The Holocaust, Israel, and the Middle East

The Holocaust Hitler wants a pure race of people (Aryans). Targeted Jews, Slavs, Soviets, Poles, Gypsies, homosexuals, and the handicapped for extermination. Hitler took several steps to exterminate the Jews: Passed the Nuremberg Laws (1935) Kristallnacht -“Night of Broken Glass” (November 9, 1938) - Nazi troops attacked Jewish synagogues, homes, and businesses, killing 100 Jews. The Holocaust

The Holocaust Forced the Jews into ghettos (closed neighborhoods). Liquidated the neighborhoods by sending Jews on cattle cars to concentration camps (work camp) or to a death camp – “THE FINAL SOLUTION” Most concentration camps were in Germany and Poland. At the camps, Jews were examined by SS doctors. The strong (mostly men) or skilled laborers (ex. seamstress, cobbler) were allowed to live. Picture is of a round-up of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. By October 1940, 400,000 people were living in an area that could house 160,000. They were given enough food to have 1 bowl of soup daily. 300-400 died daily from starvation and disease. By July 1942, 80,000 had died. At this time, 6,000 Jews daily were rounded up and sent to the death camp. After two months, 310,322 had been sent to the death camps. 60,000 tried to resist and rebelled against the Germans. After 28 days, 56,065 were rounded up.

The Holocaust Holocaust (genocide) is the mass killing of people. Over 11,000,000 people in all died. 6,000,000 Jews died, including over a million kids. 3,000,000 Jews survived. Those who were not sent to an immediate death were used as slave labor or for medical experiments. Auschwitz was the largest death camp: (around 2,000,000 died there). The Holocaust

Nuremberg Trials In 1945-1946, twenty-two Nazis were charged with “crimes against humanity.” Trial was conducted by an International Military Tribunal made of 23 countries. Ten Nazis were hanged and they were cremated at a concentration camp. Support for a Jewish state/homeland (Zionism) increased after the war. Israel is founded in 1948.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Developed in 1948 by the United Nations in response to the atrocities in WW2. Sets human rights standards for all nations, including rights that all people should have. Difficult to enforce because of the debate over how much outside countries should be involved in the affairs of a sovereign nation.

Palestine (a mostly Islamic country) is divided into a Jewish state and Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as an international city. Angered, Palestinians attack Israel. Israel wins and claims ½ of the Palestinian land. (Fight wars in 1956, 1967, 1973). Creation of Israel

Israel 1947-1967

Egyptian President Nassar wants to kick out foreign countries in the region. He took control of the Suez Canal from the British by force in 1956. The British, French, and Israelis attack. The U.S. and the Soviet Union pressure the British, French, and Israeli’s to withdraw troops. Egypt keeps the canal. Builds Pan-Arabism (Arab Unity). Suez Crisis of 1956

Six Day War and Yom Kippur War In 1964, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) is formed, Yassir Arafat is leader. In 1967, the PLO wants to take back land from Israel using military force with help from other Arab nations. Israel attacks Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iran first, wiping out the majority of Egypt’s air force, and capturing the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank of the Jordan River, the Golan Heights, and Jerusalem. In 1973, the Arabs surprise attacked Israel on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. The U.S. joins on Israel’s side angering the Arabs. The United Nations arranged a cease-fire. Six Day War and Yom Kippur War

Camp David Accords (1979) – Egypt finally recognizes Israel as a country, receives the Sinai Peninsula from Israel. (Egyptian President is assassinated by an Islamic extremists upset by the peace agreement.) Palestinians launched the intifada (uprising) in 1987 – a series of terrorist attacks against Israel. Oslo Peace Accords (1993) – Israel gives Palestinians self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist). Lasting Peace?