What do Palestinians and Israelis want? Both want to establish independent states (one Jewish and one Arab) on the same land. Historic ties Kingdom of Israel ca bce – 700s bce Arab control AD 600s – early 1900s Religious ties most holy sites for Jews 3 rd holiest site for Muslims

Why do they fight? World War I – former Ottoman territories came under British rule (including Palestine)

Why do they fight? 1917 Balfour Declaration the British promised Arabs independence at the same time they supported the Zionist mvt (the national movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the resumption of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel)

Why do they fight? The Holocaust: 1930s-1940s dramatic increase in number of European Jews migrating to Palestine many Arabs not happy with increase world pressure increased to create a Jewish state

Why do they fight? UN Plan : create 2 states; one Jewish and one Arab Jewish reaction: supported the plan (declared statehood in 1948) Palestinian/Arab Reaction: did not support the plan; did not want to give up more than half their land to a Jewish minority

After 2 attacks by it’s Arab neighbors, once in 1948 and again in 1967, Israel won and gained control over what would be Palestinian territory according to the UN Plan. Why do they fight?

refugees hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled from or were kicked out of their homes many still live in refugee camps others have become citizens of other Arab countries some want their land back; others want compensation for what they lost Occupied Territories –West Bank –Gaza Strip –Sinai Peninsula –Golan Heights territories belonging to other nations under Israeli control illegal according to international law buffer zones: protect Israel from neighbors

Why do they fight? Settlements built by the Israelis in the Occupied Territories –all dismantled in Gaza –many still exist in West Bank

Why have there been problems with peace? lack of trust –both sides do not follow through on promises –both sides continue to engage in acts of violence against one another