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The Arab – Israeli wars
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Before we can begin looking at the Arab-Israeli Wars, we first need to know about the UN…
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The UN
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Organization of countries around the world
What is the UN? Organization of countries around the world
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What is the purpose of the UN?
To keep peace throughout the world. To develop friendly relations between nations. To work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms. To be a center for helping nations achieve these aims.
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Brief history of the UN …
2nd attempt at world organization to maintain peace (1st attempt – League of Nations – it ceased to exist when it failed to prevent WWII) 1945 – 51 original members Met in San Francisco to write charter Officially came into existence Oct. 24, 1945, when ratified by majority of 51 members (included US, United Kingdom, China, France to name a few)
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UN today … 192 members (countries)
Headquartered in New York City (with additional offices located throughout the world) – however, land and buildings of UN international territory Has its own flag, own post office, and own postage stamps United Nations Day – Oct. 24 – celebrated around the world
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Now, back to the Arab-Israeli Wars …
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In 1896, in response to anti-Semitism in Europe, Theodor Herzl, a Jew living in Vienna, Austria, wrote The Jewish State, a book promoting the Jewish people to seek their own nation. Movement became known as Zionism, and by 1903 there were 25,000 Jews living in Palestine compared to half a million Arabs Believed Judaism should be viewed as a nationality with their own state
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British Promise to the Jews: Balfour Declaration, 1917
His Majesty’s Government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine… Sir Arthur James Balfour Br. Foreign Secretary
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The Nazi Holocaust Jewish Prisoners 6,000,000 Jews killed by the Nazis [1/2 in the concentration camps.]
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Following World War II thousands of Jewish immigrants from Europe poured into Palestine. Situation got out of control and British handed it over to the newly formed United Nations. In 1947 the United Nations General Assembly voted a 2/3 majority to partition Palestine into a Jewish and Palestinian state
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At the end of WWII and longing for a land of their own, Jews began to head back to their Promised Land – land that was promised to Abraham by God – the land between Egypt and the Euphrates River! Jerusalem
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The Issue in 1947: 1 land or 2? Israeli arguments
We need a safe haven This should be it God gave it to us We make the desert bloom Palestinian arguments This is our land, our country It should not be divided We have lived here for centuries if not millennia, giving us the legal claim
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However, this land now belonged to Palestine – an Arab nation.
Remember … who was the Arab’s ancestor? Jerusalem Ishmael!
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With the end of WWII, the saga of the Arab-Israeli Wars begins!
Jerusalem
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UN’s Plan of Partition 1947 Jerusalem would remain international. Why do you think this would be important? The UN’s proposal was to divide Palestine into two parts – one Arab and the other Jewish. Jews accepted this decision but Palestinians and Arabs did not. In fact, they vowed to do anything necessary to prevent the UN plan from being carried out.
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On May 14th, 1948, the State of Israel was established.
That same night, with the attack of combined Arab forces (Egypt,, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon), the Israeli War for Independence began. The war lasted 8 months and resulted in Jews succeeding in defending their land AND taking the land that the Palestinians had been offered by the UN. The rest of the proposed Palestinian land was divided among Israel’s Arab neighbors. Egypt took the Gaza Strip. Jordan took the area on the West Bank of Jordan River. Thus, the Palestinians were left without any land of their own. Arabs significantly larger, but coordination and organization lacking and often, were at odds with each other – each country wanting land from Palestinian territory for their own. Jews were smaller in number, but well organized, well-disciplined, and well-trained. Ended Jan. 1949 Palestinian refugee camps set up and maintained by UN
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Because both Israel and Arab nations did not want the Palestinians, the Palestinians were forced to live in “make-shift” housing along borders of Arab nations (Does this sound familiar???) Conditions were horrible, Palestinian attitudes grew more and more bitter, thus, these cities became perfect breeding grounds for terrorism. From this displacement grew The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) led by Yassar Arafat. Camps set up and maintained by UN
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Israel became an active member of the UN
Israel became an active member of the UN. However, Arab nations still refused to recognize Israel as a valid country. This region suffered through many wars and skirmishes. In 1956, Egypt cut off Israel’s only outlet to the Red Sea. The Israelis attacked, resulting in The Suez War.
