(I think)

So what’s going to happen after WWII in Palestine?The decision is turned over to the United Nations

The United Nations (U.N.) is an international group to keep peace in the world

Almost all of the world’s countries are in the U.N.The U.N.’s decision is to partition Palestine

This means the U.N. will give part to the Palestinians and part to the Israelis

There is widespread support in the international community for a partition in 1947 (remember, the world is coming out of WWII and is done with fighting)

The vote for the partition in 1948 leads to war

The problem with the Palestinians taking up arms is that the Zionists had more men and guns

That’s a bad combination for the PalestiniansThe Israelis win and, as previously talked about,

gain the majority of Palestine, with the rest going to Jordan

Three major issues emerge going forward for the Israelis:The right to JerusalemIsraeli settlements in the West Bank and GazaThe right of return of Palestinian refugees

…and that’s major because 3 million Palestinians consider themselves to be refugees…

Things were cautious in Israel for the next 20 years, but problems boiled over into war in 1967

Factors leading to the 6 Day War in 19671.Cold War Dynamics

Every issue in the world from 1945-1991 (or 1993 depending on who you read) was focused under the battle for world control between the U.S. and Russia

Both groups are seeking alliesU.S. allies in the Middle East included Jordan, Israel,

and Saudi Arabia (2 Arab countries and Israel) Israel is significant because they are getting

stronger militarilyOil becomes a major issue also

Factors leading to the 6 Day War in 19672.Inter-Arab State Rivalries

Gamal Abdel Nasser led Egypt into becoming a leader of the Arab World (over Syria and Iraq)

Remember, his goal within his country was to rid Egypt of foreign domination

As an international leader, Nasser drove Arab thought3.Israel: Consolidation and Expansion

Israel is surrounded by countries that hate themSince 1948, the Israeli borders had been attacked by

low-level Palestinian guerrilla forces (hit-and-run tactics) Israel also would be willing to use a disproportionate

military response to Palestinian attacks…what does this mean?

3. Israel: Consolidation and ExpansionExample: a liberal Arab group named Hizballah

launched a low level attack on Israel no deaths

Israel responded by taking out an electrical grid in Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut was left without power and the ability to purify their water for weeks

As we said last week, the major issues aren’t going away…

In 1967, Israel and Arab troops engaged in the 6 Day War…it lasted 6 days

Israel blitzed the Palestinians and won immediately The effect of the war led to new Palestinian refugees and an increased

stress of solving the refugee issue Israel began to occupy (illegally?) the West Bank, East Jerusalem (part

of Jordan) and Gaza (part of Egypt), the Golan Heights (part of Syria) and Sinai (part of Egypt)

Many Zionists viewed this as Holy justice It also led to upheaval in Iraq, Syria, and Egypt (as we’ll learn more

about in those country studies) As the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) transfers leaders

from Nasser to Yasir Arafat (due to Nasser’s failing health), the PLO begins to become more aggressive in trying to regain their holy land

King Husayn of Jordan has always taken a moderate stand in Israel Palestinians are a problem in Jordan because they are a threat to

Husayn War erupts between Jordan and the PLO Jordan wins handily The PLO’s influence is diminished for awhile

Anwar Sadat ruled Egypt after the death of NasserSadat inherits the hostility of Israel and enormous

debt from their Cold War alliance with the SovietsSadat is genuinely concerned with the future of

Egypt so he begins to build ties with the U.S.He wants to open the economy to outside investmentHe wants to sever his relationship with the SovietsHowever, Sadat is frustrated with the lack of reception

from the U.S. at its ouster of the Soviets from Egypt—why?The Olympics are going on and the U.S. is aligned with Israel

So what do all smart countries due when they’re frustrated? Go to war, of course!

War with Israel lasted from October 6-22, 1973Syrians and Egyptians are the 2 major players in the

war and have early gains but are ultimately overtaken

Sadat’s “War as diplomacy” is because of his frustrations over the lack of interest in the Middle East by the world superpowers (especially the U.S.)

The superpowers get involved in negotiations after Israel’s victory

Due to U.S. reaction to the war, OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries—generally these are your Arab countries) places an embargo on the U.S.This means they won’t sell the U.S. any oilThe embargo lasts for just over a year

Policies of Israel:1.The Occupied Territories (the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, the Golan Heights, and Sinai (part of Egypt) were considered a temporary occupation

Israel claimed once the Arabs have shown a willingness towards full peace with Israel, they’ll give the land back

The minority opinion in Israel was keep the land forever

2.Rule over the Occupied Territories was colonialVery harsh response to all guerrilla activityCollective punishment was the usual response

Ex: if someone from the village is responsible, attack the whole village

3. Settlements PolicyIsraelis build small, permanent communities in

West Bank and Gaza1. Military posts along the Syrian or Egyptian borders2. “Bedroom” settlements and communities

Inhabited by younger Israeli families that want cheaper land than in mainland Israel

3. Religious settlementsPeople committed to settling in the Occupied

Territories because it’s the Jews’ land and they have every right to be there