1. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

2. Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an ongoing dispute between Israel & Arab Palestinians
What is at the heart of the conflict?
Land, i.e. – Jerusalem!!!

3. Background Background: Romans kicked Jews out of Palestine in 70 A.D.
Jews spread throughout the world – called the Great Diaspora
Anti-Semitism: hostility towards Jews
Zionism: movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland

4. Conflict Over Palestine
Britain controlled land after WWI
Many wanted to move to Palestine because of Zionism; asked for British support
Balfour Declaration (1917) – officially gave the Jews British support for the creation of a state of Israel
Zionist groups gave Jews money to buy land in Palestine; violence breaks out, esp. against Britain

5. Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi 1921

6. Founding of Israel
Zionist movement picks up even more speed following WWII because of the…
Holocaust: “completely burnt” systematic extermination of about 6 million Jews.
“Never Forget. Never Again.”

7. Founding of Israel
Post WW2: Exhausted from fighting, Britain turns the problem over to the United Nations
1947: UN divides Palestine btw Jews & Arabs (2 Separate States)

9. The Refugees 700,000 Palestinians 800,000 Jews

10. May 1948: Jews declare Israel’s creation
Founding of Israel
May 1948: Jews declare Israel’s creation
Some Arab countries refused to recognize Israel as a state b/c it symbolized western domination

12. 1948 Arab-Israeli War
Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon sent troops to help the Palestinians fight
Israel won and took ½ the Palestinian’s land
Palestinian refugee camps were set up in nearby Arab countries; many refuse to move out and give up land

13. 1948 Arab-Israeli War How did Israel win?
Had support ($ and weapons) from US
Arab attacks were very miscalculated and disorganized; couldn’t agree on strategy

14. Palestinian Liberation Organization
Founded in 1964 to form a Palestinian state
Yasser Arafat was chairman of the PLO from with his death

16. PLO
Want to destroy Israel, use terrorist actions (bombings, airplane hijackings, kidnappings) against Israel and supporters (U.S.)
January 1965: PLO launched guerilla attacks against Israel, Israel attacks Syria & Jordan

17. Six Day War (1967)
Egypt signed an alliance with Syria, Jordan and Iraq; moved troops into the Sinai Peninsula
Israel sees this as a threat and strikes back
How long did the war last???
6 Days

18. Aftermath
Israel takes: Sinai Pen. and Gaza Strip from Egypt, Golan Heights from Syria, West Bank from Jordan, East Jerusalem from the Palestinians
Builds settlements on land taken following the war; violation of international law

20. The First Intifada

21. Intifada – “the Shaking”
Refers to Resisting oppression
Palestinians attacked Israeli soldiers and citizens with ROCKS
the government imprisoned and deported many, destroyed homes of rebels, closed Arab schools
Israel criticized for violating rights

26. Attempts at Peace
Camp David Accords: Sept. 18, 1978: U.S. President Jimmy Carter hosts Egyptian president Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli prime-minister Menachem Begin at Camp David
Peace treaty signed March 26, 1979 giving Egypt the Sinai Pen. and Palestinians self rule in occupied land

27. Attempts at Peace Oslo Accords (1993):
US: Bill Clinton, Israel: Yitzhak Rabin, Palestine: Yasser Arafat
Israel and the PLO would recognize one another
PLO would stop attacks
Israel would withdraw its forces from parts of the occupied territories
limited Palestinian self-rule in Gaza

28. The Second Intifada

29. 2nd Intifada Ariel Sharon (Israeli leader) visits the Temple Mount
Why is this a problem?
Site of the 3rd most important Muslim Holy Site, Al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the Rock)
Hamas and other Palestinians begin launching militant attacks against Israel
Israel responds by bulldozing settlements of anyone suspected of aiding Hamas
5,500 Palestinians killed; 1,100 Israelis