Middle East Notes

Terms to Know Zionist = Someone determined to create a homeland for the Jewish people Israel = the name of the new country of the Jews in the Middle East since 1948 Palestine = biblical homeland of the Jews; mainly occupied by Muslim Arabs since the 600s. Palestinian = someone from Palestine (usually Muslim Arab) Arab = Someone from the Arabia part of the Middle East Refugee = someone forced to leave what they considered their home country

A short history of the Jews In the 2nd century, Jews were forced out of the Middle East Diaspora- global dispersal of Jews throughout the world Jews began to return to the Middle East in the early 1900s While the Jews were gone, Palestinians (Muslim Arabs) inhabited the land around Jerusalem

Territorial claims create tension Pre-WWI, most of the Middle East belonged to the Ottoman Empire Post-WWI, Britain took control Palestinians and Jews were living together under British control Jews wanted to regain their homeland Palestinians refused to give the Jews any territory

Balfour Declaration- 1917 The British Foreign Secretary has the last name of Balfour. Balfour pressures the British government to take a position on the tension between Israelis and Palestinians. British government supports the creation of a Jewish homeland Palestinians are outraged!!

WWII is a turning point for Israel Due to the Holocaust, many western nations supported the idea of creating a Jewish homeland Many nations saw the creation of a Jewish state as a consolation for ignoring evidence of the Holocaust. Great Britain and the U.S. lead the charge for creating a Jewish homeland (Israel)

Zionists increase in numbers after WWII Zionist- someone who believes that Jews deserve a country of their own Zionists pushed hard for the creation of a Jewish homeland after WWII ended

Israel is created in 1948 1947-The UN voted to divide Palestine into two states- Israel and Palestine Jerusalem was to be neutral, as it is considered a holy city to both Jews and Muslims 1948- Israel becomes a state! Zionists win!!! Sort of……..

The United Nations Plan

The Israeli-Palestinian Wars Begin Immediately Second day into existence, Israel is invaded by its Arab neighbors. Arabs(Muslims) supported the Palestinians and hated the idea of having a Jewish homeland in the Muslim-dominated Middle East. Alliances develop: Israel, U.S., Britain Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria Israel (with UN and US help) win the wars for independence.

Palestine after 1947

PLO forms in 1964 PLO= Palestinian Liberation Organization Goal: to regain land given to Israel by the UN PLO elected Yasir Arafat as their leader in 1969

Six Day War Early 1967 - Nasser and the Arab nations were ready to attack Israel Nasser moved to cut off the Gulf of Aquaba June 1967 - Israeli jets attacked airfield in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria Israeli forces struck on three fronts The fighting lasted six days Israel gained the Sinai peninsula, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem

Results of the Six Day War

Video – Six Day War

Yom Kippur War October 1973 - Anwar Sadat (Nasser’s successor) planned an attack on Yom Kippur Arab forces inflicted heavy casualties on the Israelis and captured lost territory from 1967 Israelis counterattacked and recaptured the land lost An uneasy truce was signed after weeks of fighting

Results from the Yom Kippur War

Yom Kippur Video

Attempts at peace begin in the 1970s 1948-1960s- battles raged in the Middle East between Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Palestine U.S Presidents have tried to mediate peace accords between Israel’s Prime Ministers and Palestinian leaders for the past 30 years. Nothing has worked!

Summary

Oslo Peace Accords- 1993 Leaders met in Oslo, Norway Israel agreed to grant Palestinians self-rule in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank Israel agreed to withdraw its military from the West Bank This withdrawal has been slow and violent The military is now contemplating building a wall to separate Palestinians and Israelis