home

Oslo Peace Accords 1993 James Baker, US Secretary of State “Israel should abandon its expansionist policies” Predicated on the Two State Solution’ model and recognition Israel by Arafat. Palestine gains control of civil affairs. Israel would then cede territory to Palestine "We who have fought against you, the Palestinians, we say to you today, in a loud and a clear voice, enough of blood and tears ... enough!

Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin Rabin proceeded with the Oslo process despite protest and resistance within and outside of Israel 4 November 1995, by Yigal Amir an Israeli Zionist Rabin succeeded by Netanyahu as PM “Rabin removed from Jewish tradition and Jewish values.”

2000 Camp David Summit Palestinian state split into 3–4 parts containing 92% of the West Bank including parts of East Jerusalem, and the entire Gaza Strip. 69 Jewish settlements would be ceded to Israel, no right of return to Israel, no sovereignty over the Temple Mount or any core East Jerusalem. PLO fails to make a counter proposal Arafat and Barak fail to secure and agreement

2001 Taba Summit Israel proposes the removal of all settlements Agreement reached between Arafat and Barak Barak defeated by Ariel Sharon in next election Talks do not resume “We have never been closer to reaching an agreement and it is thus our shared belief that the remaining gaps could be bridged with the resumption of negotiations following the Israeli elections."

Contemporary Issues Right of Return Settler Communities Separation Wall Hamas/ Gaza Israeli Military intervention Palestine joins ICC Jerusalem

Right of Return and Condition of Refugees Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Post Conflict Policy first-generation refugees and descendants have a right to the property they or their forebears left behind or were forced to leave Israel prefers compensation in lieu of return Israel regards return as an unrealistic demand

Settler Communities 382,031 West Bank, 300,000, East Jerusalem 20,000 in the Golan Heights Considered illegal by international community UN Vote, 158 of 166, 160 of 171 against settlement policy.

Separation Wall 1949 Armistice Line 700 Km Construction began 2002

Gaza 2005,unilateral disengagement plan, Israel removed all of its settlers and military forces from the territory. does not consider Gaza to be occupied territory and declared it a "foreign territory". 2007 Hamas elections, border crossings by land, sea and air heavily restricted

Hamas The Elected Governing authority in Gaza Islamist organisation founded 1987 Goals: Liberate Palestine, Establish and Islamic State Viewed by many states as a terrorist group

2014 Gaza War July 2014, 3 Israelis abducted and killed Israel crackdown on Hamas leadership sparks intensifies rocket fire from Gaza Israel launches 7 week bombing campaign

International Criminal Court ICC deals with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity Frustration with peace negotiations led to strategy of ‘internationalizing the issue’ Palestine submits claims for the 2014 events Israel not a member of ICC

Looking Forward Israel faces limited significant pressure from the international community to alter its policies Trump threatens to move US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem The War on Terror narrative has proven more persuasive than a solution