Israel Israel &&

PalestinePalestineWhat’s going on???

Israel and PalestineAnother “Powder Keg”?

Both Monotheistic - One God - Judaism, Islam

MIDDLEEAST

Political,Cultural,

Ethnic, andEconomicConflict

Dome of the Rock - Photo by E.J. Palka

The Wailing Wall - Photo by E.J. Palka

The Church of the Nativity - Photo by E.J. Palka

Peace and Security in PalestineHistoric Background

- Capital of Jewish Kingdom – for 3000+ yrs

- First Temple - Destroyed by Babylonians - 586 BC

- Second Temple and Jerusalem - Destroyed by Romans – 70 AD

- Jews Dispersed

Jerusalem ruled by combination ofArabs, Turks, Christians - Until 1948

JewishDispersions

andExpulsions

70 AD to1500 AD

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background- 1897 – Basil, SwitzerlandTheodor Herzl

- Initiates Zionist Movement

- Jews need a “Homeland”

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background- 1917 - Balfour AgreementLord Balfour

- Foreign minister for U.K.“The British Government would not opposea Jewish State in “Palestine” as long as thenative population was NOT disturbed”

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background- 1918 - End of World War IOttoman Turks removed fromPalestine

Leadership Vacuum - Palestinians had no formal government

Peace and Security in PalestineHistoric Background

- 1918 - End of World War ILeague of Nations Mandate- Gave other countries control offormer Ottoman Territories - Britain and France “prepare” countries for independence

-1922 British Mandate to Govern Palestine

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background Pre World War II

Jewish Migration to Palestine- Persecution in Europe

- Hitler, Stalin, others - Strengthening Zionist Movement

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background- World War IIHolocaust- Over 6,000,000 Jews murdered

- PA 2004 Population- 12,365,455 (2003)

- Many survivors move to Palestine

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background- Post World War IIUnited Nations Formed- Replaced defunct League ofNations

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background- Post World War II

Britain “controlled” Palestine- Radical Israelis form terror cells

- Target British Soldiers- Target Palestinian Population

- British eventually driven out (1948)

Important Israeli Prime MinistersYears Prime Minister

1948-19541955-1963

David Ben-Gurion

1969-1974 Golda Meir

1977-1983 Menachem Begin

1992-1995 Yitzhak Rabin

2001-2006 Ariel Sharon

1996-19992009-present

Benjamin Netanyahu

Peace and Security in Palestine

Historic Background 1947 United Nations Mandate

- Jewish State is created- Jews 54% of Palestine- Arabs 45.3% of Palestine

Jerusalem = International Zone- “Open City”

Peace and Security in Palestine

1. War of Independence May 14, 1948 - Israel Declared Independent

- Israel attacked by Arab nations- Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan- Israelis well armed

- French, British, U.S. weapons- Israel seizes more land

Land ofconflict

Originalboundaries

Post 1967boundaries

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Golan Heights

Peace and Security in Palestine1.War of Independence

(1948-49)

- Israelis capture 85% of Jerusalem- 15% of East Jerusalem left alone

- 100% Arab population - West Bank Annexed by Jordan- Gaza Strip Annexed by Egypt

- between 500,000 – 900,000 refugees- War Ended by 1949 Geneva Agreement

- Capital moved - Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

Peace and Security in PalestineAftermath (1949-1950)

- Palestinian Refugees flee to Gaza and West Bank

- More Palestinians in Jordan than Jordanians- Palestinians cause strife in Jordan- Refugee status still causes problems

- Issues over right to return- This issue is, at times, an

impediment to peace

Palestinian RefugeesPalestinian Refugees

Palestinian Diaspora

Suez Crisis (1956) Suez Crisis (1956)

Gamal Abdul Nasser

President of Egypt

Peace and Security in Palestine

2. Suez War (1956 )

- Israel takes Sinai Peninsula

- British and French assistance - UN and U.S. are infuriated- Eisenhower insists Israel withdrawal- at first, response = “God said it is ours”

(O.T.)- Israel finally gives in- Returns to 1949 borders

Peace and Security in Palestine

3. Six Day War (1967)

- Israel Invades - West Bank, Gaza Strip,Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights

- Simultaneous attacks on - Egypt, Jordan, Syria

- Israel weapons supplied by - France, Britain, and U.S.

Peace and Security in Palestine

1967 - Six Day WarCauses- Continued strife between Arabs and

Jews

- Nasser’s (Egypt) “Acts of War” - Kicks UN out of Sinai

- present since 1956 Suez War- Egyptian Army occupies Sinai

- Blocks Straits of Turin- Blockades Israel’s southern port

Surprise AttackThe Pre-Emptive Strike

• Knowing that your military is skilled, yet outnumbered by Egypt and it’s allies… If you were planning the surprise attack for Israel’s Air Force, against Egypt, what ideas can you come up with to give your forces more of an advantage?

• Brainstorm and compare answers with other students.

