Terrorist/ Resistance Organizations
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Palestinian Liberation Organization PLO (1964) • Created to give Palestinians an international voice • Numerous terrorist attacks • Yasser Arafat (PLO Chairman 1969 -2004) • Current leader: Mahmoud Abbas
Charter (1968) • Calls for Israel’s destruction • Palestine is indivisible • Partition of Palestine and Israel itself is illegal • Reject all substitutes for the total liberation of Palestine • Armed struggle is only way to liberate Palestine
Ten Point Program (1974) • After Israel’s responses to terrorist attacks Arafat looks for a diplomatic solution by announcing a plan. • Willing to: – Accept a 2 State Solution – Take over national authority for Palestinian dominated areas • Many in Israel do not trust the plan • PLO is recognized by the United Nations as the representative for the Palestinian people
Setbacks to Peace • 1982 - After repeated terrorist attacks, Israel invades Lebanon • 1983 - Arafat is found to have backed terrorist high -jacking of Cruise ship – Jewish passenger killedthrown overboard – World opinion turned against PLO • 1988 Arafat renounces terrorism
1993 Oslo Accords Washington, DC • Self Government is granted to Palestinian dominated areas in Gaza and the city of Jericho (West Bank) • Arafat recognizes Israel’s right to exist • Leads to: – Israel’s 2005 release of Gaza Strip
Hezbollah • Formed after Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon • Trained and funded by Iran • Provides Social services, health care, education, and runs a TV Station • Initial goal: Drive Israel out of Lebanon
Tactics • Kidnappings • 1985 - High-jacking of TWA 847 • 1985 - Bombing of U. S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut – 241 US Marines killed • 1990’s bombing of Israel Embassy in Argentina (and a Jewish Community Center
The Fight Changes • 2000 - Israel leaves Lebanon • 2004 - UN passes resolution to for the disarming of militias – Ignored • 2006 - Hezbollah kills several Israeli soldiers and kidnaps 2 – War rages for 5 weeks until UN led cease-fire • 2009 - Israel intercepts ship carrying 3000 Iranian rockets and mortars
Hamas • Created during the first intifada (1988) • 2007 Became the Government in control of Gaza “Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its predecessors. ”
Beliefs • "The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. " • "There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. " • "After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying. "
Popular with Palestinians • Provides: – – – Welfare Day Care Health Care Kindergarten Pre-Schools Support for families of suicide bombers
Rocket Attacks on Israel • Give them credit in the Fundamental Islamic world • Receives arms/ support from Iran and other Islamic groups
Suicide Bombings • Targets Israeli Civilians
Israel Responds • Uses Jets to Bomb: – Hamas centers – Neighborhoods • Condemned as too aggressive by nations world wide