2. The Region in Question

3. A Brief Background Diaspora – Jews scattered from the region by the Romans (Romans name the area “Syria Palaestina”) Byzantine and Ottoman Empires Rise and Fall WWI – 39 states form out of the former Ottoman Empire

4. Mandate System Following WWI, the League of Nations established a system of Mandates –IN THEORY: had the benevolent intention of preparing the "natives" of various regions for self government –IN ACTUALITY: nothing more than the granting of spoils to the different victorious allied governments Palestine was among the several former Ottoman Arab territories which were placed under the administration of Great Britain All but one of these Mandated Territories became fully independent States, as anticipated The exception was….

5. The 1917 Balfour Declaration laid plans for a Jewish homeland to be established in Palestine eventually

6. WORLD WAR II & U.N. DIVISION Britain exhausted from the war hands over the region of Palestine to the U.N. 1948 UN divided Palestine into an Arab (45%) and Jewish state (55%) The State of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948

8. #1 ARAB-ISRAELI WAR Arab Nations rejected the U.N.’s plan The day after the establishment of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq declared war on Israel (1948 Arab-Israeli War) RESULTS: –Israel occupied 50% more than what the UN partition called for (sign peace treaty) –The Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt –The West Bank was occupied by Jordan

10. PLO Palestinian Liberation Organization Formed in 1964 Purpose: To create a state for Palestinian Arabs Summer 2004: Iconic leader Yasser Arafat dies and the PLO has elections

11. #2 The Six Day War (1967) Israel strikes first out of fear of impending attack Israel makes air attacks on Syrian, Jordanian, and Egyptian air bases Totally defeat Arabs Expands territory by 200% Israel gained the Golan Heights, the West Bank, Jerusalem’s Old City, and all of the Sinai Peninsula

13. #3 The Yom Kippur War (1973) Oct. 6 – Oct. 26 Began on Jewish holy day Yom Kippur with a surprise attack from Egypt and Syria Israel captured the Suez Canal and pushed Syria back 40 miles Arabs failed to regain losses

14. Camp David Accords Signed by Egypt and Israel on September 17, 1978 Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Egypt agreed to allow Israel use of the Suez Less clear agreement on Gaza

15. Today 1993 _________________________: Secret agreement between Yitzhak Rabin (Israel) and Yasser Arafat (PLO) ► Israel and the PLO would recognize each other ► Gradual transfer of power to the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, leading to: _______________________________

16. Today 2003 “_______________________________” Calls for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel Palestine must surrender all forms of terrorism Israel must accept and support the emergence of a reformed Palestinian government and end settlement activity of the Gaza Strip and West Bank

17. HOT SPOTS

18. The Gaza Strip Not recognized as belonging to any country Majority of the residents are refugees who were expelled from Israel in 1948 Egypt controlled the land until 1967 1.37 million Palestinians live here One of the highest population densities on earth Lack basic services About 20% of the children living here suffer from chronic malnutrition

19. The West Bank 1948-1967 under Jordan’s rule (Jordan’s annexation of the land was never officially recognized) 1967 Israel captures the West Bank during the Six-Day War 1988 Jordan relinquished claims to the land It is not recognized as part of any state “It would be far more accurate to describe the West Bank and Gaza Strip as ‘disputed territories’ to which both Israelis and Palestinians have claims.” –Anywhere from 1.4 – 2.4 million Palestinians –Approximately 400,000 Israelis

20. The Golan Heights Contested area on the border of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and again in 1973 The UN considers the area under Israeli occupation –19,000 Jewish settlers –17,000 Muslims