ARAB ISRAELI CONFLICT

1. ARAB ISRAELI CONFLICT

2. Background Questions • What is this conflict about? • What are the roots of this conflict? • Jewish Diaspora, Romans, return to Israel • What is Zionism? • What caused tensions to build in the 19th & 20th centuries? • Who controlled Palestine prior to WWI and after WWI? Why the change? • How does this country’s control of the region play into the Jewish goal of creating a homeland in Palestine?

3. Background Questions • Who gets involved in 1947? What was their solution? • What is the Arab response? • What is significant about May 14, 1948? • Who is immediately recognizes Israel as an independent state? • What is the Arab response to the Jewish declaration?

4. 4 Major Conflicts/Wars • 1948 – War for Independence • 1956 – Suez Crisis • 1967 – Six Day War • 1973 – Yom Kippur War/October War

5. 1948 - War for Independence • Who attacked Israel on May 15th – name all five? • Israel appears outnumbered; but after several months of fighting, Israel is able to control 78% of what used to be Palestine • Gaza and West Bank absorb almost 1 million Palestinian refugees • Resentment towards Israel will result in the creation of many resistance fighters (terrorists)

6. 1956 – Suez Crisis • What starts this crisis? • Egypt also blocks Israel’s southern port, Elat, on the Gulf of Aqaba • British & French launch air attack on Cairo • Israel launches ground attack taking Sinai Peninsula & Gaza Strip • UN intervenes – gets Brits & French out • Israel, urged by the US, withdrawals from Sinai • UN promises to send peacekeepers to Gaza border & Sinai Pen. to prevent attacks on Israel

7. 1967 – Six Day War • Egypt orders UN out of Sinai & closes access to the Gulf of Aqaba…again! • Why did Israel attack Egypt & Syria? • Israel takes out all Egyptian & Syrian air power forcing them into a ground war. • Who joins in on the Arab side? • In less than one week Israel took control of: • Sinai Peninsula & Suez Canal (Egypt) • Golan Heights (Syria) • Gaza Strip (administered by Egypt) • West Bank (administered by Jordan) • Jerusalem (UN mandated international city)

8. Six Day War • Casualties • Arab = 15,000 • Israeli = 676 • Israel would not give up these conquered territories as easily this time. • What does UN Resolution 242 call for? • Israel ignores the resolution, what comes first, a peace treaty or an act of good faith (troop withdrawal)?

9. 1973 – Yom Kippur War • Arabs humiliated after 6 Day War - enlist the help of the Soviets (weapons & training) • How does this war start? • 1st week of war, • Arabs take back Golan, Suez, Sinai • Iraq & Jordan supplied troops • Saudi Arabia pressures US to abandon support for Israel – oil embargo starts • Looks as if the Israelis will be defeated • 2nd Week – tide changes • Israel regains Golan • Launches an attack on the west side of Suez • After 17 days of fighting Israel wins again!

10. PLO Recognition • In 1974, the UN gives the Palestinian Liberation Organization a non-voting seat in the General Assembly. • Yasser Arafat became the chairmen (head) of the PLO in 1969

11. Other major events in 20th Century • 1977 – Sadat, the Egyptian Pres, visits the Jewish Knesset (parliament) • He and P.M. Begin promise never to go to war again • 1979 – Camp David Accords • Pres. Carter hosted Begin & Sadat in an effort to sign a peace agreement – it is successful • Sadat is assassinated by a Muslim radical upon returning to Egypt • 1987 – Palestinian Intifada (uprising) • Palestinians demand self rule; Israel does not grant this and riots are answered with Israeli tanks

12. Other major events in 20th Century • 1991 – Saddam Hussein launches missiles at Israel during Persian Gulf War; Israel does not retaliate • 1992-93 - Oslo Accords • Secret negotiations b/w Palestinians & Israelis • Israel recognizes Palestinian self rule • 1993 – Clinton hosts Arafat & Rabin at White House • Symbolize achievements in Oslo • Rabin assassinated by Jewish extremist upon his return to Israel • 1994 – Jordan signs peace agreement with Israel

13. Arab Israeli Conflict in the 21st Century • 2000 – Camp David II – Israel & Palestinian leaders • Meeting hosted by Clinton is unsuccessful; can’t agree: • Territory • Jerusalem and the Temple Mount • Refugees and the 'right of return' • Israeli security concerns • 2002 - Bush’s Road Map To Peace • US encourages Palestinians to work with Israelis • Looses steam once 9/11 & War on Terror starts • Ariel Sharon becomes PM of Israel (party change)

14. Arab Israeli Conflict in the21st Century • Nov 04 - Arafat dies • Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate, takes over as head of the Palestinian Authority • 2005 - Sharon pulls troops out of Gaza • Proof that he is willing to make concessions in the peace process – move towards Two State Solution • Construction of the West Bank wall

15. Israeli West Bank Wall

16. January 06 - Sharon enters into a coma after a stroke • Ehud Olmert becomes acting PM – eventually becomes official PM (elected March 06) as Sharon never comes out of the coma • January 06 – Palestinian democratic elections held • Hamas (terrorist group) wins the majority of seats

17. March 2009 – Israeli Elections • Benjamin Netanyahu becomes PM • Politically hawkish – not a moderate • Brother killed in Uganda when the Israeli military went to rescue a hijacked Israeli flight • Has allowed for Israeli settlements to continuously be built in the West Bank – major source of current tensions – negotiations with the Palestinians derailed because of this issue

19. THE QUESTION REMAINS: Can there be a Two State Solution?