The Middle East Arab Israeli Conflict

I. Background A. Palestinians are Arabs B. Palestinians/Arabs are mostly Muslim

C. 70 AD- Jews are kicked out of Jerusalem by Rome, they popululate Europe –1. Hundreds of years of Jewish oppression of Jews include; Pogroms, inquisitions, and the Holocaust –2. Jews in Europe become tired of persecution and anti-Semitism D. 1890’s the Zionism movement gains strength –1. Zionism – the desire for a Jewish homeland –Theodore Hertzl – promoter of movement –European Jews began buying land in traditional homeland (then, known as Palestine)

The result of a pogrom against Jews in Russia in 1905 Many in Russia wrongly blamed the Jews for the assassination of Tsar Nicholas II. Image from: wikipedia.org

Images from: wikipedia.org

A land auction in 1909 – the results of which were the beginnings of modern-day Tel-Aviv.

II. WWI A. Britain at war with Ottoman Empire (who control Palestine) B. To gain support, the British promise Palestinians independence and Jews a homeland –1917 Balfour Declaration – Gave the Jewish Zionists the support of the British Government C British Mandate – Britain controls all of Palestine and grants no Jewish homeland or Arab independence

From:

WWII A. Following the Holocaust, there is a push from the UN to grant the Jews a homeland B UN Partition Plan- British turn over control of Palestine –1. Areas are created for Arabs (Palestine) and Jews (Israel) –May 14, 1948 – State of Israel Declared

Which side is not happy with this?

IV. Conflict Begins A War –1. May 15, 1948, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon attack Israel –2. Israel wins; Israel gains more land and a million Palestinian refugees are created B War/ Six Days war –1. Egypt and Syria prepare to invade Israel –2. Israel strikes first and takes even more territory C. Yom Kippur War

D Lebanon War –1. Israeli troops push into southern Lebanon – goal: to push back Palestinian militants (PLO) –2. PLO was forced to withdrawl from Lebanon

To Israelis: “The War of Independence” To Palestinians: al Nakba (translation – “The Catastrophe”)

Result of 1948 War Now who’s happy?

From:

V. PLO and Others A. Palestinian Liberation Organization - PLO B. Created in 1964 – goal: destroy Israel and create Palestinian homeland C. Yasser Arafat – leader until 2005 death D. PLO is considered a terrorist organization to Israel and most Western countries –1. Today called Palestinian National Authority – PNA, Led by Mahmoud Abbas, governs West Bank –2. Intifada – “the shaking” - uprising against Israeli, there have been sevral of them A. 1 st : : 1,500 Palestinians; 400 Israelis killed B. 2 nd (aka Al Aqsa Intifada): 2000-present… –3. The PLO has been blamed for the Munich Olympics massacre E. Hamas – Arab extremist group, currently controls/governs Gaza Strip

2 nd Intifada Bus bombing in Jerusalem Israeli troops vs. Palestinians

III. Attempts at Peace A. 1979: Camp David Accords –1. Sadat(Egypt), Begin(Israel), Jimmy Carter (US) –2. Sadat later assassinated by Muslim Extremists B. 1993: Oslo Accords –1. Arafat(Palestinians), Rabin(Israel), Bill Clinton(US) –2. PNA (Palestinian National Authority) was created to govern areas under Palestinian control –3. Israel had to withdrawal from Gaza and West Bank –4. Rabin later assassinated C. 2003: Roadmap to Peace –Abbas(Palestine), Sharon(Israel) Bush(US) –Goal: A “Two State solution”: two independent states

1978 Camp David Accords Sadat’s assassination

1993 Oslo Accords After Rabin’s assassination

From:

IV. Now A. Israel is in the process of building a giant wall separating the West Bank from Israel –1. Goal is to keep out suicide bombers –2. Palestine is divided in half –3. Drawn protest from both sides B. Israel continues to build settlements in disputed territory prompting violent reaction from the PNA, Hamas, Al Aqsa and others C. In 2006, Hamas was democratically elected to rule Gaza- makes foreign relations difficult