The Arab-Israeli Conflict 2000-PRESENT

People/Things to Know Hamas: A radical Islamist political party and militant group. Currently controls the Gaza Strip. Its charter calls for the “obliteration” of Israel and the killing of Jews. Fatah: A secular Palestinian political party. Founded by Yasser Arafat. Likud: The most powerful political party in Israel. Conservative, nationalist, very pro-military. Its charter rejects the idea of a Palestinian state. IDF: Israeli Defense Forces Mahmoud Abbas: Leader of Fatah, the PLO and current president of the Palestinian Authority. Benjamin Netanyahu: Leader of Likud and current Prime Minister of Israel. Iron Dome: An Israeli defense system that knocks down rockets aimed for Israel.

Issues How will the land be divided between Israel and a future Palestinian state? Israeli settlements-Israelis are encouraged to move to the West Bank and build homes, on territory that Palestinians believe is theirs. Security-Israel is subject to frequent rocket attacks and suicide bombers by Hamas. Hamas attempts to build underground tunnels to enter Israel for attacks. Palestinian quality of life-In the name of security, Israel forces Palestinians to go through checkpoints, blocks off certain roads, and destroys Palestinian homes and farms if they believe tunnels are below. A barrier separates the West Bank from Israel and Gaza is blockaded by the Israeli navy. Proportionality-In most conflicts between Israel and Palestine, many more Palestinians are killed than Israelis

Issues II Water-Israel consumes most of the water resources for both countries. Economics-Israel is a rich, prosperous country, while most Palestinians live in poverty. Jerusalem-Who will control the city, particularly its holy sites in and around the Temple Mount? Palestinian refugees-Will Palestinian refugees have the right to return to their former homes? Emotions-How can decades of anger, resentment, and violence be overcome?

Second Intifada Israel’s then-Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, made a visit to the Temple Mount and claimed it for Israel forever Palestinians began rioting, and the conflict quickly escalated-many terrorist attacks and attacks by the IDF About 1000 Israelis and 5000 Palestinians were killed Results: Israel decides with withdraw from Gaza, build a barrier around the West Bank

2006: The Rise of Hamas In 2005, Israel decided to withdraw all troops and settlements from Gaza. The people of Gaza soon elected Hamas to take Fatah’s place as the ruling party in Gaza Hamas began launching daily rocket attacks against Israel

2006 Second Lebanon War Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, began launching attacks against Israel. Israel invaded southern Lebanon to stop the attacks. Hezbollah keeps its weapons in civilian areas, forcing Israel to decide whether or not to attack those areas-a tactic Hamas uses as well.

2007 Battle of Gaza Hamas launched attacks against Fatah throughout Gaza Fatah members were attacked and assassinated Since then, there have been two Palestinian governments-Hamas in Gaza, Fatah in the West Bank

2007 Annapolis Conference Israel, Fatah leaders, and other Middle Eastern countries attend talks in Annapolis, Maryland Both sides agree upon a “two state solution” The majority of Israeli citizens support a two state solution

Operation Cast Lead, 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense Israel launches attacks into Gaza to stop the firing of rockets against Israeli towns and villages and to destroy Hamas weapons Hamas launches attacks from densely populated areas Results: Many civilians are killed, and Gaza’s economy and infrastructure is badly damaged

Peace Talks Peace talks between the sides were led by Secretary of State John Kerry Promising developments collapsed when Hamas and Fatah announced they were would be working together Hamas continues to call for the destruction of Israel

2014 War 3 Israeli teens are kidnapped and murdered, then a Palestinian teen was kidnapped and murdered Hamas launched 117 rockets, Israel launched 80 airstrikes on Gaza 2100 Palestinians killed, 70 Israelis are killed