Israeli Palestinian Conflict Student Version

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

BACKGROUND OF THE CONFLICT

What is the focus of this conflict?
LAND!

The Zionist Movement
Movement to establish Jewish
state in Palestine , the biblical
homeland of the Jews.
European Jews emigrated to
Palestine in large numbers
following World War I, with
support of League of Nations
and the British government.

The Palestinians
Palestinians were and still are the Arab
inhabitants of Palestine .
Opposed the creation of Jewish
state in their homeland.
Violent conflicts broke out
in Palestine between Arabs
and Jews during Zionist Movement.

Post- WWII, Britain sends the issue to the United Nations
U.N. partitioned British-controlled Palestine into Arab and Jewish states.
Results:
Jews accepted partition plan & were happy
Received 55% of land even though they had only 34% of the population
All Islamic countries voted against it and Palestinians rejected it outright
World supported it because they felt bad about the holocaust
1947 U.N. Partition Plan

1948 First Arab-Israeli War
May 15, 1948 – Israel declared itself
an independent state.
Led to first Arab-Israeli War.

Israel immediately attacked
by five Arab countries.
Egypt
Syria
Jordan
Iraq
Lebanon

Results
Israel defeated the combined
Arab countries – and seized
territory UN had designated
for the Palestinians.
Cease-fire agreement ended
fighting, but Arabs refused to
sign peace treaty.
No Arab country recognized
Israel.
750,000 Palestinian refugees
fled to Arab states.
Victorious Israeli soldiers 1948 Palestinian refugees 1948

Israeli territory before and after the 1948 war:

CONFLICTS / PEACE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE

1956 The Suez War
Egypt nationalized Suez Canal.
Israel, Britain and France.
attacked Egypt and captured
the canal and Sinai peninsula.
U.S. opposed attack and U.S.
and U.N. imposed a cease-fire
and a withdraw from Sinai.
Egyptian President Gamel Abdel Nasser

1967 The Six Day War
Israel preemptively attacked
Egypt after Egypt mobilized
its army.
Jordan and Syria attacked
Israel.
War ended with decisive
victory for Israel and Israel
tripled amount of territory
it controlled.

Results of Six Day War
Israel captured this
territory in 1967:
Golan Heights
from Syria.
West Bank and
East Jerusalem
from Jordan.
Sinai Peninsula
and Gaza Strip
from Egypt.

Results of the Six Day War
Israel now governed 1 million
Palestinians in Gaza and the
West Bank.
UN Security Council passed
Resolution 242 calling for
Israel to withdraw from the
occupied territories. Israel
refused.
Also called for Arab states to
recognize Israel and guarantee
security of Israel’s borders.

Results of the Six Day War
Arab’s suffered humiliating
defeat, but Arab leaders
remained committed to
Israel’s destruction.
Many Palestinians became
radicalized and turned to
guerilla groups like the
PLO .

Rise of The PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization)
Yasser Arafat’s group, Fatah ,
took control of the PLO (1969).
Actions - Under Arafat, PLO fought a
decades-long guerilla war
against Israel to “liberate
Palestine.”
Goals: Destruction of Israel
and establishment of secular
Palestinian state.
PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat

PLO Map

Yasser Arafat: Terrorist or Freedom Fighter? Israel and U.S. branded Arafat as a terrorist, but he was admired as a freedom fighter by Palestinians and their allies throughout the world.

PLO Terrorism Munich Olympics 1972 Palestinian terrorist from “Black September” 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed at Munich

1973 Yom Kippur War
Egypt and Syria attacked
Israel on Jewish holy day.
Israel repelled attack and
cease-fire declared.

1979 Camp David Accords
Peace treaty signed by Israel
and Egypt.
Egypt became first Arab state
to recognize Israel.
Israel returned Sinai Peninsula
to Egypt.
Anwar Sadat assassinated by
Islamic extremists in 1981.
President Carter with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin

1982 Israel’s Invasion of Lebanon
Israel invaded Lebanon to
destroy PLO bases.
Negotiated settlement
allowed Arafat and PLO
fighters to go to Tunisia.
Israeli army occupied
southern Lebanon for
almost 20 years (until
2000)

Rise of Hezbollah (“Party of God”)
Lebanese resistance group
formed in in response to
Israel’s occupation.
Islamic extremists who
oppose Israel’s existence.
Supported by Iran and
Syria.
Considered to be terrorist
group by the U.S.
Hezbollah leader Hassen Nasrallah and Hezbollah fighters

1987-1990 First Intifada
Palestinian uprising against
Israeli occupation of West
Bank and Gaza.
First suicide attacks in Israel.
1,500 Palestinians and 400
Israeli’s died over six years.

