Arab-Israeli Conflict The Disputed Territory

When you get to the questions in red, write the questions on your paper and answer them! (9 questions in this ppt.)

Background Pre-1948: Palestine (remember: given to the Arabs after the fall of the Ottomans, Israel after 1948 Background: Zionist Movement (1870’s): Jewish nationalism, ethnic identity World Zionist Organization (1897): Founded by Theodore Herzl decides that there needs to be a place where Jews are safe (anti-Semitism grows in Europe opposing the Zionist movement)

Palestine Palestine: religious ties to Judaism (location for new Jewish homeland), but ties to Islam as well (ruled by Muslims for 1300 yrs.; given to them after WWI) Jewish National Fund: a trust fund set up to buy land in Palestine Begin buying land near the coast Some wealthy Arabs living in Europe sell the land Little immigration seen at this time

Immigration begins Balfour Declaration (1917): set up by the British for World Zionist Organization beginning of a national home for Jews in Palestine. Immigration to Palestine begins: still small numbers Arabs are angry: felt this land was promised to them by the British Remember McMahon letters? Why would the British promise the land to both the Jews and Arabs? Why did this add fuel to their fire?

Territory that McMahon promised

The Mandate System Post WWI: (1920’s): British acquire Palestine they do not consider debate over the land. Conflict over the territory between the two groups increases: Riots in Jerusalem #1: 1930’s: Jewish Immigration to Palestine increases drastically. Why? What was happening in Europe during that time?

British Mandate in Palestine Created July, 1922

Jews & Arabs in Palestine, 1920 In 1920, there was 1 Jew to every 10 Arabs in Palestine. By 1947, the ratio was 2 Arabs for every Jew. The Arabs felt that they were losing control of their “country!”

1929 Arab Riots IZBAH AL-YAHUD! [“Slaughter All the Jews!”] Jewish 1919 1,806 1920 8,223 1921 8,294 1922 8,685 1923 8,175 1924 13,892 1925 34,386 1926 13,855 1927 3,034 1928 2,178 1929 5,249 1930 4,944 Immigration 1931 4,075 1932 12,533 1933 37,337 1934 45,267 1935 66,472 1936 29,595 1937 10,629 1938 14,675 1939 31,195 1940 10,643 1941 4,592

Immigration increases Immigration increases for two big reasons: Anti-Semitism in Europe (Holocaust) Great Depression (Arab landowners become cash poor- must sell their land) 1936: Arab revolt: feel that the increased immigration: - is causing overcrowding - land distribution: losing all the “good land”

Palestine Arab Revolt: 1936-1939 Their Goals: An end to Jewish immigration to Palestine. An end to the transfer of lands to Jewish owners. A new “general representative government.” The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Hussani, with Adolf Hitler.

Jewish Settlements: The Kibbutz System First one founded in 1908. Communal living. “Make the Desert Bloom!”

Solutions to the problem? British suggest the White Papers: states to limit immigration and land sales… does not happen British suggest partition: divide the land into 2 states: One Arab and One Jewish There is resistance on both sides: fear the other would take by force, but land is still under British mandate

British White Paper of 1939 Limited Jewish immigration to Palestine to 75,000 over the next five years. It ended Jewish land purchases. Independence for Palestine within 10 years. It is NOT British policy that Palestine become a Jewish state.

Peel Partition Plan, 1937

The “Arab Legion” of the British Army During WW2

The “Jewish Brigade” of the British Army During WW2

Nazi Concentration & Extermination Camps

The Nazi Holocaust 6,000,00 Jews killed by the Nazis [1/2 in the concentration camps.]

End of the Mandate 1945: World War II ends #2: The British cannot hold on to the mandate any longer. Why? Neither side wants the British in Palestine Ben-Gurion tells the British it’s time to leave 1947: British give the mandate to the UN UN decides to split the state (Arab/Jewish)

U.N.’s proposal

Aliyah Bet Illegal Jewish immigration to Palestine. The Exodus, 1947.

Palestine Population in 1946

British “Detention” Camps in Cyprus : 1946-1948

Jewish “Freedom Fighters” (or “Terrorists”?) Irgun Zvai Leumi [Natl. Military Org.] Avraham Stern & The Stern Gang

Israel: A new Jewish state May 14th 1948: Jewish proclaim their new national state of Israel (U.S./Soviet Union recognize) May 15th, 1948: Egypt, Trans-Jordan attack but Israel holds 100,000’s Palestinian Arabs leave (land is confiscated, immigration increases) #3: The controversy: Left by choice or forced to leave?

Israel in 1948

Arab Refugees, 1948 The Palestinian Diaspora begins!

Displaced Palestinian Arabs Palestinian Refugees: flee to neighboring Arab countries, but found that they were not welcome in many….#4: Why? Arab resistance to Israel: PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization): founded in part by Yasser Arafat (1960’s) Intended to have an exile government for Palestinians Would launch terrorist attacks against Israel

Six Day War (1967) Syria gains “intelligence” from Soviet Union that Israel is mobilizing for war….is this accurate? Egypt and Syria prepare for war (tanks in the Sinai Peninsula) June 5th 1967: Israel attacks Egypt/Syria/Jordan; defeats all three easily in six days. Territorial Acquisitions for Israel: West Bank Golan Heights (from Syria) Suez Canal/Sinai (from Egypt, would stay there till 1980)

After the War… The Arab world in the Middle East is shaken Many regimes are overthrown PLO activity increases: Based in Jordan until 1970 Challenges the king’s authority Black September (1970): Jordan kicks out the PLO 1973: Munich Olympics (hostage crisis) PLO seen as terrorists worldwide.

The Disputed Territory Golan Heights—Israel and Syria West Bank—Israel, Palestinians

Yom Kippur War (1973) Oct. 6th 1973: Egypt launches a surprise attack on Yom Kippur (they want to take back the Suez Canal) U.S. offers support to Israel/Soviets offer support to Egypt #5: Why do you think they would do this? (think about the time period) OPEC in retaliation cuts off oil supply to west: gas prices soar Russia offers planes/pilots to Egypt Fearing Russia entering the war (WW3?) a cease fire is called

Attempts at peace? As early as 1974 Palestinians seek West Bank and Gaza Strip as homeland territory. Camp David Accords (1979): President Carter orchestrates a peace agreement (for the first time!) between Israel and Egypt. Breakdown: (1982) Sadat (Egypt) is assassinated for his support of Israel.

Attempts at peace 13 September, 1993: Israel and PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (DOP) gives PLO timeframe for West Bank/Gaza Strip self rule 2000: 2nd intifadah disrupts negotiations to make Palestine its own state

Attempts at peace Last Spring (2008), Israel offered all of the West Bank and the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem to the Palestinians to use to form their own nation. Their offer was turned down by the Palestinians who stated that this wasn’t enough. They wanted ALL of Jerusalem. Negotiations have just begun, again.

Attempts at peace President of Israel invited Syrian President to Jerusalem for peace talks Syria says that Israel can’t be serious because they are building more settlements in Golan

Struggle continues… Peace negotiations have started and stalled for years. Gaza Strip and West Bank still disputed territories #6: Will a fair compromise ever be achieved? Why or why not?

Questions from earlier this week: #7: What groups are unhappy with the current boundary lines? Why? #8: Why do the Palestinians and Israelis both claim the “Holy Land” (current nation of Israel) as their own? #9: How would YOU settle the Arab-Israeli conflict? Explain and even draw a map if you need to do so!