The Arab-Israeli Conflict Part 2 CFR Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict –

What’s the Message Here? Daly Show on Arab-Israeli Conflict

Current Status of All Territories Occupied by Israel in 1967

What are the Unresolved Issues? What are the unresolved issues preventing a final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians? President Obama with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Malmond Abbas.

Unresolved Issue # 1 The Permanent Borders of a Future Palestinian State  Palestinians want Israel to with- draw to pre-1967 borders and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.  Israel still occupies parts of the West Bank and has annexed some parts that it insists it will never give up.

Protests Against Israeli Occupation of West Bank Territory

The Issue of Israeli Settlements 300,000 Israeli settlers now live in West Bank along with 2.2 million Palestinians. Israel has annexed some West Bank territory and insists on keeping its major settlements. These Israeli settlements in the West Bank complicate peace negotiations.

Israel continues to expand old settlements and construct new ones today.

Israeli West Bank Settlements News report on settlement issueHelecoptor Tour Over West Bank

Israel’s Security Barrier (Wall) Also Complicates Negotiations

Israel’s Security Barrier

Unresolved Issue # 2 Palestinian Refugees and the Right of Return  Four million displaced Palestinians living in refugee camps today in occupied territories and neighboring Arab states.  Palestinians want refugees or their descendants to be able to return to homes and land they lost in  Israel rejects right of refugees to return to Israel. Would threaten the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.

Unresolved Issue # 3 Control of East Jerusalem  Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.  Israel’s annexed East Jerusalem and vows it will never give it up.  Residents of East Jerusalem are mostly Palestinians, but 250,000 Israelis now live there as well.

Unresolved Issue # 4 Israel’s Security How to guarantee security of Israel’s borders if radical groups like Hamas and Hezbollah refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist ?

Obama and the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

September, 2010 Obama Convened New Peace Talks First direct talks between Israel and Palestinians in two years. Stated goal was to “create a sovereign Palestinian state beside a secure Israel within one year.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

September, 2010 Peace Talks Quickly Broken Down  Peace talks broke down within weeks over the settlement issue.  Talks remain stalled today.  Palestinians insist they won’t return to talks until Israel halts building of new settlements.  Israel insists on talks without any preconditions.

May 2011 Palestinian Rapprochement Fatah and Hamas signed reconciliation agreement. Cited their common goal of resistance to Israeli occupation. Reflects Fatah’s growing frustration with stalled peace process.

U.S.-Israeli Relations Tension Over Settlements Obama opposes expansion of existing Israeli settlements or the building of any new ones. Israel refuses to stop building new housing in East Jerusalem or the West Bank.

U.S.-Israeli Relations Tension over Borders  Obama endorsed the Palestinian position that borders should be based on 1967 lines with “mutually agreed swaps” of land.  Led to tense meeting b/ Netanyahu and Obama at White House and Netanyahu publically rejecting the idea. PBS Report on May 2011 MeetingMeeting (5:00)

September, 2011 Palestinians Seek UN Recognition Palestinians sought UN’s recognition of Palestinian as a full-member state. Wanted recognition of state consisting of all of West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Bid failed because it lacked of support in the UN Security Council (+ U.S. veto threat).

November, 2012 UN General Assembly Recognizes Palestine as Non-member Observer State Move strongly opposed by Israel and the US. Vote was in favor, with 41 nations abstaining. Palestinians can now take part in UN debates. Opponents say a Palestinian state should emerge only from bilateral negotiations with Israel. CNN report on meaning of UN VoteVote (3:21)