The Israeli-Arab Conflict Background Both sides have historical roots in Palestine Zionists- people that favored a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Began.

The Israeli-Arab Conflict

Background

• Both sides have historical roots in Palestine

• Zionists- people that favored a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Began to settle in the late 19th and early 20th century.

• The Palestinian Mandate- League of Nations asked Britain to oversee Palestine until it is ready for independence.

Balfour Declaration 1917

• Promise of a national Jewish homeland

• No prejudice against the civil or religious rights of non-Jewish people in Palestine

• Very confusing language

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Indecision

• Britain turns the decision over to the U.N

• U.N. decides to to divided Palestine into two separate states- Jewish, Palestinian (1947).

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Arabs reject the U.N. proposal

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Not fair to give so much land to the minority of the population

The Birth of Israel

• U.S. and other European nations feel sympathy for the Jews- Holocaust

• May 14, 1948- formation of independent Israel

• David Ben Gurion

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Israel Today

Conflict Begins• May 15, 1948- Syria, Jordan,

Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia invade Israel

• Israel wins (U.S. support)- increases its size

• Egypt takes the Gaza Strip, Jordan takes the West Bank

• Palestinians flee to refugee camps. UN Resolution 194- Palestinians return home and be compensated. Never fulfilled

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Wars

• 1956 Suez Crisis

• June War (Six Day War) of 1967

• October War of 1973

Suez Crisis of 1956

• Egyptian President Nasser ordered the seizure of the Suez Canal in 1956

• Britain, France, and Israel conduct a joint military attack against Egypt

• US and USSR condemn the attack, all forces withdraw from Egypt by March of 1957

• Nasser becomes a Pan-Arab hero, Israel viewed as an agent for Western aggression

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June/Six Day War

• Nasser, equipped with Soviet supplies, convinces Arab allies that they are ready to confront Israel (Bluff?)

• May, 1967: Arabs invade Sinai and block Israeli shipping

• Israel unleashes massive air attack (June 5th)• Defeats Arab enemies in six days (June 11th)-

Occupies Golan Heights• Nasser Humiliated

October War of 1973

• Oct. 1973- Egyptian President Anwar Sadat plans a joint Arab attack on Israel during Yom Kippur- a Jewish holy day

• Successful- recapture some territory lost in 1967• Golda Meir, Israeli Prime Minister, orders

counter attack• Ariel Sharon led Israeli attack (Oct. 16)• After a few weeks a truce is created• USA and USSR got involved

The PLO

PALESTINIAN

LIBERATIONORGANIZATION

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Yasir Arafat

PLO

• Palestinians want to assume responsibility for liberating their homeland

• Arafat named chairman in 1969-served until his death in 2005

• Secular nationalists• Endorsed the two-state solution• Military campaign against Israel in 70’s and

80’s

The Palestinian Refugee Problem

By 1968 the number of refugees had risen to 1.5 million.

The miserable conditions of the camps serve as good recruiting grounds for violent opposition groups.

• Palestinian resistance groups begin setting up base of operations in Jordan.

• Highjack a plane and blow it up on Jordanian territory

• King of Jordan responds by eliminating Palestinian presence in Jordan

• Between September 15-25, 1970- 3,000 Palestinians are killed

• Arabs Killing Arabs

BLACK SEPTEMBER

Response

• PLO moves its headquarters to Lebanon

• Palestinian groups commit terrorist attacks

• Kill members of the 1972 Jewish Olympic team at Munich.

INTIFADA

“SHAKING OFF”

INTIFADA

• Dec. 1987-1992• Civil Disobedience….Becomes more violent over

time• Hamas: religious faction that competes with PLO

(Created in 1988). Hamas wants to preserve the Islamic way of life.

• By 1990: 1025 Palestinians dead, 56 Israelis dead.

Peace Talks

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Camp David Oslo

Camp David Accords

• Jimmy Carter invites Sadat and Menachem Begin to Camp David for peace talks.

• First signed agreement between an Arab country and Israel (1979)

• Egypt recognizes Israel as a legitimate state. Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.

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Oslo Agreement

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Secret talks in Oslo Norway between Israel and Palestine

Declaration of Principles

Declaration of Principles

• Signed on the White House Lawn

• Sept. 13, 1993

• Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat

• Israel grants Palestinian self-rule in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Jesus is divine

Trinity

No sacred language

Weekly holy day is Sunday

Recitation of creed

Story of Jesus

Arabic is sacred language

Mecca is holiest City (Hajj)

God is Allah

Muhammad is final prophet

One God, God of Abraham

History of ancient Hebrews

Importance of Prophets

Religion is divided into sects

Jerusalem is a Holy City

Practice of breaking bread and drinking wine

Hebrew is the sacred language

Canaan is the Promised Land

Weekly holy day is Saturday

Synagogue

Mosque

Church

Dietary laws

Fasting- Ramadan and Yom Kippur

Use sacred language