After World War I, much of the Middle East was controlled by the British and the French. The region had been taken from the defeated Ottoman Turkish Empire. The Jews of Europe had been working since the 1800’s to return to Israel in a movement called “Zionism”

THE LAND OF : Israel? Palestine?

After World War II and the Holocaust, the Jews were promised a country and a return to their “homeland.” Two countries were set up. One, a Jewish state, the other a Palestinian state.

After declaring their independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and the Palestinians. In a bitter fight, the Jews surprisingly defeated the Arabs and gained additional territory. The Palestinian state was lost. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled to surrounding countries.

PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMPS NEARLY 4 MILLION PALESTINIANS LIVE IN THE CAMPS. Many moved into the camps in 1948, their families are still there.

In 1967, the Israelis launched a pre-emptive strike against Arab armies massed on Israel's borders. In one of the most stunning defeats of the 20 th century, the Israeli army destroyed the armies of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in only six days. The Israeli armies then occupied territories the Arabs had been driven out of. Gaza Strip West Bank Golan Heights The Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt in More Palestinians fled to the refugee camps.

Israel has granted limited autonomy to many of the regions inhabited by the Palestinians. The Arabs and much of the world are pushing for a Palestinian state. Can you determine what the issue might be when looking at the land occupied by the Palestinians? Their lands aren’t connected..

A matter of perspective? The growth of Israel or the loss of a “Palestine?”

After 2004 the Israeli's pulled out of the Gaza strip, giving Palestinians limited autonomy. In somewhat free elections, in 2007 the Palestinians elected the terrorist group Hamas to govern in Gaza. Hamas the set up crude rockets and fired thousands into Israel.

The Palestinians have limited autonomy in Gaza and the West Bank though they are split internally today. In a fierce fighting, HAMAS supporters drove the former Palestinian “representative” government out of Gaza in HAMAS leaders (who have vowed to destroy Israel) were elected to govern Gaza. The “leader” of Gaza is Ismail Haniyeh The West Bank (which is much more populous and economically viable) is still governed by the Palestinian Authority and Mahmoud Abbas.

In December, 2009, the Israeli Army and Air Force bombed, then invaded Gaza, destroying much of the infrastructure and killing thousands. The intent was simple. To stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel.

The Hamas fighters set up bases in civilian neighborhoods, ensuring civilian deaths when the Israeli’s strike their strongholds. Hamas was beaten but not broken. The Israeli’s pulled out in January, It remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold. (they never have)

Propaganda: Who is telling the truth (or at least most of the truth?) PalestiniansIsraelis

The USA has been attempting to help solve the crisis since the 1980’s. To date, no lasting peace has been achieved.