The Arab-Israeli Conflict The Rise of Israel

Historical Background Pre-WWI: Area of Palestine under Ottoman Empire (Turkish Control) After WWI: Area of Palestine under control of British (British Mandate) until it became independent Many Jews began to immigrate to Palestine in the late 1800’s. "The large-scale immigration of Jews to Palestine began in 1882" The Balfour Declaration gives British approval to the effort to create a Jewish homeland. (1917) Chosen as the new land by UN for Migrant Jews after the Holocaust, migrants from Germany, Europe, and neighboring Arab countries. (1948) Many Arab Countries were Allied or under Russian control. The founding of Israel would provide America with a foothold in the Middle East.

Competing Ideologies Zionism (Hebrew: צִיּוֹנוּת Tsiyyonut IPA: [t͡sijo̞ˈnut] after Zion) is a nationalist political movement of Jews and Jewish culture that supports the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the territory defined as the historic Land of Israel (roughly corresponding to Palestine, Canaan or the Holy Land). Islamism, also known as Political Islam (Arabic: إسلام سياسي‎‎ islām siyāsī), is an Islamic revival movement often characterized by moral conservatism, literalism, and the attempt "to implement Islamic values in all spheres of life."

Claims to the Land – Israeli's Ancestors lived in area nearly 2000 years ago Jerusalem home to most important Jewish site—Western Wall

Claims to the Land – Palestine Ancestors have been living in area nearly 2000 years Jerusalem home to 3rd most important Muslim site-Dome of the Rock/Al-Aqsa Mosque

The founding of Israel 1948 - Israeli Declaration of Independence: the Jewish leadership in Tel-Aviv declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel to be known as the State of Israel. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War: a large-scale war between Israel and five Arab countries and the Palestinian-Arabs. The war resulted in an Israeli victory, with Israel annexing territory beyond the borders of the proposed Jewish state and into the borders of the proposed Arab state and West Jerusalem.

Effects of War Arab-Israeli War Mass Expansion of Israeli Occupied land and seizure of key locations Estimated that some 711,000 Palestinian refugees were displaced by the war Over approx. 800,000 Jews in Arab countries also fled or were forced to leave for Israel The rise of Hamas and Fatah: Hamas wants Israel to end its occupation, and a country of Palestine to be created.

Other Key Events 1967 - Israel extends its territory dramatically after strike (Six Day War), Israel vs Jordan, Syria, and Egypt 1973 - On October 6, during a Jewish holy day, Egypt attacks territory occupied by Israel. The conflict is known as the Yom Kippur War. 1977-1979 - Egyptian-Israeli peace Agreement over Sinai signals end to 30 years of war 1978 - Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin sign the U.S.-sponsored Camp David Accords. The countries sign a peace treaty on March 26, 1979. 1982 - Israel invades Lebanon to drive out Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters who are attacking northern Israel. 1993 - The PLO and Israel agree to recognize each other's existence. The treaty is known as the Oslo Accords. 1994 – Jordan and Israel sign a peace treaty

Other Key Events Continued (21st Century) 2000- Peace talks fail, fighting in Gaza and bloodshed continue 2005 – Israel withdraws from Gaza 2014 – Israel-Gaza Conflict (Operation Protective Edge): Attempt to wipe out Hamas operatives in Gaza (high-density areas) resulting in massive collateral damage and death of Palestinian civilians.

Gradual Expansion of Territory and Body Count After each victory, and throughout the years Israel has increased it's land, and Palestine has gradually shrunk. More than 4.6million Palestinian refugees as a result of Israel's occupation. Palestinians often forcefully removed from their homes, left with no home. From 2000-June 2008 Over 4500 Palestinians killed Over 1000 Israelis killed

Tying in to controversy, Terrorism, and Occupation Israel's treatment has been called an Apartheid state by some, including intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky "When Israelis in the occupied territories now claim they have to defend themselves, they are defending themselves in the sense that any military occupier has to defend itself against the population the are crushing... You can't defend yourself when you're militarily occupying someone else's land. That's not defense, call it what you like, it's not defense." - Noam Chomsky Despite an overwhelming number of Palestinians killed compared to Israeli's, Western Media refers to Palestinian attacks as terrorist attacks (rather than military operations by Israel), and often refers to Israel's operations as 'Retaliation' (Chomsky) Israel receives huge support from America (2014, the US provided $3.1 billion in foreign military aid to Israel, with a total of over $115 billion) which has given rise to Anti-West sentiment (among other reasons) throughout the Arab world.

The rise of groups such as Hamas Hamas is a controversial group, that can be seen as rising in reaction to Israel Carries out attacks on Israel, is currently occupying Gaza Does a lot of charity work for Palestinians Can be seen as either a terrorist organisation, or as a form of resistance or freedom fighters. Gradual shift from targeting not only Israeli military, but also civilians. Has fired rockets from areas surrounded by Palestinian civilians, meaning return fire by Israel would result in collateral damage (serious political implications). Firepower and military might is far inferior to Israel, which might explain its choice of guerilla warfare/terrorist attacks.