Conflict in Modern Israel: Exploring the History and Tensions in the Middle East

1. DO THIS NOW… • Today, you will be reading an excerpt about the history of the modern day conflict in Israel. Below is a list of key concepts from the reading: • Romans • Palestine • Zionism • World War I • Balfour Declaration • Holocaust • UN Partition • Six Day War • PLO • West Bank • Gaza • On a scratch piece of paper, brainstorm how these concepts might explain why there is so much conflict in modern day Israel.

2. Inquiry Question: Is peace possible in the Middle East?

3. Supporting Question 1: Why is Israel the site of so much modern conflict in the Middle East?

4. Background to conflict in Gaza and West Bank

5. Israel Today • Parliamentary Democracy • Prime Minister- Benjamin Netanyahu • Closely linked to the US and western Europe Strong military , diverse economy • MOST MID-EAST NATIONS SEE ISRAEL AS AN ENEMY---THE US SEES ISRAEL AS A CLOSE FRIEND

6. Current Situation • West Bank Tensions: • Over the years Israel has moved settlers into West Bank area, a Muslim majority area populated by Palestinians • Most jobs for Palestinians are in Israeli territory • When terrorists attack, Israel closes her borders to traffic • Gaza Tensions: • Arab terrorist group, Hamas, controls Gaza • Hamas wants to see the end of Israel

7. West Bank Security Fence • Built by Israel to stop terrorist attacks

8. Recent Events in Gaza Most Palestinians support Hamas because it strongly opposes Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. From 2008, Israel set up an intensive blockade of Gaza, severely restricting the movement of goods and people to prevent Hamas obtaining weapons. But this causes massive hardship to ordinary Gazans.

9. Recent Events in West Bank In June 2014 three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped in the West Bank and killed. Israel blamed Hamas and sent troops into Palestinian residential areas, wrecking homes, arresting hundreds and killing five people. Hamas retaliated by firing rockets from Gaza into Israel. In early July, Israel began bombing Gaza. The conflict continued for seven weeks.

10. Effects of Violence in Gaza More than 2,000 Gazans were killed and 10,000 injured, mostly civilians. 1000 injured children are likely to have a permanent disability. 71 Israelis were killed, mostly soldiers. Thousands of homes, schools and health facilities in Gaza were destroyed or severely damaged.

11. Supporting Question 1: Why is Israel the site of so much modern conflict in the Middle East?

12. Creating Questions About the Conflict • Work in groups to review the key terms from the beginning of class • Additionally, examine the provided maps • Work together to use the provided question matrix to create AS MANY questions as you can about the modern Israel conflict based on the maps and key terms • Each one of you should have a copy of the questions • You will have 15 minutes to complete this activity

13. Answering Your Own Questions • Together, we will read an article about the history of the Israel conflict • Read along as I read aloud • At key places in the article, I will stop and provide at least 5 minutes for you and your classmates to answer your own questions using the section of reading we just finished

14. Any Missing Questions? • Did you have any questions that weren’t answered by the article? • Take out your phones and use the internet to search for the answers to any remaining questions you have • You have 10 minutes

15. Reflecting on Learning • Now, review the terms from the start of class: • Romans • Palestine • Zionism • World War I • Balfour Declaration • Holocaust • UN Partition • Six Day War • PLO • West Bank • Gaza • Using these terms, and the main ideas from your group discussion, write a half page summary that explains why there is so much tension in modern Israel • You will have 10 minutes to complete this activity

16. Summary Shares Why is there so much conflict in modern Israel?

17. Zionism • According to Judaic religious beliefs the area of Israel/Palestine was given them by God. • In the time of the Romans (70 C.E.(AD) the Jewish people were driven from Palestine. • In the 1880’s Zionism (The movement that encouraged the re-creation of a Jewish nation.) begins. • Jewish settlers move to the area of Palestine Theodor Herzl: founder of Zionism

18. World War I and World War II • Allies vs. Central Powers in WWI • The war in the Mid-east involves Britain vs. Ottoman Empire • At end of WWI, Britain issues Balfour Declaration • Calls for establishment of home for Jews in Palestine • Mass immigration to Palestine • The aftermath of the Holocaust in WWII led to more immigration • Tensions rise greatly

19. UN Partition of Palestine The United Nations establishes the TWO nations of Israel and Palestine in 1947. This is opposed by the Arab nations.

20. 6 Day War, 1967 • Israel launches a pre-emptive strike after learning of planned Arab attack. • Israel seizes territory from Egypt, Syria, Jordan • Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, West Bank • Israel regains control of Jerusalem

21. Israelis vs. Palestinians • Palestinian Arabs displaced into neighboring countries • PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) formed • Yasser Arafat-becomes the “de facto” leader of the Palestinians (died in 2006) • PLO originally demand the destruction of Israel (but this moderated over time) • Intifadah- Palestinian uprising against Israel (1980’s, 2000-2005)

22. Israelis vs. Palestinians Part II • Gaza and West Bank populated by Arab Palestinians • Gaza and West bank want complete autonomy • Israel wants security

23. Turn in summaries