The Struggle for Palestine

1. The Struggle for Palestine A place for Jews and Arabs

2. I. Forming the Israeli State • Knesset: Israel’s parliament system • Prime Minister: head of government • First was David Ben-Gurion. Current Prime Minister is Benjamin Netanyahu • Citizenship: any Jew could become a full citizen • Palestinians: over 80% fled the territory that became Israel and became refugees • Most that remained received Israeli citizenship but were not treated equally • Only Jordan offered its Palestinian refugees citizenship

3. Conscription: every Jewish citizen must serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) including both men (3 years) and women (2 years) • Some exceptions including for religious reasons • Optional for Arab citizens • Military Aid: Israel dependent upon foreign aid • France was the first major supplier of arms • Helped Israel build its first nuclear power plant in 1950s • U.S. is giving over $3 billion in aid in 2012

4. II. Egypt • Egyptian king was overthrown in 1952 • Gamal Abdel Nasser became the president in 1954 • Britain agreed to withdraw from Suez Canal in June 1956 and turn control over to Egypt • British could intervene if Egypt were attacked by a third party • U.S. tried to influence Egypt by offering to help finance the building of the Aswan Dam on Nile River • US revoked its offer after Egypt recognized Communist China • Soviets became the primary arms supplier to Nasser

5. III. Suez Crisis1956 • Egypt took the Suez Canal in June 1956 • Blocked Israeli shipping and closed Gulf of Aqaba • Britain wanted to keep Nasser in check • Britain formed a coalition with France and Israel in August 1956 • France was angered at Nasser’s support of rebels in Algeria (French colony) • Israel agreed to invade Sinai, then Britain and France would intervene to secure Suez Canal • Assault planned during the U.S. presidential race

6. War • Israeli paratroopers landed in Sinai in late October 1956 • Small contingent at first to test British/French commitment • Britain and France announced their forces would intervene in Egypt • Nasser refused to move his troops from the Canal • Israeli tanks advanced in Sinai; British/French bombed Egypt’s airbases • Nov. 5 – British/French landed in Egypt • Nov. 6 – British and French signed ceasefires because of intense U.S. and international pressure • U.S. feared that Soviets would intervene with rocket attacks

7. Results • France and Britain lost their reputation in Middle East and their standing as world powers • British Prime Minister forced to resign • UN peacekeeping forces were placed along Egypt-Israel border • Israel demonstrated its military ability and strength • Soviets continued to support Egypt • U.S. became the big financer of Israel • U.S. pressured Israel to withdraw from Gaza and Sinai in 1957 • Nasser became the hero of the Arabs and main Arab leader

8. IV. Six Day War1967 • Israel repeatedly retaliated against Jordan and, primarily, Syria for Palestinian cross-border raids • Egypt and Syria signed a joint-defense pact (will aid each other if one of them is attacked) • May 1967 – Nasser demanded UN troops evacuate Sinai and Gaza • Egyptian troops mobilized into Sinai • May 22 – Nasser closed Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping at Straits of Tiran • In addition, his “destroy Israel” rhetoric was seen as another act of aggression

9. Preemptive Strike! • June 5 (7:45 AM)- Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egyptian air force • Egyptian air force virtually destroyed • Israeli tanks invade Sinai later that afternoon • Hearing falsely that Egypt had destroyed Israeli forces, Jordan and Syria began to bombard Israeli positions • Afternoon – Israeli jets attack Syrian, Iraqi, and Jordanian air bases • Israel announced losing 26 aircraft, while destroying 416 Arab aircraft IDF jets

10. War with Jordan: Jerusalem and the West Bank • June 6 - Israelis captured all of Jerusalem and dug in • Including Western Wall and Temple Mount • June 7 - King Hussein of Jordan (fearing Israeli air superiority) moved his troops across Jordan River • IDF seized all of the West Bank • That evening UN initiates cease-fire between the two nations “First, the Israeli government had no intention of capturing the West Bank. On the contrary, it was opposed to it. Second, there was not any provocation on the part of the IDF. Third, the rein was only loosened when a real threat to Jerusalem's security emerged. This is truly how things happened on June 5, although it is difficult to believe. The end result was something that no one had planned.” - Intelligence Officer Narkis

