Middle East in Transition

1. Middle East in Transition The Arab-Israeli Conflict

2. Middle East in Transition • Background to the Arab-Israeli conflict • The creation of modern Israel • Israel at war • Camp David • Arab-Israeli negotiations in the 1990s • The collapse of the peace process • The tenure of Ariel Sharon and the war on terrorism

3. Middle East in Transition • The Arab-Israeli Conflict • One of the most dangerous confrontations in the Middle East • Many international actors • Many questions • Why are the two sides opposed? • Why so violent? • Why haven’t outside efforts been effective?

4. Middle East in TransitionBackground to the conflict • Conflict has been around for thousands of years • 586 BCE, the Jewish Kingdom in what is now Israel was conquered by the Babylonians, modern day Iraq – Jews put into slavery • 538 BCE, the Persians defeat the Babylonians and many Jews returned to their homeland – start a new state and are independent until 63 BCE • 63 BCE, the Jewish kingdom is incorporated into the Roman Empire • 70 CE, the Romans destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and the Jewish people are scattered throughout the Roman Empire

5. Middle East in TransitionBackground to the conflict

6. Middle East in TransitionBackground to the conflict • From 63 BCE until 1948, no Jewish state • During the time between 70 AD and 1948 AD, Arabs and the Islamic religion predominated in the territory – for over 1,000 years the area belonged to an Arab group called the Palestinians • The big question then is, “Whose property is it?”

7. Middle East in TransitionBackground to the conflict • To complicate this question, when large numbers of Jews began returning to Palestine in the 1880s to avoid persecution in Europe, they purchased land from the Palestinians • When Israel was created in 1948, the Israelis terminated Palestinian property rights and took over the Arab land • The same thing that the Arabs had done roughly 1900 years before – The question still remains “Whose property is it?”

8. Jewish land ownership in 1947 Desert

9. Middle East in TransitionBackground to the conflict • Some Arabs and Jews have adopted views that are tolerant of each other; however, others have not and they use their religion to rationalize their hostility - amazing since both Judaism and Islam stem from a common ancestor, Abraham • Bottomline: Conflict between Arabs and Jews is long-standing – both sides believe their own unique historical views on the conflict are accurate

10. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • For almost 1,900 years the Jewish people had no state • They became members of the societies where they lived or they maintained their traditional practices and customs and were often persecuted in their adopted homeland • As time and persecution went on, some Jews founded a movement to create a Jewish homeland – this was called Zionism • Zionism gained little ground until after WW I – Britain used the promise of a homeland to solidify Jewish support for the war • Great Britain issued the Balfour Declaration which promised to support a national homeland for the Jewish people in the territory of ancient Israel

11. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • Following WW I, the League of Nations gave Great Britain control of Palestine • During the 1920s, thousands of Jews moved to Palestine – inflamed anti-Jewish Arab nationalism in Palestine • After WW II and the Holocaust, Zionism became an even more powerful force in the world’s Jewish community -many more thousands of Jews migrated to Palestine

12. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • Britain was in a difficult situation – how to support a Jewish homeland while protecting their oil and strategic interests • Slowed Jewish immigration to Palestine • Jews responded with terrorism against the British • Britain turns Palestine over to the new United Nations

13. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • U.S. and Soviet Union collaborated with the U.N. on a solution – Partition Palestine • Jewish state along the Mediterranean and a Palestinian state mostly inland • Not a perfect solution and not accepted by everyone, especially the Arabs

14. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel

15. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • With this backing, the Jews in the region moved quickly and proclaimed Israeli independence on May 14, 1948 • The U.S. is the first to recognize Israel and the Soviet Union soon followed

16. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War • Almost immediately Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria attacked Israel • Israel asks for UN help => four week cease-fire • Israel uses time to get weapons from Czechoslovakia • Israel counterattacks and pushed the Arabs back into Arab territory • Egypt sues for peace and the U.S. arranges a region-wide ceasefire

17. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War • Israel now occupied the lands set aside for the Palestinians and decided to keep it • At least 750,000 Palestinians fled Palestine and moved into squalid refugee camps in surrounding Arab countries • Arabs accuse Israel of expansionism • Three more major wars will follow

18. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War

19. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • Israeli War of Independence 1948/1949 Forces Losses • Egypt 300,000 2,000 • Israel 140,000 6,373 • (Trans) Jordan 60,000 1,000 • Syria 300,000 1,000

20. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War • 1956 – France, Britain and Israel attack Egypt when Egypt threatens to close the Suez Canal and appeared to move closer to the Soviet Cold War Camp • U.S. and Soviet Union insisted that France, Britain and Israel withdraw and all three complied with no change in territorial boundaries

21. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War (1956)

22. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • Sinai Campaign 1956 Forces Losses • Britain 2,000 20 • Egypt 300,000 3,000 • France 1,000 10 • Israel 175,000 231 Israeli figures are actual casualties in battle. Figures for the Arab armies are estimates.

23. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War (1967) • 1967 – The Six Day War - Arab states surrounding Israel mobilized for war – Israel attacks first and in 6 days wins stunning military victory • Israel acquires the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, and Jerusalem and the West Bank of the River Jordan from Jordan • After the war Israel agreed to UN Security Council Resolution 242 requiring the return of Arab land acquired during the war in return for Arab acceptance of Israel • When the Arabs refuse and declare they will continue to fight Israel, Israel refuses to return the captured territories and begins moving in settlers

24. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War

25. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War

26. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • Six Day War 1967 Forces Losses • Egypt 400,000 10,000 • Iraq 250,000 2,000 • Israel 200,000 776 • Jordan 60,000 5,000 • Syria 300,000 1,000 Israeli figures are actual casualties in battle. Figures for the Arab armies are estimates.

27. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War • Israel now occupied Arab land – the Sinai had been part of Egypt for 5,000 years • Israel had caused thousands of Palestinians to flood into neighboring Arab states and Israel now controlled lands where thousands of Arabs still lived • The PLO and Yasser Arafat became the leadership for the liberation of Palestine – terrorism by the PLO will intensify against Israel and countries who support it

28. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War (1973) • Fourth and most recent major Arab-Israeli war was fought in 1973 • Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur • Initially very successful – Israel lost a large number of aircraft to new Soviet air defense systems deployed by Egypt – also lost a large number of tanks to new Soviet anti-tank missiles • A massive U.S. re-supply gave Israel the equipment to counterattack and repulse the attack

29. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War

30. Middle East in TransitionThe Creation of Modern Israel • Yom Kippur War1973 Forces Losses • Egypt 400,000 5,000 • Iraq 400,000 5,000 • Israel 200,000 2,688 • Jordan 60,000 1,000 • Syria 350,000 8,000 Israeli figures are actual casualties in battle. Figures for the Arab armies are estimates.

31. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War • Unfortunately the counterattack went better than anticipated or desired by the U.S. and the Soviet Union • Israeli forces crossed into southern Egypt and moved north to encircle the Egyptian Third Army – it meant the potential destruction of the Egyptian Army and left Cairo open for attack by Israel • This led Soviet Union to prepare to deploy an airborne division to Egypt to support the Egyptian army

32. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War

33. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War • President Nixon informed the Soviets that Soviet intervention in the conflict would be met by a U.S. response – U.S. nuclear forces were placed on high alert • The U.S. convinced the Israelis to halt their attack and eventually to withdraw to the east bank of the Suez • In retaliation for the U.S. support to Israel, Arab oil-producing states temporarily stopped shipping oil to the U.S. • Led to high gas prices and gas rationing

34. Middle East in TransitionIsrael at War • On the Syrian Front the Israelis counterattacked and pushed the Syrians out of the Golan Heights • The Heights are a strategically and tactically important area for the defense of Israel • Israel refuses to return them to Syria

35. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • In 1977, President Jimmy Carter proposed a meeting to address the conflicts between Arabs and Jews • The new initiative sought to involve the Soviet Union because of their influence with the PLO and radical Arab States • Neither Israel nor Egypt were pleased with the proposal to include the Soviets • Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat proposed to negotiate directly with Israel and Israel agreed

36. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • Sadat hoped that his visit would lead to a peace treaty where Israel would trade captured Egyptian territory for diplomatic recognition, security, and peace • Sadat also hoped for some form of self-determination for the Palestinians

37. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • Sadat’s visit was a diplomatic success; however, Israel refused to trade land for peace • Israel did offer the West Bank and Gaza Strip limited self-rule but not self-determination • Israel continued to encourage Israelis to settle in the West Bank

38. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • Sadat and the U.S. saw Israel’s refusal as an insult and an effort to undermine UN Resolution 242 • Meanwhile many Arabs were angry at Sadat and several Arab states broke diplomatic relations and boycotted trade with Egypt, some Arabs called for Sadat’s assassination

39. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • In a last try for peace President Carter invited Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to Camp David to discuss a peace settlement

40. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • In what became known as the Camp David Accords, Begin and Sadat reached agreement on several issues and committed their countries to sign a peace treaty which was accomplished in March 1979 • Israel agreed to temporarily freeze new settlements in the Occupied territories, recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinians and to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt – Sinai returned in 1982 • Egypt recognized Israel’s right to exist

41. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • Unfortunately Egypt was now isolated in the Arab world • Even though Begin agreed to recognize the rights of Palestinians and allow them to participate in negotiations, he announced that Israel would never withdraw from the land it acquired in 1967 6 October 1981

42. Middle East in TransitionCamp David • Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s Israel increased its settlement programs on the West Bank • As a result, in 1987, Palestinians began the first intifada, an uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

43. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • Following the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the U.S. reinitiated efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict • Arab negotiators wanted the return of land taken in 1967 (Golan Heights), the end of Israeli settlements, and Palestinian rule in the Occupied Territories (Gaza and West Bank) • Israel suggested only limited self-rule and put off discussion of returning the Golan Heights to Syria – some willingness to talk with the PLO

44. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • Three events occurred that pushed the Israelis and the Arabs toward peace talks • Labor Party in Israel won June 1992 elections and Yitzhak Rabin became the Prime Minister – he pledged to explore every possible avenue toward peace • Because of the Persian Gulf War, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait slashed donations to the PLO – PLO money was drying up • Many Palestinians were joining Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement that called for the total destruction of Israel and its replacement by an Islamic state – the PLO was losing influence and it was time for Israel to negotiate with the PLO or risk greater confrontations with Hamas

45. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • Oslo Accords 1993 • After a series of secret negotiations in Oslo, Norway; the Israelis and the PLO exchanged letters recognizing each other’s legitimacy and on September 13 at the invitation of President Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and PLO Chairman Arafat signed the Declaration of Principals or Oslo Accords • Called for limited Palestinian control of the Gaza Strip and West Bank town of Jericho • Called for additional confidence-building steps in the future so that issues like Israeli settlements and the future of Jerusalem can be negotiated • The accords also eased tensions between Israel and its two other immediate Arab neighbors, Jordan and Syria

46. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • Oslo Accords 1993 • Many Palestinians, Arabs and conservative Israelis were upset with the agreements • Hamas threatened to do everything it could to undermine the agreement • Conservative Israelis and West Bank settlers were against the accords – they believed that Rabin had sold out to the PLO • Some warned they would do anything necessary to protect their property • Others warned that they would never accept Palestinian rule

47. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • Oslo Accords 1993 • Over the next year, the Palestinians developed the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to govern the territory handed over by Israel • Developed Police Force • Selected a President – Yasser Arafat • Elected a Parliament • Violence continued by both the Israelis and Palestinians opposed to the peace process

48. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • After Oslo • 1994, Israel and Jordan forge historic peace agreement – Jordan’s King Hussein becomes an important negotiator between Israel and the Palestinians • 1995, Israelis and Palestinians are in the second stage of transferring the West Bank to Palestinian control • Secular and moderate Israelis favored the land-for-peace process while religious and ultranationalist Israelis strongly opposed it • Dissatisfaction ultimately symbolized by the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin by a Jewish fundamentalist

49. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • After Oslo • 1996, in a very close election Likud candidate Benyamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister over then Prime Minister Shimon Peres – Netanyahu ruled with an uneasy coalition of right-wing nationalists and assorted religious parties, all opposed to “land for peace” • Moderate Palestinians favored working toward a peace agreement with Israel; however, Hamas continued to oppose the peace process and they argued that negotiations had done little to improve Palestinians’ “quality of life”

50. Middle East in TransitionArab-Israeli Negotiations in the 1990s • After Oslo • In the late 1990s, the Palestinian National Authority became more authoritarian and this led to a split between those actively pushing for democracy and those who saw it as a luxury • These divisions only deepened as the peace process showed little hope of leading to improvements in Palestinian well-being