Israel & Palestine

1. Middle Eastern Studies Israel & Palestine

2. Land of Canaan • Given to Abraham • Taken again after the exodus from Egypt • Land is named Israel after Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham • Name was changed to Israel after wrestling with an angel. • After King Solomon died, the nation of Israel was divided into • Northern Kingdom of Judea • Southern Kingdom of Israel Promised Land

3. Babylonians conquered the divided country • Exiled the Jews • Some eventually returned • Rome conquered them • Romans dispersed the Jews – Jewish Diaspora – renamed Judea PALESTINE – everyone became known as Palestinians • Most were actually Arabic • Arabic translation of Palestine is Philistine • So, Arabs were then called Palestinians even though they weren’t Philistines

4. Lots of fighting Little progress Crusades

5. 1800s, Palestine becomes a British Colony • End of WWI the Balfour Declaration • Made Palestine a bit more free • Established a Jewish homeland in Palestine • Jews begin to immigrate to Palestine British Control

6. Holocaust • Afterward, Jews flock to Palestine • By 1948 there are 650,000 Jews in Palestine • Due to horror of holocaust, the west began to call for a Jewish homeland • Uganda was offered – Jews refused – wanted Palestine – the Promised Land • Britain slips out in 1947 and guerilla warfare begins • May 14, 1948 David Ben Guerion declares Palestine to be the nation of Israel WWII

7. May 15, 1948 – Arab countries attack Israel • Jordan • Iraq • Egypt • Lebanon • Main fighting was in Jerusalem • 1 month into fighting and United Nations tries to mediate • 1 more month into fighting and the UN mediator was killed • Surprise!!! • Czechoslovakia supports Israel TROUBLE BEGINS

8. By July 1949 the war was over • Israel got 78% of Palestine • Jordan got 22% - the West Bank • Egypt got the Gaza Strip • Jerusalem was divided between Israel and Jordan • During the fighting, most Palestinians fled to the West Bank and Gaza. Some went to Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan • When they tried to return, they found their homes and land occupied by Jewish families • 750,000 Palestinian refugees in other areas • Only 150,000 stayed in Israel

9. UN established “temporary” refugee camps • Palestinians established the Fedayeen – guerilla terrorist groups. • The wanted to scare the Jews into leaving • Didn’t work, Jews only became more determined to stay.

10. Britain, France, & Israel bomb the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip due to the nationalization of the Suez Canal U.S. makes them give back both, but the Fedayeen suffered a big blow to its power Fix of ‘56 (1956)

11. Israeli economy was good for the late 1950s and early 1960s

12. Arab nations are sick of Israel. Decide to back Fedayeen and train and supply Palestinian guerillas • King Hussayn of Jordan calls a meeting in East Jerusalem • The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Liberation Army (PLA) form at this meeting • Yassir Arafat and his al-Fatah’s prove more detrimental to Israel and begin leading attacks 1964

13. Fighting begins between Israeli and Syrian forces • USSR backs Syria • Israel attacks Jordan • US tries to keep peace • Egyptian forces roll through the Sinai Desert • Syria, Jordan and Iraq move troops to the Israeli border Six Days War, 1967

14. June 5, 1967 Israel destroys most of Egypt’s air force – Egypt was devastated • Lost Gaza and Sinai Peninsula • Jordan was repelled • Israel got East Jerusalem • Syria was beaten • Israel got the Golan Heights • War was over

15. United Nations was upset with Israel • Drafted Resolution 242 • UN refuses to recognize new Israeli territories • Israel should withdraw from these areas • All states should recognize and respect the borders of other states • Refugee problem needs to be dealt with in a just manner (Palestinian refugees from 1948 and 1967) • All states must cooperate with the UN and abide by this resolution • Israel, Egypt and Jordan agree but Syria doesn’t, so…

16. Israel kept the territories and the Palestinians kept fighting. • Palestinian Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza resisted the Zionist State of Israel • Joined with the PLO • Hijacked planes • Killed Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics • Olympicshttp://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=7E0C94A0-5961-428C-B9DE-0E29E91AF5BC&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US • Instead of drawing attention to their plight, they made the world see them as crazy Muslims

17. Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. • Launched on the Jewish Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur • Israeli soldiers were caught off guard • Egypt and Syria got what they wanted and pushed into Israel. • Israel looks doomed • US to the rescue October 6, 1973

18. Egypt had new USSR military toys US gave Israel new military toys Israel pushed Syria back to within miles of Damascus and Egypt to within 60 miles of Cairo! Good US military toys!!! Everyone stops, realizes it’s really the US v. USSR – big Cold War nuclear OOPS! Cease-fire called after 18 days

19. UN wrote another resolution, #338, which said everyone had to obey number 242. Israel kept territories, Palestinians kept blowing things up