11. War with Egypt:Sinai • IDF tanks raced across Sinai with total air support • Ariel Sharon (future PM) commanded IDF armored division • Israeli navy secured Gulf of Aqaba • June 8 – Israel captured Suez Canal • IDF halts their advance IDF in Sinai

12. War with Syria: Golan Heights • June 9 – Israeli troops assault Golan Heights • Most intense fighting • June 10 – Israel-Syria cease-fire signed ending fighting

13. Results • Casualties: • 800 Israelis killed • 6,000-10,000 Arabs killed • Israel’s borders increased by nearly 4 times! • Occupied West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, and Sinai Peninsula • Launched a Jewish settlement program in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to solidify their hold on the territories • Over 1 million Arabs in the territories • Arab states are humbled by the loss • Nasser lost popularity • New wave of Palestinian refugees • Over 300,000 Palestinians flee into Jordan from West Bank

15. V. Palestinian Liberation • Arab countries created Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964 • 1967 – Jordan’s population almost had more Palestinians than Jordanians • 1968 – Yasser Arafat rises as leader of the PLO • Tries to create a “state” within Jordan • In September 1970, the PLO tried but failed to assassinate King Hussein • Hussein militarily expelled the PLO and thousands of Palestinians • Palestinians called this Black September • PLO will settle in Lebanon • In 1975 a civil war is triggered because of the influx of Sunni Palestinians

16. Yasser Arafat King Hussein

17. 1972 – Palestinian terrorists take hostage 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics • All hostages were killed plus 5 of the terrorists • 1976 – 2 Palestinians and 2 Germans hijacked a flight originating from Tel Aviv • Uganda offered safety for hijacked jet • 4 more Palestinians joined hijackers • Non-Jewish hostages were released • Operation Entebbe: Israeli commandos rescued hostages and killed hijackers in secret raid on airport (July 4, 1976) • 3 hostages killed “When I was a kid, my father used to say 'Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized.' Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They’ve now said that there were eleven hostages. Two were killed in their rooms yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight. They’re all gone.” - Jim McKay ABC News Idi Amin addresses the United Nations

18. VI. Yom Kippur War 1973 War • Anwar Sadat became Egypt’s president after Nasser died in 1970 • Israel became overconfident and ignored Arab strength after Six Day War • Syria and Egypt wanted to regain land lost in 1967 • An Arab surprise attack began on the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur when most Jews are fasting and on holiday • October 6, 1973 – Egyptian forces attack IDF across Suez Canal • Egyptians pushed through Israel’s defenses • Syrian tanks push into the Golan Heights • Largest tank battles since WWII • Soviet Union airdropped supplies to Egypt • IDF ran low on ammunition in Sinai • U.S. aircraft carrier offloaded supplies

19. In Mid-October, IDF turned the course of the battle and retook Suez Canal and Golan Heights • IDF tanks were 40 km from Damascus and 100 km from Cairo • Soviets threatened to intervene if U.S. did not stop Israeli offensive • Nuclear alert! Threat of nuclear weapons by both sides • October 24 – ceasefire was declared

20. Results • Israel won the war, but was in dismay! • 2,838 Israelis killed • Realized that Israel was not invincible • Arabs proved they had the will to fight and could coordinate an attack with multiple states Golda Meir - Israel’s “Iron Lady” in 1973 Anwar Sadat - Egypt’s President in 1973

