1. Conflict in the Middle East
What is the cause of the ongoing problems in Israel & Palestine?

2. I. Establishment of Israel
A. 1947: UN approves a plan to divide Palestine into two nations
1. Palestine = Arab State Israel = Jewish State.
a. Jerusalem controlled by UN
B. Palestinians & other Arab states object
C. May 1948: Israel declares statehood and takes their territory
1. Six Arab nations declare war on Israel
2. Israel wins Arab-Israeli War, takes most Palestinian land, Egypt/Jordan take rest
D. Palestinian people begin fleeing Israel

3. II. Israel & the Cold War – Suez Canal Crisis
A. 1954: Gamel Abdel Nasser controls Egypt
B. 1956: Nasser seizes British-controlled Suez Canal
1. Britain, France, Israel take back the canal & then occupy parts of Egypt – Nasser turns to the UN
2. Soviets say this is an example of western imperialism, Nasser seeks alliance with USSR
3. UN Security Council gives Egypt canal & land back (US abstains)

4. III. Six Day & Yom Kippur Wars
A. Egypt & Arab neighbors attack Israel twice: Six-Day War (1967, Nasser) & Yom Kippur War (1973, Sadat)
1. Israel is backed by US & wins both wars, Israel takes more Arab land.
B. 1973: Arabs put an oil embargo on US because of support of Israel
C. Yasir Arafat & Palestinians form the PLO, use intifada to get their homeland back
1. Intifada includes non-violent methods to protest but also uses Soviet made weapons to attack Israel. Israel responds by bombing Pal. towns