Conflict in the Middle East: Establishment of Israel Prior to WWI, there was a movement started by European Jews called Zionism Zionism called for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine The major question was what about the Palestinian Arabs living in Palestine After WWI, the Ottomans lost Palestine to the British The British came up with a plan create a Jewish state and an Arab state out of Palestine (Balfour Agreement) But WWII puts this plan on hold. After the war the UN addresses a new plan In 1947, the UN votes on a new plan to divide Palestine into two nations Jerusalem would belong to neither country and would be administered by the UN However, the Palestinians & surrounding Arab states object to the plan In May of 1948, Israel declares statehood and takes the territory given to them by the UN Six Arab nations then invade Israel With US backing, Israel wins the Arab-Israeli War

After winning the war, Israel takes most of the territory meant for the Palestinian State Jordan takes the West Bank and most of Jerusalem and Egypt takes Gaza Israel & the Cold War Tension grow between Israel and its Arab neighbors as many Palestinian people begin fleeing Israel and heading to other Arab countries 1954: The King of Egypt, who was under the British Sphere of Influence was overthrow by General Gamel Abdel Nasser 1956: Nasser seizes the British-controlled Suez Canal Britain asks France for help to retake the canal. Israel offers their services to the British as well Britain, France, Israel take back the canal & then occupy parts of Egypt Nasser complains to the UN Soviets complain to UN that Suez Crisis is Western Imperialism UN Security Council convinces the three nations to leave Egypt & return canal Nasser seeks an alliance with Soviet Union +

Six Day & Yom Kippur Wars Because of Suez Crisis, Israel and Arab countries would fight two more wars, the Six-Day War (1967) & the Yom Kippur War (1973) With US assistance, Israel wins both wars and takes more territory from the Arab Nations More Arab nations begin to ally with the Soviet Union Because of US support of Israel in 1973, the Arab countries would place an embargo on oil sold to the United States As for the Palestinians, fighting continued with Israel. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed to gain a homeland Using many Soviet supplied weapons, the PLO launched numerous attacks on Israel. The two sides are still locked in a bitter conflict today