The Arab – Israeli wars

Before we can begin looking at the Arab- Israeli Wars, we first need to know about the UN…

Organization of countries around the world

To keep peace throughout the world. To develop friendly relations between nations. To work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms. To be a center for helping nations achieve these aims.

2 nd attempt at world organization to maintain peace (1 st attempt – League of Nations – it ceased to exist when it failed to prevent WWII) 1945 – 51 original members Met in San Francisco to write charter Officially came into existence Oct. 24, 1945, when ratified by majority of 51 members (included US, United Kingdom, China, France to name a few)

192 members (countries) Headquartered in New York City (with additional offices located throughout the world) – however, land and buildings of UN international territory Has its own flag, own post office, and own postage stamps United Nations Day – Oct. 24 – celebrated around the world

Now, back to the Arab-Israeli Wars …

Jerusalem At the end of WWII and longing for a land of their own, Jews began to head back to their Promised Land – land that was promised to Abraham by God – the land between Egypt and the Euphrates River!

Jerusalem However, this land now belonged to Palestine – an Arab nation. Remember … who was the Arab’s ancestor? Ishmael!

UN’s Plan of Partition 1947 The UN’s proposal was to divide Palestine into two parts – one Arab and the other Jewish. Jews accepted this decision but Palestinians and Arabs did not. In fact, they vowed to do anything necessary to prevent the UN plan from being carried out. Jerusalem would remain international. Why do you think this would be important?

On May 14th, 1948, the State of Israel was established. That same night, with the attack of combined Arab forces (Egypt,, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon), the Israeli War for Independence began. The war lasted 8 months and resulted in Jews succeeding in defending their land AND taking the land that the Palestinians had been offered by the UN. The rest of the proposed Palestinian land was divided among Israel’s Arab neighbors. Egypt took the Gaza Strip. Jordan took the area on the West Bank of Jordan River. Thus, the Palestinians were left without any land of their own.

Because both Israel and Arab nations did not want the Palestinians, the Palestinians were forced to live in “make-shift” housing along borders of Arab nations. Conditions were horrible, Palestinian attitudes grew more and more bitter, thus, these cities became perfect breeding grounds for terrorism. From this displacement grew The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) led by Yassar Arafat.

Israel became an active member of the UN. However, Arab nations still refused to recognize Israel as a valid country. This region suffered through many wars and skirmishes. In 1956, Egypt cut off Israel’s only outlet to the Red Sea. The Israelis attacked, resulting in The Suez War.

The Suez War There had been continuous terrorists attacks on Israel ever since the first war Egypt’s President, Gamal Abdel Nasser signs agreement with Syria and Jordan, placing Nasser in command of all 3 armies Nasser closes Suez Canal to Israel Oct. 29, 1956 – Israel invades Sinai Peninsula, later joined by Britain and France US and Soviet Union strongly urge all 3 countries to back down War lasted only 1 week and invading forces withdrew within 1 month Egypt maintained control of Suez Canal

The Six Day War A few years later, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan began accumulating armies at the borders of Israel. Israel saw this as a pending attack from all sides. Therefore, in an effort to protect themselves, they launched an offensive attack on June 5 th, 1967.

The Six Day War brought victory to Israel over 3 Arab nations, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula and the Old City of Jerusalem as well as Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

The Arabs, not happy with the outcome of the Six Day War, continued terrorist attacks on Israel. One of these terrorist attacks was the murder of 11 Israeli athletes in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

One day in September… …11 Israeli Olympic team members were murdered.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria carried out a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, one of the Jewish most holiest holidays! Thus, the Yom Kippur War

This created an oil crisis for US and the rest of the world – the oil embargo of To punish supporters of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Arabs placed an embargo on oil. Result – severe gasoline shortage and increase in gas prices!

Also, begin to see a rise of the radical Islamic Movement. Radical Islamic Terrorist Groups (to name a few)… Al-jihad - Egyptian Hamas – Palestinian / PLO / Arab Hezbollah – Lebanese / Arab Al-qaeda – Osama bin Laden

However, once again Israel prevailed! Within 2 days, Israel had pushed back both invaders! They had crossed the Suez Canal and gotten within 65 miles of Egypt’s captial, Cairo. And, they had recaptured Golan Heights and gotten within 35 miles of Syrian’s capital. On Oct. 24 th, the 3 countries agreed to a cease-fire (organized by the UN)

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter invited Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel to Camp David to discuss terms of peace. A peace treaty was signed. In this treaty, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for Egypt’s acceptance of Israel’s existence. However, Mr. Sadat paid a price for his agreement…his life! Muslim extremists later assassinated him. Anwar Sadat Menachem Begin Mr. Sadat, President Jimmy Carter, and Mr. Begin

However, this treaty did not end terrorism. Frequent Palestinian attacks eventually led Israel to invade Lebanon in The 1990’s brought little improvement. Although a peace agreement was signed in 1993, which allowed for Palestinian self-rule (sound familiar!), violence continued. Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Prime Minister Yasir Arafat, Palestinian leader This agreement called for a 5-year plan. Palestinians would gradually be handed the administration of the West Bank and Gaza, and continue to negotiate a permanent peace treaty to settle on the final status of the occupied territories. President Bill Clinton

In 1994, Israeli extremists attacked and killed 29 Palestinians in a Muslim mosque. In 1995, another Jewish extremist assassinated Yitzhak Rabin. Palestinian terrorist groups, such as Hamas, have continued with large and small scale suicide bombings aimed at Israeli civilian and military targets. Recent years have still not shown any improvement. Israelis blame Palestinians for violent attacks. Palestinians blame Israel for violent “clampdowns” on their rights, killing of civilians, and assassinations of top leaders.

Notice how Israel’s borders and control of the land have changed over the years.

Note the location of Israeli control and Palestinian control! Dark green – Palestinian authority Light green – Palestine responsible for social and civil services only Yellow – Israeli control Purple – Jewish settlements Orange – Israeli military bases West Bank and Gaza Strip today

To sum up… May 14, 1948 Israel becomes a nation Israeli War for Independence 1956 Suez War Day War 1972 Murders at Olympic Games 1973 Yom Kippur War 1979 Peace treaty signed Return Sinai Peninsula 1993 Peace agreement – 5-year plan for Palestinian rule But fighting continues today

Want to look further? For a look at the changing borders of Israel, go to x.htm and view the interactive map. x.htm