20. Menachem Begin is the Israeli Prime Minister • Don’t just hold seized territories – populate them with Jewish settlers • Begin called the areas Judea and Samaria and said they were “liberated” not “occupied” territories • Begin is a big mouth! Anwar Sadat, Egyptian President, visited Israel. • Addressed Israeli parliament • Asked for return of territories • US President Jimmy Carter was impressed • Invited Sadat and Begin to Camp David in 1979 • Negotiated the Camp David Accords – September 1979 • Israel gave back the Sinai Desert & removed Jewish settlers • Egypt promised peace 1977

21. PLO mad at Sadat – thinks he sold them out • Teamed with Muslim Brotherhood to assassinate him in 1981 • PLO moved out of Sinai and into Lebanon • Got involved in Lebanese Civil War • Phalange Party v. Muslims • Israel backs Phalange Party invades Lebanon in 1982

22. General Ariel Sharon led Israeli forces into Beirut. • Lebanese Muslims ask Arafat and PLO to leave Lebanon • PLO goes to Tunisia • PLO assassinated Phalange leader, Gemayel • Sharon and Phalange work together for revenge • Massacre 800 women, children, and elderly in two Palestinian refugee camps • Massacre is uncalled for human rights violations • Sharon had to step down from position as Israeli defense minister due to massacres

23. US, French, and Italian peacekeepers go to Lebanon • 1983, 200+ US Marines killed in barracks explosion caused by suicide bombers in trucks • Peacekeepers left but Israel stayed to fight. • Israel left around 1985. • Syrian troops moved into Lebanon and began to control everything

24. In 1982, Israel annexed the Golan heights, West Bank, and Gaza where ghettos existed where Palestinian refugees were living – life was bad here for the refugees. Israel was getting richer. Palestinian refugees began to see how well the Israelis were living and got mad at the stark comparison. They declared an…

25. Intifada “shaking off” or “slaves” revolt • Israel cracked down • Palestinians kept fighting • Hamas formed during this Intifada • 1987 formed • Desired an Islamic state in occupied territories and historic Palestine

26. Intifada and violence it brought woke up the Israelis to how bad they were treating the Palestinians • Palestinians realized that Israel wasn’t going to just “go away” • Doves and Hawks form on both sides

27. Doves for both sides sought • Withdrawal from West Bank and Gaza • Recognition of Israel with pre-1967 borders • Hawks were stubborn • Never give up the territories • Claimed Arafat was a coward for submitting to Zionism

28. Negotiations went on forever in Madrid and Washington, D.C. • Clinton led backdoor negotiations in Oslo that produced the • Oslo Accords in 1993 • Both sides recognized each other • Israel agreed to withdraw from occupied territories • PLO agreed to help Israel keep security • Signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin and PLO leader Yassir Arafat

29. 1994 Hebron, Israel • Israeli settler killed 29 Palestinians as they prayed at the Patriarch’s Tomb • Hamas bombed Israeli areas • Rabin and Arafat vow not to back down from their agreement

30. Arafat returned from exile to establish the Palestinian Authority for the base government of Palestine. • West Bank and Gaza would fall under Palestinian Authority • Jericho would be the main city

31. Rabin signed a treaty with Jordon in 1994, then signed the Oslo II/Taba Accords • Israeli troops would pull out in phases • By 1995 only Syria and it’s puppet Lebanon were true Israeli advisaries • Rabin planned on making a deal with Syria • Return Golan Heights in exchange for peace • He was assassinated in November of 1995 by an Israeli extremist before he could negotiate the peace • May 1996 – Final talks had been scheduled • What to do with Jewish settlers • Control of Jerusalem?

32. Rabin’s death caused peace negotiations to spiral out of control. • PLO bombings • Scared Israelis elect war hawk Benjamin Netanyahu as new Prime Minister • Netanyahu didn’t like the Oslo Accords, but he followed them • He refused to hold the final meeting with Yassir Arafat • Next two years full of bombings and violence • PLO vs. IDF (Israeli Defense Forces)

33. Peace is still gridlocked • Netanyahu is out and Ehud Barak is elected • Barak wants to reopen negotiations • July 2000 Israel and PLO meet at Camp David • Nothing accomplished • Both sides want Jerusalem as the capital • By September 2000, Barak appears ready to concede • Complications arise with Ariel Sharon – STUPID!!!! • He parades across the Temple Mount violating Muslim and Jewish rules • Brings on 2nd Intifada – known as al-Aqsa Intifada 1999

34. Suicide bombers begin reign of terror • 700 Israelis and 1900 Palestinians die • Barak resigned and Sharon becomes the new Israeli Prime Minister • His attitude is one of strict security and decisive retaliation • Peace goes back and forth • Talk a little, kill a lot; talk a little, kill a lot, etc. Al-Aqsa Intifada

35. February 2004 • Sharon announces plans to move all Jewish settlers out of Gaza • November 2004 • Arafat died – tough times ahead • Early 2005 MahmoudAbbas took over PLO • February 2005 Sharon and Abbas announce peace aggreement • Jewish settlers in Gaza and some in the West Bank are relocated.

