1. The creation of the modern nation-state of Israel

3. The Covenant…
According to Jewish belief, described in the Bible’s Book of Jeremiah 30:31-34, God made a covenant (sacred promise) with the people of Israel. If they accepted God as the ruler of heaven & earth, they would be his chosen people (around 1800 BC).
This belief led them to form the kingdom of Israel in around 1025 BC (in Canaan, between Egypt & Mesopotamia). Because of its location, it was frequently threatened by invaders.

4. The Romans…
In 70 AD Jews who had been living under Roman rule revolted & many were savagely killed. The Romans forced survivors out of the area (which by this time was called Palestine) in what is referred to as a diaspora (scattering of people).

5. The Zionists…
During the late 1800’s hatred and fear of Jews (anti-semitism) increased throughout Europe, leading to violence & death.
Theodore Hertzl began the Zionist Movement in 1896, arguing for a Jewish state in then Ottoman controlled Palestine
To escape the violence, some Jews began migrating to Palestine in the Ottoman Empire (which they believed to be their sacred land promised through the covenant)

6. The British Role…
After WWI, the Ottoman Empire dissolved. The capital city Istanbul became part of the new country of Turkey, but the British took over the Ottoman land in Palestine.
The British Mandate of Palestine gave Britain the authority to“administer the affairs” of the former Ottoman territory;
The British supported the growing Zionist movement as the numbers of Jews who migrated to grew.
In 1917 the British gov’t. issued the Balfour Declaration, which expressed their favor for “…the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people…”
This Declaration opened the door for waves of Jewish immigrants into Palestine

7. The Britsh Role…
However, during World War I, Britain was desperate for allies to help it fight against the Ottoman Empire.
In 1915, Britain promised Ottoman lands to Sharif Hussein, the King of Hejaz (in what is today Saudi Arabia and Syria) as stated in the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence
Internally, Britain planned to keep control of Palestine if World War I was successful.
Britain essentially promised the land of Palestine to three different groups, Jews, Arabs, and themselves in order to build support during World War I

8. The British Role continued…
Between WWI & WWII the numbers of Jews who migrated to Palestine continued to grow.
After the atrocities of the Holocaust the numbers of Jewish refugees who fled to Palestine grew even more significantly.
Violence & resentment between newly arriving Jews and Palestinians escalated
The 1920s-1940s saw Arab demonstrations against Zionist immigration, and Jewish attacks against Palestinian businesses, schools, and mosques aimed at spreading terror amongst Arabs forcing them to move
The Zionist terror group Irgun bombed the King David hotel in 1946, killing 93 Arabs
List of Irgun attacks

9. King David Hotel Bombing

10. The Partition…
Unable to end the violence & exhausted from WWII Britain withdrew from Palestine & turned the area over to the UN
In 1947 the UN recommended that Palestine be partitioned (divided) into a Jewish state & an Arab state.(see map on p. 617)
In May of 1948, Jews announced the creation of the modern state of Israel.

11. Response to creation of Israel…
War erupted immediately following, with Egypt, Syria, Iraq & Lebanon all using military force against Israel.
Israel wins & takes ½ the land set aside for Palestine + ½ of Jerusalem;
Jordan took the rest of Arab Palestine & Egypt took the Gaza Strip – so at that point, “Palestine” ceased to exist.

12. Palestinian refugees…
Over one million Palestinians either fled Palestine or chose to remain & settled into UN refugee camps which eventually became permanent settlements for several generations of Palestinians.
Palestinians have never given up their goal of regaining control of the territory that is now Israel and returning to their homeland

13. Continuing conflict…
3 more major wars were fought over this issue (1956, 1967, 1973). The 6 day war (1967) gave Israel substantial new territories & significantly increased the tension with Palestinian refugees & Arab neighbors.
1982 Peace Treaty with Egypt (return of SP)
1987– Intifada; 1993 – renewal of peace talks; new cycle of violence over settlements in occupied lands and PA autonomy.

14. Israeli Expansion

15. United States Support
The US has long been Israel’s strongest ally & has been very involved in trying to negotiate peace between the two sides.
The United States has always given money to help support and protect Israel. According to the federal budget, Israel will receive $38 billion dollars of military funding over the next 10 years.

16. PLO
In 1964 the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) was formed with a goal of reclaiming Palestine & destroying Israel. Its leader was Yasser Arafat.
The PLO has used guerrilla warfare and terroristic tactics against Israel & nations who support Israel.
PLO attacks have brought reprisals (forceful acts in response to injury) from Israel & others in the region.

17. The Palestinian Authority (PA)
is an interim self-government body established to govern the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a result of the 1993 Oslo Accords. It was intended to serve as a five- year interim body. As of 2014, more than nineteen years after the formulation of the Authority, they have failed to become a permanent political force or voice for the Palestinian cause.

18. Modern Israel… Population = 7.1 million; GDP per capita + $18,000
About 15% of Israelis are non-Jews (most are Arab Muslims & Christians)
Israel has a strong, mixed economy with well developed high-tech & service industries.
Prime Minister = Benjamin Netanyahu
Palestinian Authority President = Mahmoud Abbas

19. The Peace Process. This conflict has defied all efforts at resolution.
Many Arab nations refuse to recognize Israel still;
Most Palestinians continue to want a Palestinian state
Many Israeli Jews see a Palestinian state as a threat to Israel’s survival.

20. Major unresolved issues…
Jerusalem is now the capital of Israel b/c of its special significance to Judaism;
Jerusalem is also holy to Muslims who outnumber the Jewish population Jerusalem.
The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of the Palestinian state they continue to hope for.

21. Unresolved issues…
“Right of Return” issue – this would grant Palestinians who fled their homes the right to return.
Israeli Jews fear they would be overwhelmed if they allowed this to happen.
Israeli construction of homes and neighborhoods in territory that is supposed to be part of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza & East Jerusalem.
Ongoing violence between Israeli army & various Palestinian groups (currently worst in Gaza Strip).