Background: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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Background The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

• What is at the core of the ongoing conflict
  between the Arabs and Israelis?
• Which areas of land are in dispute?

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To Begin
    God said to Abram Go from your land ... to
the land that I will show you. (Genesis 121)

• Two groups claimed Palestine as their
  homelandthe Arabs and the Jews- this debate has
  occurred for centuries!
• According to Jewish belief, God gave Abraham and
  his family the Land of Israel as a unique
  homeland where his descendants are supposed to
  create the nation thats the model for the world.

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Before WWI

• The area known today as Palestine and Israel were
  part of the Ottoman Empire.
• European nations were interested in gaining
  control of the territory because
• The water routes around this area provided easy
  access to places like Russia, the Mediterranean
  Sea, and natural resources all over the Middle
  East and Central Asia.
• The Suez Canal, to the west of Palestine, was
  desirable to all the major powers.

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WWI

• During World War I, the Middle East was promised
  to many different groups of people in exchange
  for military help during WWI (Arab rulers,
  average Arab people, Jewish people, and France
  and Great Britain).
• After the war, it was divided into Mandates
  (basically colonies) controlled by France and
  Great Britain
• Jewish people began moving from homes around the
  world to relocate in Palestine. They did this to
  escape persecution. They dreamed of one day
  having a national homeland.
• People who wanted a Jewish homeland were called
  Zionists.

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After WWII

• After World War II and the Holocaust, many people
  agreed that Jewish people needed a national
  homeland.
• The United Nations decided to give part of
  Palestine to Jewish people, and part to Arab
  Muslims.

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The Palestinians

• Palestinians did not have any say when the United
  Nations gave part of the land on which they lived
  to Jewish people (they were a mandate, not a
  nation, so they didnt have representation in the
  United Nations)
• All surrounding Arab nations opposed the
  formation of Israel.
• The UN thought it would be okay, because they
  gave part of the land in the area to the
  Palestinians.
• Many Palestinians were not happy!

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1949 Arab-Israeli War

• Other Arab nations agreed with the Palestinians.
  They went to war with Israel to try and get the
  land back.
• Instead, Israel, who had military help from
  powerful nations like France, was able to beat
  the Arab coalition and gain the land that was
  supposed to be for Palestinians.
• After the war, over 1 million Palestinian
  refugees were created after their land was taken.
  
• They still live in UN monitored refugee camps in
  areas like the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan,
  and Lebanon.

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Refugee Camps Today
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1967 Six Day War

• Israel felt threatened by its
• neighboring countries.
• They decided to strike.
• They were able to gain a large amount of
  territory, including the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza
  strip from Egypt and the Golan Heights from
  Syria.
• Why might the Peninsula and the Heights be
  important?

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The PLO

• In 1969 Yasser Arafat became the leader of the
  Palestinian Liberation Organization.
• It is an organization of Palestinians who want to
  have a Palestinian nation-state.

1929-2004
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1973 Yom Kippur War

• Arab nations struck first to try and regain
  territory lost in the 6 Day War. At first, they
  push the Israelis back.
• A massive airlift of US arms to Israel tips the
  balance.
• Arab oil states proclaim an embargo against all
  countries helping Israel.
• The US oil crisis begins.

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The Intifada (Shaking Off)

• In 1987, Palestinians living in occupied
  territories began a revolt against the Israelis
  known as the Intifada.
• Their goal was to force Israel to give them their
  own national state using violence or any other
  means.

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Peace Efforts

• 1978 Camp David Accords Israel and Egypt meet
  in the USA. Egypt regains the Sinai Peninsula.
• Israel has pulled its military and civilians
  settlers out of both Gaza and the West Bank in an
  effort to curb violence.

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This Week

• A TWO STATE SOLUTION
• is being pushed by the USA
• and others.
• Israel risked becoming an
• "apartheid state".
• Israeli-Palestinian peace talks headed by US
  since July
• No movement forward since Palestinian has
  accepted support from Hamas

• Israels Prime Minister
• Benjamin Netanyahu

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Populations Today

• Area Israelis Palestinians
• Israel w/out Jerusalem 3,741,700
  762,000
• Israel including Jerusalem 4,168,700 921,000
• West Bank 97,000 1,150,000
• Gaza 3,600 796,000
• Source Israeli and US Governments

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