By Mr. Colvin

Introduction to the Palestinian-Israeli ConflictGeography

IsraelPalestineChristian

Ancient timelineUN Partition Plan

1967 War1973 War

Camp David AccordsRise of the PLOFirst IntifadahOslo Accords

Second IntifadahThe Issues

Links

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT: INTRODUCTION

The conflict between Israel and the

Palestinians is one that is:

Extremely dangerousLong-lastingComplicatedAnimated by

religious fervor

This conflict is destabilizing and could lead to a major world war. Many wars have already been fought

Israel possesses nuclear weapons and its enemies would like to develop such weapons to gain a military advantage

Many in the Middle East perceive the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as the most important issue which makes progress in other areas impossible. Unless peace is reached, the US is

perceived as biased, and it is difficult to get cooperation from other countries in the region

America has oil interests in the regionThe War on terrorism

The Iraq War Promote Democracy: Israel is a democratic, capitalistic state

US citizens have close ties to Israel and Arabs.

US INTERESTS: WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

THE GEOGRAPHY

Israel is at the crossroads between

Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Today, it is in the heart of the Arab Middle East

The area’s small size limits its capacity to be a

homeland for all the people who want to live

there.

ISRAEL: LAND FOR JEWS

Israel is a modern, democratic nation created in 1948.

It was conceived as a homeland for Jews who had experienced

discrimination worldwide.Israel includes Jews and Arabs, who have rights of citizenship.

Israel was the historic homeland of the Jews first

promised by God to Abraham around 2000 BCE.

Israel was the site of several kingdoms and independent

states until the Romans finally exiled the Jews in 135 AD.During the Diaspora, Jews

remembered their homeland and dreamed of returning to it.

PALESTINE: HOMELAND FOR PALESTINIANS

Palestinians are the Arabic speaking people that live in Palestine.

Most Palestinians practice Islam which

came to Palestine around 638 AD, although some

are Christian.Jerusalem is one of the

most holy cities for Islam because Moslems

believe that Muhammad ascended to heaven here

THE HOLY LAND FOR CHRISTIANS

Israel and Palestine has been a major site for Christian pilgrimage

and crusadesJesus is said to have

been born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth.He is said to have been

crucified and resurrected in

Jerusalem

1947: UN PARTITION PLAN

In 1947, the UN proposed a partition plan for Palestine which

would create an Arab and an Israeli state.

Under the plan, Jews (who accounted for 33% of the

population) would receive 55% of the land.

This plan was rejected by the Arab states and 5 nations

attacked Israel when it declared independence according to the

UN plan on May 14, 1948.Israel won the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and expanded its boundaries

from the UN partition plan.War created Jewish and

Palestinian refugeesEgypt took control of the Gaza Strip and Jordan annexed the

West Bank.

1967 WAR: THE SIX DAY WAR

Fearing attack by Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan, Israel

launched a preemptive strike

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza

Strip, Sinai Peninsula and the

Golan Heights.

1973 WAR

Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan attacked Israel to

regain lands lost in the 6 day war.

The Arab nations were initially successful as the

Israelis were celebrating Yom Kippur and had not

anticipated an attack.After several weeks, Israel

recovered its occupied lands and a cease fire was reached.Both Arabs and Jews gained confidence as a result of the

war

1978 CAMP DAVID ACCORDS

The first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state

This historic agreement led to Israel returning the Sinai

Peninsula to Egypt in return for diplomatic relations

An agreement was signed for negotiating a settlement of the Palestinian claims, but this was

not successful.Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat

was assassinated in 1981 by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad

organization, pursuant to a religious decree by Sheik Omar

Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted of the 1993 World

Trade Center bombing

RISE OF THE PLO

The Palestine Liberation Organization is an umbrella organization for many

groups which represent the Palestinian people. Currently, its

officials control many positions in the Palestinian Authority which governs

Palestinian territory. Its most famous leader was Yassir

Arafat, who died last year. This organization was founded in

1964.In 1974, the PLO was recognized by

the United Nations as the representative of the Palestinian

people.The PLO has also fought militarily

against Israeli occupation of its land and has been involved in numerous

terrorist acts against Israeli citizens.

FIRST INTIFADAH, 1987-1993

In 1987, Palestinians became frustrated with their living

conditions and lack of progress.“They maintain that the Intifada was a protest of Israel's brutal

repression which included extra-judicial killings, mass

detentions, house demolitions, indiscriminate torture,

deportations, and so on.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada)

Often Palestinians fought the Israelis with low tech weapons like rocks, but over time, they

gained access to guns and other explosives.

By 1993, 1,162 Palestinians and 160 Israelis had died.

OSLO ACCORDS

In 1993, the PLO and Israel signed a peace agreement to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian

conflict.

The agreement included the following:Withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza

Strip and the West BankPalestinian right to self-government through

the creation of the Palestinian Authority.The parties agreed to negotiate a final and

permanent peace settlement in the near future. Permanent issues such as

Jerusalem, refugees, Israeli settlements in the area, security and borders were

deliberately excluded from the Accords and determined as not prejudged.

The Israeli government recognized the PLO as the legitimate representative of the

Palestinian peopleThe PLO recognized the right of the state of

Israel to exist and renounced terrorism, violence and its desire for the destruction of

Israel.

The Oslo Peace Accord failed to achieve a final settlement despite great efforts by Bill Clinton in the last months of his presidency. Israel and the US claimed that Israel made historic offers for peace which Yassir Arafat rejected. Palestinians claimed that they could never sign an agreement that didn’t give complete Palestinian control over the Temple Mount and

holy sites in Jerusalem.The Second Intifadah, or uprising, began in September 2000 following the

visit of Israeli politician Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount.The second Intifadah has been far bloodier than the first as suicide

bombing has become a common tactic. Israel has responded by assassinating leaders that order the suicide attacks and entering

Palestinian towns with tanks and strong force to search for terrorists. Death tolls are estimated at 4,000

Israel believes that Yassir Arafat was not a true partner for peace as it has gathered evidence that he has been involved in terrorist activity. His forces have refused to arrest Islamist militants like Hamas members.

Palestinians have grown frustrated by the lack of progress and continuing brutal occupation.

2ND INTIFADAH, 2000-PRESENT

The right of Israel to exist as a nation on land previously occupied by Moslems

Refugees and the right of returnThe building of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Status of JerusalemTerrorism

Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights and the West Bank.Water rights

Defensible and safe borders.Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails

International and Arab recognition of Israel and normalized relations

THE ISSUES

An excellent site on the Arab Israeli conflict.  This contains primary documents and a wealth of excellent resources and links.  A diversity of

perspectives is represented. http://www.historyteacher.net/Arab-Israeli_Conflict.htm#Docs 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2001/israel_and_the_palestinians/default.stm BBC site

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/conflict/index.html PBS special

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/israel_hist_1973.jpghttp://www.teacheroz.com/Non_Western.htm

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1896herzl.htmlhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1896herzl-b.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/israel_at_50/internet_links/82045.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/zion.htmlhttp://www.mideastweb.org/timeline.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/israel_and_palestinians/timeline/1947.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab-Israeli_conflict

LINKS