Conflict in the Middle East Israel & Palestine

History of the conflict Jews, Christians, and Muslims trace their histories to Palestine Most Jews left the area during Roman or Muslim rule After WWI, the British took control of Palestine Most of the residents during British rule were Arab Muslims Jews in Europe wanted to establish a homeland in Palestine (Zionism) 1920: 400,000 Jews migrate to Palestine

Partition of Palestine The British want to divide the territory into a Jewish & Arab state Doesn’t happen & World War II begins After WWII, idea for Jewish homeland was a top priority 1947: the United Nations came up with a plan to split the region of Palestine into two separate states State #1 = Palestine (Arab) State #2 = Israel (Jewish) Jerusalem would be controlled by UN Israel accepts plan, Arabs & Palestinians reject it 1949: Israel declares statehood and takes the territory promised to them by the UN Six Arab nations declare war on Israel (Arab- Israeli War ) VS. Israel wins the war & takes ALL of the territory

Wars in the Middle East Palestinians start to leave Israel, seek a home in other Arab countries Wars will break out in 1967 (Six Day War) & 1973 (Yom Kippur War) Israel wins each time and takes more territory from Arabs Tensions would worsen at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, when a Palestinian group kidnaps & kills Israeli athletes Israel takes revenge for killings causing more tensions 1979: Pres. Carter negotiates a peace treaty between Israel & Egypt – Israel gives back territory take in 1973 war, Egypt recognizes Israel Palestinians form PLO attempting to get a homeland

Issues Today Palestinians want homeland created from territory Israel captured in 1967 war (West Bank and Gaza Strip) 1993: President Clinton negotiated a treaty between Israel & the PLO, calls for the creation of a Palestinian State (Oslo Accords) Palestinians will get West Bank & Gaza Strip – no new Jewish settlements in those areas Palestinian groups like Hamas advocate violence against Israel Right-wing Jewish groups continue to build in Palestinian territory Pres. Obama demands Israel stop building settlements – wants Israel to help form a Palestinian state, Palestinians must stop violence