21. VII. Camp David Accords(1978) • President Jimmy Carter mediated peace between Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin at Camp David • Begin had planned Irgun’s attack on King David Hotel • Egypt became first Arab state to make peace with Israel • Sinai Peninsula returned to Egypt • This establishes an Israeli “land for peace” precedent • Israel was guaranteed safe passage of its ships through Suez Canal • U.S. promised aid to both countries • Egypt continues to receive around $1.3 billion per year in aid to keep the accords • Sadat assassinated in 1981 by Muslim Brotherhood Prime Minister Begin Begin. Carter, Sadat

22. VIII. Lebanon(1982-1985) • 1975 – Civil war erupted in Lebanon • Druze (Arab sect) and Christian militias clash • Anger over the “status quo” under the Christian-led government • Israelis viewed PLO and Syrian presence in Lebanon as a threat • 1982 - IDF invaded southern Lebanon • Goal: secure a 25 mile security zone • Israelis pushed all the way to Beirut • PLO was forced to evacuate Beirut

23. Sabraand Shatila massacres enraged Muslims worldwide • IDF surrounded the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps while the Christian Lebanese Phalangist militia went in and killed hundreds in retaliation for the killing of the Lebanese president • Israelis accepted indirect responsibility • Future Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was Defense Minister and helped organize the massacres Sabra and Shatila Massacre

24. 1983 - 220 U.S. Marines killed by a car bomb at their barracks in Beirut • 1985 – Israel withdrew and held small “security zone” in southern Lebanon • Shiite militant groups formed to fight the Israeli occupation • Iran sponsored Hezbollah • War was unpopular in Israel • Expensive and over 600 killed • Lebanese government remained weak and unstable • Menachem Begin forced to resign

25. IX. First Intifada(1987 – 1991) • Intifada means “shaking off” or “uprising” • 1985 - Israel launches its “Iron Fist” policy at Palestinians • Israelis were increasingly encouraged to “settle” the West Bank and Gaza Strip • 1987 - Palestinians rise up against Israel • This was not led by PLO, it was a spontaneous movement • Palestinian youths challenged Israel through stones and boycotts • 1988 - Arafat renounced terrorism Intifada “shaking off”

26. Israel responded with brutal suppression • Over 800 Palestinians killed by mid-1990 (25% were under 16 yrs.) • Around 1100 Palestinians killed by other Palestinians for collaborating with Israel • Palestinians gained worldwide attention and sympathy • UN voted to condemn Israel’s actions 130-2 (Israel and U.S. voted against) • 30,000 Israelis protested Israel’s methods in Tel Aviv • Hamas, a political and militant Palestinian Islamic liberation group, began during the First Intifada Intifada “shaking off”

28. X. Peace ProcessMadrid Peace Conference • The First Intifada brought about a need to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict • 1991 - Madrid Peace Conference • First time Israel met with Palestinians • But Israel refused to meet with PLO leadership • This brought an end to the First Intifada Representatives at Madrid

29. Oslo Accords • 1993 - Oslo Accords • First time Israel met with PLO • Israel agreed to evacuate from some of the Gaza Strip and West Bank and begin to give some autonomy to the Palestinian Authority (created to administer those areas) • President Clinton oversaw the signing • Yitzhak Rabin (Israeli PM) and Yasser Arafat (PLO Chairman) won the Nobel Peace Prize • Both Israelis and Palestinians were divided on the accords • Some believed Arafat “sold out” to Israel • Hamas refused to recognize accords • Knesset passed accords by a small majority

30. The Future Looks Peaceful • 1994 – Arafat arrives in Gaza to become the president of the Palestinian Authority • 1994 – Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty • Jordan becomes Israel’s second neighbor to make peace • Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by a Zionist A handshake between King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin, accompanied by Bill Clinton, during the Israel-Jordan peace negotiations, October 26, 1994

