2. History, Wars, Politics and The Peace Process
ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
History, Wars, Politics and
The Peace Process

3. THE HISTORY Hebrews expelled from Palestine by the Romans in 70 CE
The “Diaspora”
Suffered persecution in Europe
Zionist Movement - European movement begun by Theodore Herzl in 1890s that called for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

4. Balfour Declaration
Balfour Declaration letter in which British officials show support for the concept of a Jewish homeland in Palestine
Palestine was a British Mandate after WWI
Mandate – an official order or commission to do something

5. ZIONISM Reasons the movement became popular
The ancient religious dream of return
The wave of nationalist enthusiasm that was sweeping Europe
The threat of anti-Semitism & physical dangers to Jews

6. Founding of Israel
Jewish people began leaving Europe because of persecution and settle in Palestine, especially after WWII.
Zionism encourages Jewish immigration to & settlement of Palestine
Kibbutz - communal farm organized by Jewish settlers. Share work and profits.

7. The State of Israel
UN Partition in Territory of Palestine is divided by the UN to provide a homeland for the Jewish people after WWII.
1948 Israel declares itself an independent nation.
Arab countries object and declare war on Israel

8. 1948-1949 - First Arab-Israeli War
May 14, 1948 – Israel declared independence
May 15, 1948 – Arab armies from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria & Iraq declare war
By the end, Israel won, gaining 20% more land than UN Partition allotted
War of Independence vs. The Catastrophe

9. Palestinians Arab inhabitants of the territory that becomes Israel
,000 Palestinians are driven from or leave their homes and villages at the start of the war between Israel and the Arab countries
Become known as “The Refugees”

10. State of Israel before and after 1948

11. “The Camps”
They go to refugee camps in West Bank or neighboring Arab countries
“the camps” - Palestinians still living in these areas after 70 years

12. “The Right of Return”
Palestinians want the right to return to their original villages and homes and demonstrate carrying “keys”

13. Suez Crisis 1956
Egyptian President Nasser wanted to take back control of Suez Canal from France and Britain
Nationalized Suez Canal
US backed him up, rather than siding with its European Friends & Israel

14. Formation of PLO
Formed to take up the war against Israel – nationalistic
Set up as an umbrella organization to join various Palestinian groups that had formed in Arab areas
Set 2 goals – destroy Israel and form secular, democratic state in its place
Launched guerrilla attacks on Israeli military targets
Certain factions used terrorism

15. 1967 - The Six Day War Arabs planned to attack Israel again
Israelis pulled off pre-emptive strike (hit them first) and destroyed their arms.
Humiliating defeat for Arabs
Israelis controlled West Bank and Gaza

17. “The Territories”
Israel takes control of the traditional Arab territories, including Jerusalem and the Western Wall
West Bank (Jordan), Gaza (Egypt) and Golan Heights (Syria)
Is it right to take land in warfare?

18. 1967 – “The Settlements”
Ultra Conservative Jews seek to settle in these Arab areas and claim them for Israel
Originally intended to act as security outposts & to prevent attacks

19. ANWAR SADAT – Egyptian President 1970-1981

20. Yom Kippur War 1973
Started by Anwar Sadat of Egypt to shake up diplomatic situation, get Israel to talk, get Sinai Peninsula back
Arabs catch Israel off guard on a holy day, take the war to Israel
Satisfy the demands of honor
Israel won after 3 weeks of fighting, but Arabs commemorate this war on Oct. 6
Leads to Camp David peace talks
No territorial changes

21. 1978-1979 – Camp David Accords Camp David 1978
Pres. Jimmy Carter - USA
Pres. Anwar Sadat - Egypt
P.M. Menachim Begin – Israel (Likud)
Opens Communication
Framework for Peace
Egypt 1st Arab country to recognize Israel
Both countries receive U.S. $

22. 1981 – Sadat Assassinated Admired in the West Won Nobel Peace Prize
Targeted by Islamist groups in Egypt for negotiating with Israel
Assassinated October 6, 1981

23. The First Intifada 1987
By 1987, there was mounting frustration & anger among the Palestinians, who had been living in the West Bank & Gaza under Israeli occupation for 20 years
The Palestinians had a strong desire for their own state, independent from Israeli control
PLO renounced its goal of destroying Israel in 1988

24. The First Intifada 1987 Widespread uprising in Palestinian areas
Street fighting and guerilla tactics to used to challenge the Israeli Army
Palestinian boys fight the soldiers with slingshots
DAVID v. GOLIATH?

25. The First Intifada 1987
The intifada was culmination of growing tension & violence between Israelis and Palestinians, also known as “the war of stones”
As a result – Palestinians had global recognition as a people, world media criticized Israel in a way that had not been done before, the intifada led to the Oslo Peace Accords

26. The Israeli Security Wall

27. Oslo Accords 1993
Pres. Clinton, P.M. Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yassir Arafat negotiate terms for Palestinian Self Rule
Israel negotiates directly with PLO
PLO recognizes Israel’s right to exist

28. Results of Oslo PLO becomes Palestinian Authority
PA responsible for administration of the West Bank and Gaza (limited self-rule)
IDF withdraws from most of the “territories”
Big problems like Jerusalem, the settlements, status of Palestinian refugees put off to another time.
Both won Nobel Peace Prize 1994

29. Rabin Assassinated 1995
Military hero and former hardliner sees during Intifada that force won’t solve this problem.
Negotiates directly with Arafat
“Land for peace”
Targeted for death by conservative Jewish groups

30. Effects of Rabin Assassination
Benjamin Netanyahu (his replacement) allowed for
More Israeli settlements that would spread into the West Bank & Gaza
Terrorist activity increased as a result of the encroachment on Palestinian self-ruled land

31. Yassir Arafat Former Terrorist PLO Hijacked Planes
Achille Lauro ship hijacking
Implicated in Munich
Numerous attacks on Israeli villages
Won Nobel Peace Prize!!!
Died in 2004

32. Second Intifada 2000

33. 2006 War With “Lebanon”
Hezbollah (receives $$ from Iran & Syria) militants fired rockets across border in to Israeli town
Kidnapped Israeli soldiers
Israel responded with air strikes
Civilian infrastructure badly damaged
Casualties include many Lebanese civilians caught in the middle
Ended with cease fire brokered by UN

34. Palestinian Authority
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority since 2005
Leader of Fatah political party
Moderate
Can’t control Gaza b/c Hamas won elections there

35. Hamas controls Gaza

36. 2008 Gaza Hamas lobbed missiles into Israel
Israel responded with airstrikes
IDF ground attack to route out Hamas
Civilian casualties

37. 2010 PEACE TALKS Goal was “Two-State” solution
Netanyahu officially recognized Palestinians’ right to have their own state
Abbas asked for end to Israeli settlement building

38. Peace Talks
Secretary of State John Kerry oversaw talks between Abbas & Netanyahu
Negotiations collapsed Palestinians created Palestinian Unity Government – Fatah and Hamas joined forces

39. 2014 Israel – Gaza Conflict
Increased tensions when 3 Israeli teens were kidnapped & killed and Palestinian teen was kidnapped & killed in revenge
Hamas increased rocket attacks
IDF began offensive in Gaza
2100 Palestinians killed (militants & civilians)
70 Israelis killed (64 soldiers)