Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

Palestinian and Israeli propaganda maps Israeli map lumping together Arab states; depicting tiny defenseless Israel Palestinian Map without Israel

Palestinians Israel Zionism: Arab (ethnic) territoriality (in West Bank and Gaza Strip) Arab (ethnic) territoriality Palestinians are multireligious Muslims and Christians Ethnic nationalist movement, but some newer Muslim groups Israel Zionism: Jewish (religious) territoriality Israelis are multiethnic European, Middle Eastern, Newer Russian, Ethiopian immigrants Arab Israeli minority

Zionism - Theodore Herzl, 1896 British Palestine 1917- 48 Arab ethnic initial majority (90%) 1917, Balfour Declaration supports Zionism; immigration begins 1936-39 The “Great Uprising” - first Arab protests as Jews increasingly Jewish religious minority grew rapidly in 1920-40s, especially during rise of Anti-semitism. British did not allow European Jewish immigration during WWII.

UN Partition Plan, 1948 Jewish State (Israel) - never implemented Arab State (Palestine) International Zone (Jerusalem) - never implemented The day after the state of Israel was declared in 1848 five Arab armies from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq invaded but were repulsed and Israel took all of the U.N. designated lands plus much of Palestinian territory (see next slide). Jewish militia massacred scores of Palestinians. Moreover hundreds of thousands were displaced and have been refugees ever since.

Jerusalem West (Israeli); East (Arab) with Israeli settlements

Jerusalem: Holy City to Jews, Muslims, and Christians

Israeli Settlements and Palestinian towns in the West Bank, 2000 Israeli settlers see as historic Jewish homeland Palestinians compare illegal settlements to Apartheid

Palestinian Autonomy, 2000 Gradual turnover of Israeli- Occupied areas to Palestinians for “Two-State Solution” Plan collapsing as killings increase Second Intifada since Sept. 2000 Israeli Defense Force reoccupies West Bank and Gaza

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) 1970s Unable to win support in U.N.; Palestinians turned to terrrorism. 1972 Munich Olympics, 11 Israeli athletes killed by PLO operatives 1974 Yasser Arafat speaks to U.N. "Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand." Financial support for many years came from surrounding Arab nations and the U.S.S.R. 1992 PLO (Arafat) and Israel (Yitzhak Rabin) formally acknowledge one another as part of the Oslo Accord talks with Clinton. Splinter Groups: Hamas, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hezbollah 2005 Arafat dies. 2006 Hamas wins substantial portion of Palestinian vote.

Key Israeli Figures David Ben Gurion - Zionist founder/victor in 1948 Yitzhak Rabin (74-77; 92-95) - recognized PLO; killed by Israeli radical after making peace overtures. Menachem Begin (78-83) - Camp David Accord; peace with Egypt. Sadat killed by extremists in 1981. Ehud Barak - aggressive Labor party peacemaker; lost power to right wing Sharon during violence of Second Intifada Ariel Sharon - current prime minister; Likud Party right winger considered war criminal by many for his role is slaughter in Lebannon; in coma after stroke of early 2006. (Ehud Olmert takes over role.)

Main Issues Palestinian Israeli Land Land Right of Return Security End to Settlements Water Rights Economics Self-determination End of Occupation Access to Jerusalem Israeli Land Security Access to Jerusalem Right to exist

Demographic Data Palestinian Israeli Pop: 3,500,000 Pop: 6,000,000 Migration: 2.1/1000 Infant mortality: 26/1000 Fertility rate: 6.55 Life expectancy: 70.8 GDP per capita: $625 GDP growth rate: - 35% Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6% Israeli Pop: 6,000,000 Migration: 1/1000 Infant Mortality: 6.55/1000 Fertility rate: 2.54 Life Expectancy: 78.8 GDP per capita: $19,000 GDP growth rate: -1% Religions: Jewish 80.1%, Muslim 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)