The Israeli – Arab Conflict

1900- Present

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Question of Palestine

Arab – Israeli War (1948 – Present) Palestine 1. Regarded as Jewish biblical homeland a. Zionism 2. Britain owns Palestine (WWI) a. League of Nations (1920) b. Balfour Declaration (1917)3. Anti-Semitism in Europe a. Jewish migration b. Arab-Jewish fighting * riots & terrorism 4. Hitler in Germany

The Balfour Declaration"The British government favors 'the establishment in

Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of that 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.'"

World War II

1. Holocaust

2. United Nations

a. UN Partition (1947)

b. May 14, 1948 Israel

c. Arab rejection

1948 War

1. 75% of Arab Population

displaced

a. unable to return

b. refugee camps

c. Arab Countries Take

* Jordan (West Bank)

* Egypt (Gaza Strip)

The Palestinian Question Arab Anger

1. Refused to recognize Israel

The Cold War (Start 1947)

1. US debates relationship with Israel

a. Fear of Arab backlash

Arab Change

1. Anti-Colonialism

2. Pan-Arabism

3. Fall of Monarchs seen as Puppets (Egypt/Syria/Iraq/Libya)

Nasser and Pan-Arabism

Egypt and Israel

-Colonel Gamal Nasser

a. sympathy for Arab cause

b. The Suez Canal

1. July 26, 1956 (nationalization)

2. Suez War (France/ Britain / Israel)

3. Major Political victory for Nasser

a. becomes voice of Arab

Nationalism & Pan-Arabism

The Cold War

US & The Cold War

1. No trust of Nasser

a. limits funding

2. Israel as a counterweight to Soviets3.

3. President Kennedy

a. anti-aircraft missiles for Israel

* loan to Israel

4. President Johnson

a. Sale of tanks

b. generous financing plan

Run up to the Six Day War

Run up to the Six Day War (1967)

1. Escalation

a. Arab Nationalism

b. US intervention

c. arms build-up

2. Nasser (1967)

a. withdrawal UN peacekeepers

* Sinai Peninsula

b. Deny Israeli Ship through Suez Canal

The Six Day War (1967)

1. Johnson Attempts peace talks

2. Israel does not think negotiations will work

a. June 5th 1967 surprise attack Egypt and Arabs

* destroyed Egypt’s forces

* rolls into West Bank

b. June 7th Egypt and Jordan push for cease fire

* accidental bombing

c. Israel ignores cease fire invades Syria

* takes Golan Heights from Syria

d. Syria sues for peace

3. Total Israeli Victory

Aftermath of Six Day War

1. Israel refuses to withdraw from

a. Sinai / Golan/ Jerusalem

b. Will withdraw from other areas if recognized

*no recognition

* refugees

3. Arab Powers turn to

Soviet Union

Anwar al-SadatSadat Leader of Egypt (1970)

1. Wanted Sinai Peninsula back

a. Israel not persuaded by diplomacy

attempt

b. Egypt prepares for war

2. Wanted to improve relations with US

a. Expels Soviets from Egypt

The October War The October War (Yom Kippur War) 1973

1. Syria & Egypt surprise attack on Jewish holy day

2. Israel pushes back against invading armies

3. Cold War

a. Soviets give arms to Egyptians

b. US gives arms Israel

4. End borders are the same

a. massive damage

Arab Oil Embargo (OPEC)

1. Change US and Western Policy

The Palestinian Liberation Organization

Creation of the PLO 1964

1. Created in Egypt (at an Arab summit)

a. Nationalist Group

*collection of guerilla groups & nationalists

b. based in Egypt

c. creation of a Palestinian State

2. Yassir Arafat

a. Fatah (Opening)

3. Terrorism

Camp David Accords (1978)

1. Jimmy Carter

a. Anwar Sadat &

Menachem Begin

- recognition of Israel

- Sinai Pen.

b. Egypt ally of US

2. Sadat Killed (1980)

Steps Toward Peace

Intifada (Uprising)

First Intifada (uprising 1987 - 1992) 1. Jewish Settlements 2. PLO supporters in Israel - Militants 3. European Position 4. Creation of Hamas * Muslim Brotherhood * Sunni Organization

Oslo Agreements (1993)

1. Right to exist in peace and security

Washington Accord (Sept. 1993)

1. Arafat - Yitzhak Rabin

a. Palestinian National

Authority (PNA)

- terrorism

Feb 1994

1. Hebron Massacre

2. Suicide bombing response

1995 (Peace Rally)

1. Yitzhak Rabin

a. assassinated (Jewish Extremist)

Benjamin Netanyahu

1. Hardliners (Likud Party)

Arab-Israeli Dispute Second Intifada (2000) 1. Ariel Sharon a. Temple of the Mount

Ariel Sharon 1. Prime minister (2001) 2. Refuses to deal with Arafat 3. West Bank/ Jerusalem Wall (2004) a. Suicide Bombings

Arafat Dies (2004)

Mahmoud Abbas (2004) 1. PLO Chairman 2. After Arafat

Arab- Israeli Dispute

Sharon (2005)• Pulls people out of settlements • Attempts peace (US sponsored Roadmap) • Sharon in Coma (Jan 2006) • Ehud Olmert

Palestinian Parliamentary Elections (2006) 1. Hamas victory 2. Hamas / Fatah Feud

Gaza (2007) 1. Hamas drives Fatah out 2. US & Israel