36. January 2006 • Sharon suffers debilitating stroke – never recovers • Elections struggle • Guns ‘n bombs; bombs ‘n guns • March 2006 • Ehud Olmert wins and is new Israeli Prime Minister. Says… • Finish building fences and walls in West Bank to separate Jews and Palestinians • Get Jews out of PLO territories

37. Palestinians have control but aren’t governing effectively… • Terrorism still exists • Palestinian government is broke

38. Economy is agriculture based • Citrus • Wheat • Olives • 9000 Jews and 1.3 million Palestinians with 21 Jewish settlements • Jews have been removed • Israeli troops • stay outside the strip • Maintain control of airspace over the strip • Still conduct military operations in its sea space Gaza Strip

39. Area of about 2200 square miles • Biblically known as Judea and Samaria • Cities in this territory are • Hebron • Bethlehem • Jericho • Fertile land • Olives • Fruit • citrus West Bank

40. 500 square miles Plateau area – strategic highland Once belonged to Syria Golan Heights

41. Palestinian Authority took over Gaza. • 2006 – Hamas won the majority in the Palestinian Legislature, defeating Fatah • This triggered Israeli sanctions against the Palestinian Authority • The Quartet Countries joined in the sanctions • United Nations • United States • European Union • Russia Gaza strip to the present

42. Hamas and Fatah formed a Palestinian Authority Unity Government and seized control of Gaza in the Battle of Gaza • Between Hamas and Fatah June 7 - 15, 2007 • In June 2007 Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip and removed Fatah officials. The ICRC estimated that at least 118 people were killed and more than 550 wounded during the fighting in the week up to June 15. 2007

43. Hamas won • seizing government institutions and replacing Fatah and other government officials with its own. • Egypt and Israel sealed their border crossings with Gaza, on the grounds that Fatah had fled and was no longer providing security on the Palestinian side.

44. Israel allows only limited humanitarian supplies from aid organizations into the Strip. In 2009 the amount of goods Israel allowed into Gaza was one quarter of the pre-blockade flow. The Israeli navy maintains a sea blockade from three nautical miles offshore. Egypt is constructing an underground steel barrier to prevent circumvention of the blockade through tunnels.

45. Israel maintained that the blockade is necessary to limit Palestinian rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on its cities and to prevent Hamas from obtaining other weapons. • Egypt maintained that it cannot fully open the Rafah crossing since completely opening the border would • represent Egyptian recognition of the Hamas control of Gaza, • undermine the legitimacy of the Palestinian National Authority and • consecrate the split between Gaza and the West Bank. • United Nations have called the blockade illegal according to the Geneva Conventions on a number of occasions,

46. Facing mounting international calls to ease or lift their blockade, Egypt and Israel lessened the restrictions starting in June 2010, • Egypt’s opened the Rafah Border Crossing • foreign ministry has made it clear that the crossing will remain open mainly for people, but not for supplies, to go through.[18] • In June 2010, Israel announced that it will allow all strictly civilian goods into Gaza • preventing certain weapons and dual-use items from entering Gaza • Israel continues to severely restrict and/or prevent people from entering or exiting Gaza • according to a July 2010 report by the Israeli NGO Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Israel continues to prevent normal functioning of the Gazan economy 2010

47. international community generally regards the West Bank to be under military occupation • Even though Jewish settlements were dismantled in Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, they do still exist in the West Bank • As of July 2009, approximately 304,569 Israelis live in the 121 officially recognised settlements in the West Bank West bank to the present

48. The continued existence and expansion of these settlements despite a temporary ban on expansion is thought to be a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict These actions are frequently criticized as an obstacle to the peace process by third parties including the United Kingdom,the European Union, the United Nations, and the United States.

49. Israeli diplomatic efforts since the 1990s have oscillated between the so-called • “Syrian track” and • “Palestinian track • The current difficulties in restarting direct negotiations in the Israeli-Palestinian track, • Reflects deep structural problems, • Could renew Israeli interest, and/or that of the international community, • in pursuing “progress” in the Israeli-Syrian track. Peace negotiations with Syria Golan Heights to the present

50. Peace negotiations with Syria are at present unlikely due to the ongoing turmoil. • But if the situation in Syria calms down • If no Islamist regime has taken the reins in Damascus, calls for a return to negotiations are likely.