ISRAEL AND PALESTINE History Wars Politics and The

ISRAEL AND PALESTINE History, Wars, Politics and The Peace Process

THE HISTORY • Hebrews expelled from Palestine by the Romans in 70 CE • The “Diaspora” • Suffered persecution in Europe • Zionist Movement - European movement begun by Theodore Herzl in 1890 s that called for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Balfour Declaration • Balfour Declaration - 1917 letter in which British officials show support for the concept of a Jewish homeland in Palestine • Palestine was a British Mandate after WWI • Mandate – an official order or commission to do something

ZIONISM • Reasons the movement became popular 1. The ancient religious dream of return 2. The wave of nationalist enthusiasm that was sweeping Europe 3. The threat of anti-Semitism & physical dangers to Jews

Founding of Israel • Jewish people began leaving Europe because of persecution and settle in Palestine, especially after WWII. • Zionism encourages Jewish immigration to & settlement of Palestine • Kibbutz - communal farm organized by Jewish settlers. Share work and profits.

The State of Israel • UN Partition in 1947 - Territory of Palestine is divided by the UN to provide a homeland for the Jewish people after WWII. • 1948 Israel declares itself an independent nation. • Arab countries object and declare war on Israel

The State of Israel

Palestinians • Arab inhabitants of the territory that becomes Israel • 1948 - 750, 000 Palestinians are driven from or leave their homes and villages at the start of the war between Israel and the Arab countries • Become known as “The Refugees”

“The Camps” • They go to refugee camps in West Bank or neighboring Arab countries • “the camps” Palestinians still living in these areas after 70 years

“The Right of Return” • Palestinians want the right to return to their original villages and homes and demonstrate carrying “keys”

1948 -1949 - First Arab-Israeli War • May 14, 1948 – Israel declared independence • May 15, 1948 – Arab armies from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria & Iraq declare war • By the end, Israel won, gaining 20% more land than UN Partition allotted • War of Independence vs. The Catastrophe

Suez Crisis 1956 • Egyptian President Nasser wanted to take back control of Suez Canal from France and Britain • Nationalized Suez Canal • US backed him up, rather than siding with its European Friends & Israel

1964 - Formation of PLO • Formed to take up the war against Israel – nationalistic • Set up as an umbrella organization to join various Palestinian groups that had formed in Arab areas • Set 2 goals – destroy Israel and form secular, democratic state in its place • Launched guerrilla attacks on Israeli military targets • Certain factions used terrorism

1967 - The Six Day War • Arabs planned to attack Israel again • Israelis pulled off preemptive strike (hit them first) and destroyed their arms. • Humiliating defeat for Arabs • Israelis controlled West Bank and Gaza

“The Territories” • Israel takes control of the traditional Arab territories, including Jerusalem and the Western Wall • West Bank (Jordan), Gaza (Egypt) and Golan Heights (Syria) • Is it right to take land in warfare?

1967 – “The Settlements” • Ultra Conservative Jews seek to settle in these Arab areas and claim them for Israel • Originally intended to act as security outposts & to prevent attacks

ANWAR SADAT – Egyptian President 1970 -1981

Yom Kippur War 1973 • Started by Anwar Sadat of Egypt to shake up diplomatic situation, get Israel to talk, get Sinai Peninsula back • Arabs catch Israel off guard on a holy day, take the war to Israel • Satisfy the demands of honor • Israel won after 3 weeks of fighting, but Arabs commemorate this war on Oct. 6 • Leads to Camp David peace talks

Israeli Government and Politics • Knesset - parliamentary democracy – Multiple parties – Proportional representation – Coalition government – Vote of no confidence

Knesset

Golda Meir - 1 st Woman PM of Israel

Israeli Political Parties LIBERAL • LABOR PARTY • Willing to negotiate with the Palestinians • Willing to give up land for peace CONSERVATIVE • LIKUD PARTY • Military power • Israelis should not give up any of the land won in war • Current party in power

