New Nations of the Middle East Birth of Israel & the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Middle East was the heart of the Baghdad Caliphate. From the 1500s to the end of World War I in 1918, the Middle East was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. After 1918, Great Britain and France took over most of the Middle East. Ottoman Empire Falls

Along the western edge of the Middle East is a narrow wedge of land lying along the Mediterranean Sea. It has been known as many names including Canaan, Judea, Palestine, the Holy Land, and today is called Israel. Creation of Israel

Zionism is the movement to establish Jewish homeland or nation. This idea has been around for hundreds of years, but reemerged during World War II and the Holocaust. At this time anti-Semitism was growing in Europe. Many Jewish people were attacked and left Europe. How did Israel form?

Nationalism & the Modern ME Nationalism is a strong loyalty to one’s own culture or country. Post World War II feelings of nationalism increased in the Middle East. Turkey gains independence in 1923 Iraq in 1932. Nationalism & the Modern ME

Feelings of nationalism had also been developing among Arabs and Jews. Palestinians wanted an independent Palestine. Jewish people, after World War II, begin to immigrate to Palestine, searching for a homeland. Palestine was home to about 450,000 people, mostly Arabs. Nationalism

In 1948, the United Nations agreed to divide Palestine between the Arabs and the Jews. May 14, 1948, Israel becomes an independent country and named David Ben Gurion as Israel’s first Prime Minister. May 15, 1948, five Arab nations attack Israel and lost land to Israel. Nationalism

In June 1967, the Six Day War, Israel takes the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank from the Arabs. To gain the land back, Arabs form the Palestinian Liberation Organization under Yassir Arafat. Nationalism

In 1978, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Accords, which was an attempt to establish peaceful relations between these countries. Anwar Sadat, Egypt’s President was the first Arab leader to publicly accept Israel and meet its Prime Minister. These talks were held in the United States and led by President James Carter. Nationalism

Anwar Sadat (Egypt), President James Carter (U. S Anwar Sadat (Egypt), President James Carter (U.S.), Prime Minister Begin (Israel)

In 1987 the Palestinians in Gaza begin the Intifada to rid themselves of Israeli rule. Yitzhak Rabin and Yassir Arafat win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 because of their role in trying to make the area a peaceful place. An Israeli assassinated Rabin because he agreed to give land to the Palestinians. Nationalism

Yitzhak Rabin (Israel), President Bill Clinton (U. S Yitzhak Rabin (Israel), President Bill Clinton (U.S.), Yassir Arafat (Palestine)

Homework- Research Assignment Has this area (Israel/Palestine) found peace yet? Do you believe this area will one day find peace? How? Homework- Research Assignment