Israel Palestine Conflict

History of the People

• The origins of how each group arrived in Palestine is complicated as much evidence is unknown.

• Biblical story of Moses has Hebrews being enslaved to build the pyramids.

• So they are led by Moses to Palestine. 40 days, parting seas etc.

Factual?

• The really is no evidence to say any of the story is accurate.

• The pyramids were completed at least 1000 years before the biblical account.

• Conflicting evidence of the workers being slaves.

• Conflicting accounts of there being any large numbers of Hebrews in Egypt.

Settlements

• 925 BC

• Two groups of people that inhabited the land split apart.

• Two kingdoms were formed comprised of

• Kingdom of Israel and Judah.

• People from Judah called themselves “Jews”

Two Kingdoms

Conquests and Diaspora

• 722 – 586 BCE• Assyrian empire

conquers the Kingdom of Israel.

• Deports Israelites throughout empire.

• Lost forever, Judah Jews are the only ones left.

Conquests and Diaspora

• 586 - 536 BCE – Babylonian Empire conquers the Assyrians.

• Take over Judah, burns Jerusalem.

• Many Jews are dispersed throughout the empire.

• Some are allowed to stay.

• 536 – 142 BCE

• Persian Empire takes over.

• Allows Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem Temple.

Roman Empire

• 63 BCE Rome takes over.

• Burns temple in Jerusalem.

• Jews revolt against it.

• Romans deport them as slaves throughout the empire.

• Many end up in Europe.

• Jesus time.

• Roman Empire adopts Christianity throughout the whole empire.

• Build religious sites at Jerusalem, Bethleham.

Arab Rule

• 313 - 636 Byzantine rule.

• 636 – 1099 Arab rule.

• Most Jews leave under heavy taxation restrictions on religious freedoms.

• Dome of the Rock built

Crusaders

• 1099 – 1299

• Christian Crusaders vow to take back their Holy Lands.

• non Christians are massacred, burned in temples.

• Saladin of the Arabs defeats the Crusaders

Arab Rule

• Saladin dies.

• 1291 – 1516 Mamluks rule

• 1517 – 1917 the Ottoman Empire takes over.

• Allows Jews to return.

World War 1

• Britain and the Allies were at war with Germany, Austro Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

• Britain met with the Palestinians and convinced them to revolt against the Ottomans.

• Promised them a homeland (entire Israel)

• Revolt was a success and the British took control over the Ottoman Empire.

Zionism

• Theodore Herzl

• World wide organization of Jews.

• Advocated for a Jewish homeland in Israel.

• 270000 in the US, 15000 in Canada.

Balfour Declaration

• At the same time as the promise to the Arabs the British also create the Balfour declaration.

• Promised the same land of Israel to the Zionists for a Jewish homeland.

U.N Partition Plan

1967 6 Days War: Before and After

UN Resolution 242

• After the 6 days war, the U.N. denounced Israeli actions.

• States “territories acquired through war is illegal”.

• Calls for an independent Palestinian state comprised of the West Bank and Gaza.

• Free corridor connecting them.

• Despite acceptance, Israel does not withdraw.

1973 Yom Kippur War

• Arab nations were desperate to take back all the land they lost in the 6 days war.

• Oct 1973 – Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel’s holy day of Yom Kippur.

• Also organized an oil embargo for Western nations which caused the price of gas to go up by 4 times.

• 2 weeks later U.S secured a cease fire.

U.N Resolution 232: 2 State Solution

Peace ProcessesCamp David Accords 1979

• 1979 Camp David Accords – Egypt and Israel sign a peace treaty which sees the return of the Sinai peninsula to Egypt.

• Israel can use Suez canal.

Settlements and Intifada

• For the next few decades Israel controlled the West Bank and Gaza.

• Many Israeli settlements, roads, security checkpoints created.

• Palestinians revolted in a series of “Intifadas” or protests.

• Israeli Army put them down with violence.

• 1000 Palestinian casualties.

Oslo Accords 1990’s

• Allowed for a Palestinian municipal government but not a state.

• Leader would be Yasser Arafat

• Demanded Israel would remove military from West Bank and Gaza.

• During negotiations Israel continues to build settlements.

• No formal agreement met.

Roadmap to Peace 2002

• The UN, European Union, outline a plan for a two state solution.

• 1st step, Palestine must make efforts to arrest those committing violence against Israel.

• 2nd step Israel will remove settlements and prevent further settlement in the West Bank.

Issues for Peace

• Borders and division of the land;

• Palestinian concerns over Israeli settlements in the West Bank;

• Status of Jerusalem;

• Israeli security concerns over terrorism, safe borders, incitements, violence;

• Right of return of Palestinian refugees living in Palestinian refugee camps.(400,000)

Israeli Settlements

Palestinian Loss of Land1946 - 2000

Today

• Israel continues to build settlements in the West Bank.

• Two sides have traded acts of violence.

• Israel has a blockade of Gaza ports and controls airspace.

• Palestinians have little access to water or electricity.

• Is constructing a wall around the West Bank.

The Wall