1978 -1979 – Camp David Accords • • Camp David 1978 Pres. Jimmy Carter - USA Pres. Anwar Sadat - Egypt P. M. Menachim Begin – Israel (Likud) Opens Communication Framework for Peace Egypt 1 st Arab country to recognize Israel Both countries receive U. S. $

1981 – Sadat Assassinated • Admired in the West • Won Nobel Peace Prize • Targeted by Islamist groups in Egypt for negotiating with Israel • Assassinated October 6, 1981

The First Intifada 1987 • By 1987, there was mounting frustration & anger among the Palestinians, who had been living in the West Bank & Gaza under Israeli occupation for 20 years • The Palestinians had a strong desire for their own state, independent from Israeli control • PLO renounced its goal of destroying Israel in 1988

The First Intifada 1987 • Widespread uprising in Palestinian areas • Street fighting and guerilla tactics to used to challenge the Israeli Army • Palestinian boys fight the soldiers with slingshots • DAVID v. GOLIATH?

The First Intifada 1987 • The intifada was culmination of growing tension & violence between Israelis and Palestinians, also known as “the war of stones” • As a result – Palestinians had global recognition as a people, world media criticized Israel in a way that had not been done before, the intifada led to the Oslo Peace Accords

The Israeli Security Wall

Oslo Accords 1993 • Pres. Clinton, P. M. Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yassir Arafat negotiate terms for Palestinian Self Rule • Israel negotiates directly with PLO • PLO recognizes Israel’s right to exist

Results of Oslo • PLO becomes Palestinian Authority • PA responsible for administration of the West Bank and Gaza (limited self-rule) • IDF withdraws from most of the “territories” • Big problems like Jerusalem, the settlements, status of Palestinian refugees put off to another time. • Both won Nobel Peace Prize 1994

Rabin Assassinated 1995 • Military hero and former hardliner sees during Intifada that force won’t solve this problem. • Negotiates directly with Arafat • “Land for peace” • Targeted for death by conservative Jewish groups

Effects of Rabin Assassination • Benjamin Netanyahu (his replacement) allowed for – More Israeli settlements that would spread into the West Bank & Gaza • Terrorist activity increased as a result of the encroachment on Palestinian self-ruled land

Yassir Arafat • Former Terrorist • PLO Hijacked Planes • Achille Lauro ship hijacking • Implicated in Munich • Numerous attacks on Israeli villages • Won Nobel Peace Prize!!! • Died in 2004

Second Intifada 2000

2006 War With “Lebanon” • Hezbollah (receives $$ from Iran & Syria) militants fired rockets across border in to Israeli town • Kidnapped Israeli soldiers • Israel responded with air strikes • Civilian infrastructure badly damaged • Casualties include many Lebanese civilians caught in the middle • Ended with cease fire brokered by UN

Palestinian Authority • Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority since 2005 • Leader of Fatah political party • Moderate • Can’t control Gaza b/c Hamas won elections there

Hamas controls Gaza

2008 Gaza • Hamas lobbed missiles into Israel • Israel responded with airstrikes • IDF ground attack to route out Hamas • Civilian casualties

2010 PEACE TALKS • Goal was “Two. State” solution • Netanyahu officially recognized Palestinians’ right to have their own state • Abbas asked for end to Israeli settlement building

2013 -2014 Peace Talks • Secretary of State John Kerry oversaw talks between Abbas & Netanyahu • Negotiations collapsed • Palestinians created Palestinian Unity Government – Fatah and Hamas joined forces

2014 Israel – Gaza Conflict • Increased tensions when 3 Israeli teens were kidnapped & killed and Palestinian teen was kidnapped & killed in revenge • Hamas increased rocket attacks • IDF began offensive in Gaza • 2100 Palestinians killed (militants & civilians) • 70 Israelis killed (64 soldiers)