Rise of Hamas
Islamic militant group
founded in 1987 with vow
to “liberate Palestine
through violent jihad.”
Has carried out scores of
suicide bombings against
Israel during past decade.
Syria.

1993 Oslo Accords
President Clinton brokered
peace agreement between
Israel and the PLO.
PLO recognized Israel’s
right to exist and renounced
use of violence.
PLO goal now a Palestinian
state next to Israel.
Clinton with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat

Oslo Accords: “Land for Peace”
Israel agreed to gradual Palestinian
self-rule in Gaza and West Bank as
first steps towards establishment of
Palestinian state.
Palestinian Authority (PA) created
to govern Palestinian territories.
Arafat became first leader of the PA.

1994 Jordanian-Israeli Peace Agreement
Jordan became only
the second Arab state
to sign a peace treaty
with Israel.

2000 - 2005 Second Intifada
Clinton’s attempt to reach
final settlement between
Israel and Palestinians in
2000 failed.
Led to second, more violent,
Palestinian uprising.
Dozens of suicide bombings
in Israel and Israeli crack-
down in Gaza / West Bank
left thousands dead.

New Palestinian Leadership 2004
Yasser Arafat died
in 2004.
Mahmoud Abbas
elected as Arafat’s
successor.

2005 Israeli Disengagement
Israel acted to “disengage” from
Palestinians by evacuating all
Gaza settlements and withdraw-
ing all troops from Gaza.
Also began construction of a
controversial security barrier
separating Israel from the West
Bank.

2006 Lebanon War
Hezbollah attacked Israeli
civilian areas with rockets
and killed eight Israeli
soldiers.
Israel responded by bombing
and invading Lebanon again
to destroy Hezbollah.
Month-long war leaves 1,500
dead before U.N. brokered
cease-fire agreement.

2006 Hamas Election Victory
Hamas won surprise victory
over Fatah in Palestinian
elections and takes control
of Palestinian parliament.
Creates bitter division b/
Fatah and Hamas.
Western nations cut off aid
to Palestinian Authority.

2007 Palestinian Civil War
In 2007 fighting broke out
in Gaza between Hamas and
Fatah forces.
Hamas defeated Fatah and
took control of Gaza.
Fatah now controls only the
parts of the West Bank not
under Israeli occupation.
Hamas fighters Fatah fighters

Palestinian Power Struggle Today

Hamas
Fatah
Islamic extremists.
Syria.
No recognition of Israel.
Controls all of Gaza.
Secular moderates.
Supported by U.S., E.U.
and most Arab states.
Wants peace with Israel.
Controls parts of West Bank not under Israel control.
Hamas vs. Fatah: How They Compare

2008-2009 War in Gaza
Almost daily rocket attacks against
Israeli towns provoked Israeli
air strikes and ground assault
against Hamas in Gaza.
Three week long war killed 1,400
Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
Both sides accused of war crimes
(deliberately targeting civilians)
and Israel widely criticized for
using excessive force.

UNRESOLVED ISSUES

Unresolved Issues
What are the
unresolved
issues
preventing a
final peace
agreement
between
Israel and
the
Palestinians?
President Obama with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Malmond Abbas.

Unresolved Issue # 1 Permanent Borders of Palestinian State
Palestinians want Israeli withdraw
to pre-1967 borders and establish-
ment of independent Palestinian
state in the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel still occupies and controls
parts of the West Bank.
300,000 Jewish settlers now live in
West Bank and Israel has annexed
some West Bank territory.

