1. New Nations get Independence Conflicts Rage
Enduring Understandings
Long-standing cultural and religious differences and conflicts are still evident in the post-colonial world.
3. The end of World War II led to the ending of colonization, the creation of new countries and conflict between the superpowers for influence.
New Nations get Independence Conflicts Rage
Final exam essay – May 31 – Complete Graphic organizer
African Independence Complete p 5 and 6-7.
Describe similarities between the expansion of democracy and enlightenment ideas in Europe in the 19th C and the independence movements in Africa and Asia?
Complete pages 8-10 in packets about the Arab-Israeli conflict.
How do the conflicts in the Middle East support the above understandings?
Why should we care about the Central Asian countries?

2. The Mid-East – misnamed but very important
The Middle East is actually the far Western part of Asia and parts of Northern Africa.
This area of the world is important for religious and energy reasons
But when there is reference to the Middle East conflict, the meaning is about conflict between Arabic countries and Iran versus Israel

3. History of Israel and Palestine
After WWI, Britain and France gained control of the former Ottoman Empire regions on the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea
Britain’s “Mandate” was called Palestine

4. History of Israel and Palestine
Even before the British Mandate, many European Jews become Zionists (ideologues who wanted to recreate a Jewish homeland around Jerusalem)
Zionism was created in response to pogroms and anti-semitic violence by Europeans

5. History of Israel and Palestine
To better manage the Mandate, to gain allies in the Arab world and address the principles of the Balfour Declaration, the British mandate was divided into two parts.
Trans-Jordan was given to the Hashemite King Abdullah.

6. History of Israel and Palestine
After WWII, and after many Arabs allied with Germany (to get rid of Britain and the Zionist Jews in Palestine) Britain had too much trouble managing the mandate.
Britain gave the problem to the UN to solve
The UN proposed to divided the mandate into a Jewish country and an Arab one.
The Arabs voted against the plan and refused at the time to accept it.

7. History of Israel and Palestine
When David Ben-Gurion declared Israeli independence on May 14, 1948, the surrounding Arab countries invaded. This is the first Arab-Israeli War
Many of the Arabs living in the area partitioned as Israel left to avoid the fighting.
Some left because Arab armies told them to get out of the way
Some left because Israelis forced them to.
Arabs who left Israel are now called Palestinians, along with those Arabs living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Somehow the Israelis won the war

8. History of Israel and Palestine
The 1956 war was caused by conflict between Egypt, France and Britain over control of the Suez Canal as part of the Cold War.
Israel is encouraged to go on the offensive by the British and French.
The US orders all three to stop the war and give the land back to Egypt

9. History of Israel and Palestine
Egypt and the other Arab countries mass their troops on the Israeli border in preparation for an invasion.
Their stated goal was to destroy Israel and “Throw the Jews into the Sea”
Israel attacks instead and easily defeats all three armies in 6 days – hence the name of the war

10. History of Israel and Palestine
The result of the 1967 war was that Israel conquered 4 areas of land:
Golan Heights from Syria
Gaza Strip and
Sinai Peninsula from Egypt
West Bank and Jerusalem from Jordan
In 1973, Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Yom Kippur to recover the land lost in Israel is almost defeated, but it is able to fully defend itself

11. History of Israel and Palestine
As a result of Anwar Sadat’s request for peace, Menachem Begin’s willingness to negotiate, and the skill of Jimmy Carter to broker the deal, Egypt recognizes Israel as a country
Israel gives back the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt
The US gives both countries lots of money

12. History of Israel and Palestine
West Bank– governed by Palestinian Authority
Gaza Strip – governed by Hamas
The current situation is that the red areas are now governed by two different groups of Palestinians
Israel has maintained control of Jerusalem
Israel completely left the Gaza Strip, even forcibly removing Israeli settlers from their homes
Israel also builds settlements of Israelis in the West Bank – this is a key source of conflict
Israel also maintains a military presence in the West Bank that makes travel, work and life difficult for Palestinians

13. Central Asia
How did the fall of the Soviet Union lead to instability in Central Asia?
Describe the challenges facing the Central Asian countries.
Who were the Taliban? Why were the Taliban able to gain political power in Afghanistan?