Peace and Security in Palestine

1967 - Six Day WarPre-Emptive Strike- Israeli Air Force attacks

- Modern Mirage Attack Jets- Painted in Egyptian colors- Arabic speaking Jewish pilots- Simulated “Surprise Israeli Attack”

- Landing gear down

Peace and Security in Palestine

1967 - Six Day WarPre-Emptive Strike- 90% of Egyptian Air Force

- Destroyed on the ground- Israeli tanks occupy Sinai in two days- Jordan loses East Jerusalem, West Bank

- “Admirable Opponents”

JERUSALEM

Peace and Security in Palestine

1967 - Six Day WarPre-Emptive Strike - Syria- Golan Heights

- Strategically overlook N. Israel- Headwaters to Sea of Galilee

- Freshwater Sea- Jordan River

Majority of Israel’s fresh water comes from occupied territories - West Bank, Jordan River, Sea of Galilee

Peace and Security in Palestine1967 - Six Day War - Aftermath

UN Resolution - 242- Israel must return to Pre-war Boundaries

- Israel Refuses- “God said the Holy Land belongs tothe Jews” - Old Testament

- U.S. supports UN 242 butsupports Israel in UN

- Without U.S. support for UN 242, there is no way to “force” Israel to pre-1967 borders.

Palestine Liberation

Organization

Palestine Liberation

Organization

Yasser Arafat

Peace and Security in Palestine4. Yom Kippur War (1973)

Israel Attacked by Arab Countries- Egypt, Syria, Jordan surprise Israel

- Israel pushed back on all fronts- Israel regains initiative

- With help of U.S. weaponsFlown directly from U.S.

- Without U.S. support Israel may lose war- War costly to Israel

- Lives, Material, and Money

Peace and Security in PalestineYom Kippur War (1973)

Israel Regains Territories- Retakes Sinai- Retakes Golan Heights

- Bold Military Moves

- Vows not to be surprised again- War still influences Israeli Politics

Peace and Security in Palestine1977 - Camp David Agreement

Peace Treaty - Israel & Egypt- Anwar Sadat and Moshe Dyan

- Israel returns Sinai to Egypt- Egypt recognizes Israel’s “Right to

Exist”- U.S. President Jimmy Carter

- Instrumental in treaty- Egypt - out of League of Arab States

- Anwar Sadat assassinated - 1981- Hosni Mubarak - new “Dictator”

Camp David Accords (1979)

Camp David Accords (1979)

President President Prime MinisterAnwar Sadat Jimmy Carter Menachem Begin of Egypt of the U. S. Of Israel

Camp David Accords (1979)

Camp David Accords (1979)

Peace and Security in Palestine

1977 - Camp David AgreementPeace Treaty - Israel Receives- U.S. Built Airbase

- U.S. Oil to replace oil lost in Sinai return- U.S. Pays for troop withdrawal

- Cheaper for U.S. to pay for peacethan to pay for war

- No settlement until Israel withdrawalsQUESTION: What price are YOU willing to pay for peace?

Peace and Security in Palestine

1980 - Settlement PolicyIsrael Starts Settlements - In occupied territories

- Gaza Strip- West Bank- Golan Heights

-All settlements violate UN 242

WEST BANKSETTLEMENTS

- Violates UN Mandate 242

- Majority of Israeli GroundWater comes from West Bank

- Various attempts at joint control

- Continuous Conflict

- Are Extremist Methods Effective?- Bus Bombings?- Air and Tank Assaults?

Peace and Security in Palestine

1982 - Invasion of Lebanon- To Prevent Palestinian Terrorism- Lasted for several years

- Palestinian Massacre- Ariel Sharon

- U.S. and France Intervene- Truck Bombing of U.S./ French Barracks

- U.S. and France Withdrawal- Palestinian fighters withdrawal to Tunisia

Lebanon

Capital: Beirut

Many Religions

Many Ethnicities

Civil War

Influenced by Syria, Israel, USA

Continuous Conflict

Peace and Security in Palestine

1990’s - JordanDrops Claims to West Bank- To Allow Palestinian State in West Bank

- Acknowledges Israel’s “Right to Exist”

- 400,000 Jewish settlers Still in West Bank- Violates UN 242- Violates 4th article of 1949 Geneva Agreement

Palestinian Intifada-Part I

(1987-1993)

Palestinian Intifada-Part I

(1987-1993)

Modern IssuesIntifada – “Struggle”

- In late 1980s, and early 2000s, Palestinian Youths launched INTIFADAs - Why? What caused this?

* Demanding a Palestinian Homeland, end to Israeli Occupation

Modern Issues

Attacks and Assassinations by both sides

- Bus/Car Bombings- Assassinations- Attacks on Civilian and

military targets

Modern IssuesIn 2004, under Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Knesset (Congress) voted to remove many of the settlements from Gaza & some from the West Bank

- Not driven by peace- Driven by “Security”

Modern Issues

How does this diplomatic issue between Israelis and Palestinians relate to an event such as September 11th attacks?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1) Should the U.S. continue to support

Israel with $4,000,000,000 a year in funding? Why or why not?

2)Do the Israeli people deserve a Homeland at the expense of Palestine? Or vice versa?

3) Should the Palestinian people be compensated? If so, how?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1) How do you adequately share the resources

of Israel/Palestine among the people who live there?

2) How do you stop the violence when the hatred is so deep that people are willing to give their lives to deliberately kill others?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) What should/could we, as individuals, do to alleviate the Israeli / Palestinian conflict?

2) How can we “make” Israel accept and apply the UN 242 resolution?