Israeli West Bank Settlements

Peace Process Stalled Over Settlements
Palestinians insist that Israel halt
expansion of all settlements before
they’ll return to peace talks.
Current Israeli government has so
far refused.
Obama has backed off demands for
complete halt to construction.
Palestinians have accused U.S. of
“ backpedaling” on settlement issue.
Obama and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Obama and Palestinian President Abbas

Unresolved Issue # 2 Palestinian Refugees and Right of Return
Four million displaced Palestinians
today living in refugee camps in
occupied territories and neighboring
Arab states.
Palestinians want refugees or their
descendants to be able to return to
homes they lost in 1948.
Israel has rejected idea of refugees
returning to Israel. Would threaten
existence of Israel as a Jewish state.

Unresolved Issue # 3 Control of East Jerusalem
Palestinians want East Jerusalem
as the capital of their future state.
Israel has annexed East Jerusalem
and has vowed it will never give it
up.
Residents of East Jerusalem mostly
Palestinians, but 250,000 Israelis
now live there as well.

Unresolved Issue # 4 Secure Borders for Israel
How to guarantee
security of Israel’s
borders if radicals
refuse to recognize
Israel’s right to
exist and continue
to launch cross-
border attacks?

West Bank Wall
It is…
A barrier being constructed by Israel separating Israeli settlements from Palestinians in the West Bank
Mainly a concrete & steel wall but has some electric, barbed wire, and ditch barriers

Why Create the West Bank Wall?
It was created to…
Protect Israelis from Palestinian terrorist attacks (especially suicide bombings)
Provide a temporary (according to Israel) measure until country’s security can be guaranteed

Reaction of Building the West Bank Wall
Israel
Claims attacks originating from West Bank have dropped 90% due to wall
Israeli Supreme Court said barrier was legal
Palestinians
Barrier cuts off 17% of West Bank area that was theirs! They think they won’t get their land back
Prevents Palestinians from traveling to work, school, or to see families at times
Palestinians farmers have been separated from their land
United Nations
Passed resolution in 2004 demanding Israel tear down wall (150-6)
U..S., Israel, & Australia voted against (Canada abstained)

Key Player - ISRAEL
Origins –
Balfour Declaration spurs Jewish immigration to Palestine in beginning of 20 th century
United Nations declares partition of Palestine into both a Palestinian & Jewish state in 1947

Major Goals
Have every country in world recognize it as a legitimate state
Stop terrorism in their country & surrounding areas
Keep most of holy land

Actions to Obtain Goals
Differences of opinion on how to do things…
Diplomatic Negotiations : Many ready to end violence and support giving up some territory for security guarantees
Military Force : Others want to forcefully rid area of terrorist or militant groups and Palestinians
Examples - Build walls, build up army, develop nukes, etc.
Israel & Palestine have been involved in many peace negotiations but major agreements never came about

What should we do with the land?
Israel should retain most of territory but recognize Palestine as its own state
Palestine can control parts of West Bank and Gaza strip if they prevent terrorism to Jews
Israel must keep Jerusalem (the holiest city of the land)

Key Player - FATAH
Origins –
Organization founded in 1950-1960s led by Yasser Arafat (first called PLO)
Formed to promote armed struggle to liberate Palestine from Israeli control
Fatah became the backbone of Palestinian authority (PA)

Major Goals
Strong critic of using violence against Israeli civilians
Continue peace talks with Israel
Gain land and sovereignty over Palestine

Violence
1960s
1987 – Intifada (“uprising”) broke out
2000 – 2 nd intifada
Much more violence broke out with suicide bombings, attacks on settlers and Israeli soldiers
Israel & world saw Arafat and his party as a problem so Fatah lost support/recognition
Appointed new prime minister Mahmoud Abbas
New direction for party falling apart, divided, corrupt
Brought short-lived cease-fire
Losing support of Palestinians to more extremist Hamas group

Set up Palestinian state in West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem capital
Allow Israel to keep rest of land

Key Player – HEZBOLLAH
Origins –
Started in 1982 after Israel invaded Lebanon
Wanted to provide strong armed resistance to Israeli occupation
Based in Lebanon

Major Goals
Calls for the destruction of the state of Israel
All land should be owned and governed by a Muslim Palestine
Release all prisoners (from Lebanon) in Israeli jails

Use Military Force
Have 500-600 full-time, highly trained/motivated fighters
1000s in reserves
Begun to win parliamentary seats in Lebanon government

Give everything to Palestine
Israel must get out of Lebanon completely!

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Israeli Palestinian Conflict Student Version

by Nick Allgyer

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