31. XI. Second Intifada(Sep. 2000 – Feb. 2005) • July 2000 – Middle East Peace Summit fails • Arafat and Prime Minister Ehud Barak fail to reach agreement over Jerusalem and Temple Mount • September 2000 - Ariel Sharon (then a PM candidate) visits Temple Mount • Palestinian riot breaks out • Sharon’s visit was 10 days after the memorial of Sabra and Shatila (Sharon was defense minister then) • Violence spreads with suicide attacks in Israeli neighborhoods and Israeli airstrikes against Palestinians Sharon visits Temple Mount September 28, 2000

32. Confiscated weapons from an Iranian vessel (intended for Palestinians) • In 2001, Sharon was elected Prime Minister • Sharon is a hardliner on Palestinians • Sharon takes security power from the Palestinian Authority • Suicide bombings inside Israel increased in 2002 and 2003 • Palestinian Authority was divided over Israeli occupation • Arafat sought peaceful solution • Hamas sought violent means One of the lynchers of two Israeli soldiers, waves his blood-stained hands from the window Palestinians youths take cover in a crossfire

33. 2004 – Israel began building a wall to secure its territory from Palestinian attacks • This barrier separates Palestinians in the West Bank from Israel • Nov. 11, 2004 – Yasser Arafat died • MahmoudAbbas replaced Arafat as president of Palestinian Authority • February 2005 - Sharon began initiative to unilaterally withdraw Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip • This will “end” the Second Intifada The barrier between Abu Dis and Jerusalem

34. MahmoudAbbas

35. Results • Positive impact for Palestinians: • Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip • Ruined Israeli dream of a “Greater Israel” • Negative impact for Palestinians: • Murdered the peace process • Pushed both Israelis and Palestinians to elect hardliner governments (Hamas(Palestinian), Likud (Israel)) Mahmoud Abbas meets with President George Bush and Ariel Sharon. Abbas meets with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

36. XII. Gaza Withdrawal(2005) • By September 2005, Israel had disengaged from the Gaza Strip • Approximately 7000 Jewish settlers were forced to leave • Settlements were destroyed • Many Israelis protested the disengagement • Benjamin Netanyahu resigned as Finance Minister in protest Children distribute orange ribbons, representative of the anti-disengagement movement, to cars passing by on Monday, 27 June 2005, at the entrance to Jerusalem.

37. XIII. Second Lebanon War(July 2006) • July 12 – Hezbollah launched diversionary rocket attacks and sent ground troops across border • 2 Israeli soldiers were captured to be used for a prisoner exchange • Israel said it was an “act of war” because Hezbollah had two members in Lebanon’s parliament • Israel responded with air strikes • Hezbollah continued to fire rockets into Israel • Around 4,000 total rockets fired • Israeli ground troops entered Southern Lebanon • August 13, 2006 - ceasefire signed • U.S. accused of delaying a ceasefire • IDF lost 121 soldiers, Hezbollah lost around 500 • Hezbollah remains in Lebanon and is a threat to Israel’s north

38. Israeli cities hit by Hezbollah rockets

39. Areas in Lebanon targeted by Israeli bombing, 12 July to 13 August 2006.

40. XIV. Gaza Conflict(Dec. 2008 – Jan. 2009) • Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 • December 19, 2008 – six month truce with Israel expired • Israel and Hamas could not agree to extend truce • Hamas began firing rockets into Israel • Israeli airstrikes in Gaza commenced • IDF ground troops entered Gaza on January 3 • January 18 – Israel begins ceasefire • Israeli troops pulled out of Gaza • Hamas rocket attacks continued throughout February • Israel responded with airstrikes Damage in Gaza City(above)Damage in Beersheba kindergarten(below)

41. Results • Gaza Strip suffered nearly $2 billion in damages • Over 1000 civilian Palestinians were killed • Rocket attacks have continued but at much lower rates • 2009 Israeli elections resulted in Benjamin Netanyahu elected as Prime Minister • International pressure has mounted on Israel to find a solution to the conflict with the Palestinians • President Obama has called for an end to the growth of settlements in the West Bank and a resumption of the peace process