Arab-Israeli Conflict: Introduction

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is one that is:

• Extremely dangerous• Long-lasting• Complicated• Animated by religious

fervor

Israel: Land for Jews• Israel –refers to the

modern nation established in 1948

• Established as a homeland for the Jews who had faced centuries of discrimination at the hands of others

• The majority of the population is Jewish

Jerusalem: The Western Wall• Jerusalem, located

in Israel, is the site of the holiest site in Judaism, -remains of the earliest Temples.

Palestine: Homeland for Palestinians

-Palestinians are the Arabic speaking people that live in Palestine.

-Most Palestinians practice Islam which came to Palestine around 638 AD.

-Jerusalem is one of the most holy cities for Islam because Moslems believe that Muhammad ascended to heaven here

Timeline of Events: A short history

• 1250 BC: Israelites began to conquer and settle the land of Canaan, or modern day Israel

• 63 BC: The Jewish state, Judea, was incorporated into the Roman province of Palestine. It remains under Roman rule until 638 A.D.

• 70 AD: Jewish Diaspora- A revolt against Roman rule was put down This marks the beginning of the Jewish Diaspora, or dispersion. Romans force Jews out of Palestine.

• 313-638 AD: The Byzantine Christian Era. Palestine was ruled by the Byzantine Emperors in Byzantium.

• 650 AD: Conquest by Arab Muslims-Palestine is controlled by Muslims for the next 1,000 years.

• 1200-1300- Jews living in Europe face persecution by non Jew during the Middle Ages.

Timeline of Events: A short history

• Early 1800’s- Rise of anti-Semitism-hatred or fear of Jewish people

• 1897: Zionism-movement to establish a Jewish homeland begins, immigration of Jews to Palestine picks up pace.

• 1917-Balfour Declaration- British Prime Minister Lord Balfour declares a need for Jewish homeland.

• 1920-1947: British Mandate period. Britain administered the area and promised a homeland to both Jews and Palestinians

• 1939- Nazi Holocaust results in the death of over 6 million European Jews.

• 1947-48: United Nations controlled

• 1948: Israel is given its independence. Arab nations attack. At the end of the war, territory that would have gone to Palestinians is claimed by Egypt and Jordan.

David Ben Gurion.1886-1976• Prime Minister of Israel 1948-1953,

and1955-1963.

• Zionist but not an extremist.

• Refused terrorism as a political tool.

• Urged Jews to form military self-defence force

David Ben-Gurion declares Israel’s Independence May 14, 1948

Israel was quickly recognised by the USA and Russia. They were powerful, and rich, friends.

Israel 1948 at IndependenceJewish Territory

Arab Territory

1948-9 Israeli War of Independence.

• Arab League countries declared war on the new Israel immediately. Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon all planned invasions.

• The idea was to crush Israel before it could become established.

Results of the war.• Israel soundly defeats Arab forces• Israel signed armistice agreements with all the

Arab states.– Egypt gains Gaza Strip, Jordan gains West Bank.

• Israel expands by another 25%!• Palestinian Refugees forced to fee Israel, • Thousands of Jews forced out of surrounding

Arab nations

‘West Bank’-Jordanian

Gaza Strip-Egyptian

Israel

Rise of the PLO-1964• Arabs created the

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to regain land

• Led by Yasser Arafat (died 2004)

• Guerrilla tactics• Terrorism

1967 War: The Six Day War• Fearing attack by

Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan, Israel launched a preemptive strike

• Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights.

1973 Yom Kippur War• Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan

attacked Israel to regain lands lost in the 6 day war.

• The Arab nations were initially successful as the Israelis were celebrating Yom Kippur and had not anticipated an attack.

• After several weeks, Israel recovered its occupied lands and a cease fire was reached.

• Both Arabs and Jews gained confidence as a result of the war

1978 Camp David Accords• The first peace treaty

between Israel and an Arab State-Egypt

• This historic agreement led to Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in return for diplomatic relations

• Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981 by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization.

First Intifadah, 1987-1993

• Palestinians began the Intifada – “the shaking”

• Frustrated with lack of progress with the establishment of a homeland for them they begin terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens

Oslo Accords-1993• Yassir Arafat (PLO) &

Yitzhak Rabin (Israel)• gave Palestinians self

rule in the Gaza Strip & the West Bank

• PLO agreed to stop opposing Israeli settlements and using terrorist methods

Road Map to Peace• 2003 – goal was a permanent settlement

between the Arabs & Israelis by 2005

The Remaining Issues• The right of Israel to exist as a nation on land previously occupied

by Muslims• Palestinian Refugees the establishment of a homeland for them and

the right of return• The building of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip• Status of Jerusalem• Terrorism• Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights and the West Bank.• Water rights• Defensible and safe borders for Israel and Palestine• Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails• International and Arab recognition of Israel and normalized relations