Israel GuideMs. Buffalino

QUICK FACTS Capital city of Israel Largest city in Israel One of the oldest cities in the world Inhabited by the “Big Three”

The Make-Up About two-thirds of Jerusalem's population are

Jews. The remainder is mostly Muslims, plus a small

number of Christians, including Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics, Protestants, and members of Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Jerusalem is a city of three Sabbaths—Friday (Muslim), Saturday (Jewish), and Sunday (Christian).

Palestine Parts of Israel today,

Jordon, Lebanon and Syria.

Palestinians Majority Muslims Minority Christians Palestinian Liberation

Organization Yasser Arafat Leader of Palestinians

(1996-2004)

Arabs Secular term Often used as a reference for Muslims

although the term is secular. Arab Christians exist Arab Jews exist

Arabs Pan Arabism -> Movement for Arab nation. PLO - One time terrorist organization, now

considered to be a legitimate political body whose goals have been to create a nation-state for the displaced Palestinians. The PLO was lead by Yasir Arafat.

Israelis Are citizens of the modern state of Israel

regardless of religious heritage or ethnic identity, including most numerously Jews, Muslims, Christians, Arabs, and others.

Often misused as the term Israelite.

Important Places Jerusalem Gaza Strip West Bank

Israel (Map 2003)Israel (Map 2003)

West Bank

A territory in the Middle East that lies between Israel and Jordan.

Most of the people are Arabs known as Palestinians.

West BankWest Bank

Annexed by Jordan Annexed by Jordan in 1950.in 1950.

In 1967 Israel In 1967 Israel defeated Jordan, defeated Jordan, Egypt and Syria in a Egypt and Syria in a war and captured the war and captured the West Bank in the Six West Bank in the Six Day War.Day War.

West Bank In 1974, King

Hussein of Jordan gave up his government's responsibility for the West Bank to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

West BankWest Bank Conflict between Conflict between

Palestinians and Palestinians and Israelis.Israelis.

On Aug. 15, 2005, On Aug. 15, 2005, the Israeli the Israeli government began government began the evacuation of all the evacuation of all Jewish settlers from Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip and the Gaza Strip and four West Bank four West Bank settlements.settlements.

Conflict still Conflict still continues. continues.

Gaza Strip Israel directly occupied

the Gaza Strip from 1967 to 2005 and remains in control of its borders.

The territory has been the site of many clashes between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis.

June 2007, Hamas, a radical Islamic organization and political party, seized control of the Gaza Strip by force.

Gaza StripGaza Strip

In December 2008, Israel In December 2008, Israel began air attacks on targets began air attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip in response in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks from to rocket attacks from Hamas militants. Hamas militants.

In January 2009, Israel In January 2009, Israel began sending troops into began sending troops into the Gaza Strip. the Gaza Strip.

The fighting caused more The fighting caused more than 1,300 deaths, almost all than 1,300 deaths, almost all of them Palestinians, and of them Palestinians, and wounded thousands more.wounded thousands more.

On January 17, Israel On January 17, Israel declared a cease-fire. Hamas declared a cease-fire. Hamas declared a cease-fire the declared a cease-fire the next day, though some next day, though some fighting continued.fighting continued.