ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Occupation and its Impact on Identities and Self-Determination

THE REGION

WHAT IS ZIONISM? Theodor Herzl– Austro-Hungarian

architect of the ideology A movement originating in 19th-century

(1896) Europe A bulwark against European and

Russian anti-Semitism The quest for a homeland for the Jewish

people that would be their refuge from persecution

BALFOUR DECLARATION British Foreign Secretary Arthur

James Balfour’s promise/ guarantee to British Jewry

Letter by Balfour to Lord Baron Rothschild, central figure of the British Jewish community

Written in 1917

TEXT OF THE 1917 BALFOUR DECLARATION

Dear Lord Rothschild,

I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet.

“His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.

Yours sincerely,Arthur James Balfour

KEY TERMS From the Palestinian perspective, the founding of

the Jewish state was a Nakba, a catastrophe, a disaster.

From the Jewish perspective, the 1948 war that was the Nakba for Palestinians is referred to as the war of independence.

Right of Return: Palestinian refugees who fled their homes during the 1948 war demand the right to return to their homes.

Green Line: The boundaries of the state of Israel before the seizure of territories in the 1967 war.

KEY TERMS (CONTINUED) First Intifida (uprising) – 1987; waged by

men, women, and children, through acts of civil disobedience and stone throwing

Oslo Peace Process– 1994; land for peace Israeli settlements – despite Oslo increased

from 1994 to 2000 Second Intifida – 2000; more militant, rise

of Hamas, departure from Gaza by Israel

SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 181

Adopted in 1947 The establishment of two independent

states, one for Palestinians and one for the Jewish people

Jerusalem is to be under international authority, administered by the United Nations

Establishes the borders of the Arab state and the state of Israel.

SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 242

Adopted in 1967 following the 6-day war between Israel and the Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.

Calls for the withdrawal of Israel armed forces from the territories occupied during 6-day war.

Affirms the right of every state in the region to its borders and sovereignty and right to live in peace

Calls for a just settlement of the refugee problem (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon are sites of refugee camps).

5.2 million Palestinians are diasporic – living in places other than Palestine and unable to return to their homes

SETTLEMENT FACTS http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/aug/24/israel-settlements-west-b

ank Israel invaded the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967 and has

occupied it since. According to international law, the occupation is illegal. It is also illegal,

under international law, for Israel to build settlements and populate occupied territory with its own civilian population.

Number of Settlements and “Outposts” Since 1967, Israel has built 120 settlements in the West Bank, and 12

settlements in East Jerusalem. There are also a number of “unauthorized” settlements. Between 1993 (Oslo) and today, the settler count in OPT has doubled.

The Jewish rate of population growth in the settlements, at 5.8%, is far higher than in Israel proper (1.8%), leading to a rapid rise in settler the population. In 2009, some 304,000 Israelis lived in the West Bank (not counting the number in unauthorized settlements), not including East Jerusalem.

1949 BORDERS OF JEWISH AND ARAB STATES

SEPARATION WALL25’ wall that snakes its waythrough the West Bank; doesnot follow the Green Line