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Historical Background to the Palestine-Israel

Conflict

Prepared for the Forum on the Palestine-Israel Conflict

09 May 2002 at the UP PCED Hostel

By Rey Claro Casambre

of the PHILIPPINE PEACE CENTER

and the

INTERNATONAL LEAGUE OF PEOPLES’ STRUGGLE

Study Commission on Peace

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Introduction

This paper aims to provide a brief historical background on the war currently raging in the Occupied Territories, especially at the West Bank, between the Palestinians and the Israelis

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The history of the Palestine-Israel conflict may be discussed in four periods

From ancient times to the end of World War I

The British Mandate of Palestine – 1917-1948

The establishment of the state of Israel and the Israel-Arab Wars (1948-1982)

Peace talks and the First Intefada

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Ancient Times to the End of World War I

1250 BC - Israelites conquer Canaan; King David, Solomon (965-928)and other Hebrew rulers

586BC -    Jews driven out by Assyrian conqueror Nebuchadnezzer

Succession of Assyrian, Persian (539BC), Greek (333BC), Egyptian, Syrian, Roman Byzantine (63 BC), and Arab rulers from Damascus (661-750), Iraq (750-1258), and Cairo (969-1099, 1187-1516), and the Crusaders (1099-1187) .

Palestine incorporated into the Ottoman Empire from 1516-1917

Zionism – the movement to establish a separate Jewish state in Palestine – was born in the end of the 19th century

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The Middle East in 1917

Middle East in 1917

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The British Mandate (1917-48)

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 pledged Britain’s support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” and paid lip service to safeguarding the civil and political rights of the non-Jewish communities in Palestine

Successive waves of migrations Successive waves of migrations increased Jewish population in Palestine increased Jewish population in Palestine from less than 6% in 1903 to 31% in 1945from less than 6% in 1903 to 31% in 1945

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UN RESOLUTION 181 PAVES WAY TO THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL IN PALESTINE

29 Nov 1947 - UN Resolution 181 – partitioning Palestine into a Jewish state (56.5% of Palestine) and a Palestinian state (43%); rejected by the Palestinians and Arab states.

14 May 1948 - State of Israel proclaimed in Tel Aviv at 4:00 P.M. , recognized by US President Truman

15 May 1948 - British Mandate ends. 15 May 1948 - British Mandate ends. Declaration of State of Israel comes into Declaration of State of Israel comes into effect.effect.

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The Arab-Israeli Wars

1949 – First Arab-Israeli War

1956 – Suez Campaign (Oct 29-Nov 5)

1967 - Six-Day War (June 5-10) Israel occupies: Sinai Peninsula, Israel occupies: Sinai Peninsula,

Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, & the Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, & the West BankWest Bank

1973 - October War (Yom Kippur)

1982 - Israeli invasion of Lebanon

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Six-Day War

1967

June 5-10

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October 1973 War

(Yom Kippur)

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Peace Talks and the Intefada

         1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt; Israel turns over Sinai to Egypt in exchange for recognition of right to exist

         1987 - the outbreak of the first Palestinian intefada in December 1987 triggered by death of Palestinian youths run over by Israeli lorry (military personnel carrier)

         1988 - Yasser Arafat's condemnation of terrorism and recognition of the state of Israel in December 1988.

         1991 October - The Madrid peace conference  

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1992 - secret Israeli-Palestinian talks in Oslo, Norway

1993 Declaration of Principles (DoP), signed by Yasser Arafat and Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin:o        set up the Palestinian Authority, but o        failed to resolve the issues of : failed to resolve the issues of : §         return of Palestinian refugees §         the status of Jerusalem §         Israeli settlements §         final Palestine-Israel borders

1994 – Arafat returned to Gaza Strip and West bank to head the Palestinian Authority

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However, Israelwielded full authority and control by frequently sealing off the Palestinian-governed areas from the rest of the Occupied Territories and from Israel.

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July 2000 – Camp David Summit

called by US President Bill Clinton. After two weeks of intensive negotiation with Arafat and Barak, the talks end without a deal. Barak resigns shortly after and Ariel Sharon elected Prime Minister

27 September 2000- Second Intefada erupts

Since 2002 – additions by Joe Naumann

Hamas wins elections in Gaza

Hamas fires missiles into Israel

2009 - Israel bombs and invades Gaza

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