The Middle East, Young & Kent: International Relations since 1945

Egyptian-Israeli Peace January 1977: Carter in US May 1977: Begin (Likud) in Israel November 1977: Sadat visits Jerusalem September 1978: Camp David talks March 1979: Egyptian-Israeli treaty signed –Ends state of war between them –Israel restores Sinai to Egypt

Limits to the Camp David Process Peace for Israel and leading Arab state –Seemed to fulfil Resolution 242: ‘land for peace’ But a limited settlement: –Other Arabs isolate Sadat: assassinated in October 1981 –No peace with Jordan and Syria –Palestinian problem continues –Instability in Lebanon and Persian Gulf

Lebanon: the Problem Civil unrest since 1975 with breakdown of post-war political system: –Diverse groups: Christians; Muslims; Druze; Palestinians –Divisions within Christian and Muslim camps External powers become involved: –April 1976: large-scale Syrian deployments –March 1978: Israeli ‘security zone’ in southern Lebanon –March 1978: UN force deployed in south

Lebanon: Israeli invasion Israeli-Palestinian tension: –July 1981: ‘two week war’, then ceasefire –June 1982: attack on Israeli ambassador to London The Invasion, June 1982 –June: Iran sends ‘Hezbollah’ fighters –August: PLO leaves Beirut –August: Multinational Force deployed in Beirut –September: Sabra and Shatila massacres Aftermath: –1984: Multinational Force withdrawn –1990: effective end of civil war –2000: Israeli forces leave southern Lebanon

The Gulf: Iran’s Revolution Unpopular regime of the Shah –Pro-US, autocrat, secret police –Oil rich, but economic crisis c –Opposition: liberals, Marxists, Islamists Revolution of –September 1978: martial law –January 1979: Shah goes into exile –February: return of Ayatollah Khomeini – Islamic reform under Revolutionary Council –November: US Embassy occupied – hostages crisis lasts until January 1980

The Gulf: Iran-Iraq War Causes of war: –Border disputes –Saddam’s fear of Islamic Revolution –Khomeini’s criticism of Ba’ath rule Key points: –September 1980: Iraqi invasion of Iran –July 1982: Revolutionary Guards cross Iraqi border –1983-4: US arms to Iraq End of the War: –Deadlocked conflict for years –Increased US backing for Iraq in 1987 –July 1988: Khomeini accepts peace

The Gulf: the War of Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait, 2 August 1990 –Iraq $80 billion in debt –Iraq-Kuwait differ over oil prices –Iraqi claim to Kuwait The Gulf War –US opposes invasion; Saudis fear attack –Coalition created: UN backing for force –January-February 1991: ‘Desert Storm’ Impact and Aftermath: –Kuwait liberated but Saddam retains power –Element in Bush’s ‘new world order’ –US ‘dual containment’ of Iraq and Iran in 1990s

The Intifada Lack of progress on Palestine in 1980s –1982: Israel and Arabs lukewarm on ‘Reagan Plan’ for Palestinian autonomy –Israeli settlements in West Bank and Gaza –Violence continues: Achille Lauro 1986 Impact of the Intifada –Begins 9 December 1987 in Gaza –Spontaneous uprising by Palestinians –January 1988: Hamas created - alternative to PLO –December1988: Arafat renounces terrorism

The Oslo Accords The Road to the Accords –Rising US influence: collapse of USSR; Gulf War; Madrid conference –June 1992: Rabin wins Israeli election –Secret contacts with PLO via Norway The ‘Declaration of Principles’, 13 September 1993 –Seeks just and lasting settlement –Palestinian authority in West Bank and Gaza –But initial Palestinian area to be limited –Israel remains responsible for security –Much left to negotiate: refugees, Jerusalem

Stalling of the Oslo Accords Initial Successes –June 1994: ‘Palestinian National Authority’ –July 1994: Israel, Jordan end state of war –January 1996: Palestinian elections Opposition to the Accords –November 1995: Rabin assassinated –Hamas opposes deal: suicide bombings – : Netanyahu in Israel Difficulties of Negotiation –No Israel-Syria peace –Deadlines missed on Oslo deal September 2000: ‘Second Intifada’ begins