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The Suez War There had been continuous terrorists attacks on Israel ever since the first war Egypt’s President, Gamal Abdel Nasser signs agreement with Syria and Jordan, placing Nasser in command of all 3 armies Nasser closes Suez Canal to Israel Oct. 29, 1956 – Israel invades Sinai Peninsula, later joined by Britain and France US and Soviet Union strongly urge all 3 countries to back down War lasted only 1 week and invading forces withdrew within 1 month Egypt maintained control of Suez Canal
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The Six Day War A few years later, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan began accumulating armies at the borders of Israel. Israel saw this as a pending attack from all sides. Therefore, in an effort to protect themselves, they launched an offensive attack on June 5th, 1967.
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The Six Day War brought victory to Israel over 3 Arab nations, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula and the Old City of Jerusalem as well as Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza Strip.
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The Arabs, not happy with the outcome of the Six Day War, continued terrorist attacks on Israel. One of these terrorist attacks was the murder of 11 Israeli athletes in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
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…11 Israeli Olympic team members were murdered.
One day in September… …11 Israeli Olympic team members were murdered.
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In 1973, Egypt and Syria carried out a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, one of the Jewish most holiest holidays!
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This created an oil crisis for US and the rest of the world – the oil embargo of 1973.
Gasoline prices doubled To punish supporters of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Arabs placed an embargo on oil. Result – severe gasoline shortage and increase in gas prices!
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Also, begin to see a rise of the radical Islamic Movement.
Radical Islamic Terrorist Groups (to name a few)… Al-jihad - Egyptian Hamas – Palestinian / PLO / Arab Hezbollah – Lebanese / Arab Al-qaeda – Osama bin Laden
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However, once again Israel prevailed!
Within 2 days, Israel had pushed back both invaders! They had crossed the Suez Canal and gotten within 65 miles of Egypt’s captial, Cairo. And, they had recaptured Golan Heights and gotten within 35 miles of Syrian’s capital. On Oct. 24th, the 3 countries agreed to a cease-fire (organized by the UN)
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Mr. Sadat, President Jimmy Carter, and Mr. Begin
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter invited Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel to Camp David to discuss terms of peace. A peace treaty was signed. In this treaty, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for Egypt’s acceptance of Israel’s existence. Anwar Sadat Menachem Begin Mr. Sadat, President Jimmy Carter, and Mr. Begin However, Mr. Sadat paid a price for his agreement…his life! Muslim extremists later assassinated him.
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However, this treaty did not end terrorism
However, this treaty did not end terrorism. Frequent Palestinian attacks eventually led Israel to invade Lebanon in 1982. The 1990’s brought little improvement. Although a peace agreement was signed in 1993, which allowed for Palestinian self-rule (sound familiar!), violence continued. President Bill Clinton Yasir Arafat, Palestinian leader Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Prime Minister This agreement called for a 5-year plan. Palestinians would gradually be handed the administration of the West Bank and Gaza, and continue to negotiate a permanent peace treaty to settle on the final status of the occupied territories.
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In 1994, Israeli extremist attacked and killed 29 Palestinians in a Muslim mosque.
In 1995, another Jewish extremist assassinated Yitzhak Rabin. Palestinian terrorist groups, such as Hamas, have continued with large and small scale suicide bombings aimed at Israeli civilian and military targets. Recent years have still not shown any improvement. Israelis blame Palestinians for violent attacks. Palestinians blame Israel for violent “clampdowns” on their rights, killing of civilians, and assassinations of top leaders.
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Notice how Israel’s borders and control of the land have changed over the years.
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West Bank and Gaza Strip today
Note the location of Israeli control and Palestinian control! Dark green – Palestinian authority Light green – Palestine responsible for social and civil services only Yellow – Israeli control Purple – Jewish settlements Orange – Israeli military bases
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Your turn… What do you think would be a good solution to the Israeli / Palestinian conflict?
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Want to look further? For a look at the changing borders of Israel, go to and view the interactive map.
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But fighting continues today
To sum up… May 14, 1948 Israel becomes a nation Israeli War for Independence 1993 Peace agreement – 5-year plan for Palestinian rule 1973 Yom Kippur War 1967 6-Day War 1956 Suez War 1979 Peace treaty signed Return Sinai Peninsula But fighting continues today 1972 Murders at Olympic Games
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Places, people, and events to know…
West Bank Gaza Strip Golan Heights Sinai Peninsula PLO Arab-Israeli Wars Israel’s War of Independence Suez War 6-day War Yom Kippur War
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Essential questions to know…
What led to the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948? What are the causes of the various Arab-Israeli Wars? What are the continuing conflicts between the Arabs and the Israelis? Why is the US involved in this conflict between the Arabs and Israelis?
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