1. Conflict in the Middle East What is the cause of the ongoing problems in Israel & Palestine?

2. Establishment of Israel Zionism called for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine British come up with a plan called the Balfour Declaration that would divided Palestine between Jews & Palestinians but WWII puts it on hold 1947: UN approves a plan to divide Palestine into two nations #1 Palestine = Arab State #2 Israel = Jewish State. Jerusalem controlled by UN Palestinians & Arab states object May 1948: Israel declares statehood and takes their territory Six Arab nations declare war on Israel Israel wins the Arab-Israeli War, takes all territory Palestinian people begin fleeing Israel & head to other Arab countries

3. Israel & the Cold War – Suez Canal Crisis 1954: General Gamel Abdel Nasser takes control of Egypt 1956: Nasser seizes the British-controlled Suez Canal Britain, France, Israel take back the canal & then occupy parts of Egypt – Nasser complains to the UN Soviets say this is an example of western imperialism, Nasser seeks alliance with USSR UN Security Council convinces Britain, France, and Israel to leave Egypt & return canal (US abstains) Six Day & Yom Kippur Wars Israel & Arab countries fight two more wars, Egypt starts both: Six-Day War (1967, Nasser) & Yom Kippur War (1973, Sadat) Each war Israel is backed by US & wins, Israel takes more Arab land. 1973: Arabs put an oil embargo on US because of support of Israel Palestinians form the PLO, use intifada to get their homeland back Intifada includes non-violent methods to protest but also uses Soviet made weapons to attack Israel. Israel responds by bombing Pal. towns