The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Historical Background

Changes in who ruled the Middle East

• http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html

Learning Activity: How many different kingdoms and empires have ruled what is now Israel?

Ancient Times• Hebrews, the people of what we now call Israel and

Palestine, came to what is now Israel in the 1800’s BC; they called it Canaan

• Abraham, considered the “founder” of Judaism, left Ur in Babylonia and came to Canaan; in 1700’s BC,

• Another group of Hebrews, led by Jacob went to Egypt; Moses led Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, wandering through the Sinai Desert; re-emerged into Canaan as the Jews with a distinct national and religious identity

• This came to be called the Kingdom of Judah• This is the land the was promised to the Jews as

described in Genesis in the Old Testament

Ancient Times (cont.)

• Kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC; Canaan was taken over and most members of the Jewish tribes either fled or were captured and enslaved by Babylonia

• 500’s-300’s BC – Jews returned from Babylonia and rebuilt their Temple in Jerusalem; Romans invaded but allowed the Jews to use the Temple

• The Romans were fairly tolerant of other religions in the places they took over until their democracy collapsed in 44 BC

• In 70 AD the Temple was destroyed by the Romans because the Jews would not pray to the Roman gods over their own God

• Many, many Jews left Canaan for Europe at this time; this is called the “Jewish Diaspora”

Where did the Jews go?Learning Activity: Use question sheet

• In what modern nations did the Jews live before the destruction of the Temple?

• To what modern nations did they move after the destruction of the temple?

• How would moving a religion away from its homeland change things for the people who practice it?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/jewish.html

Middle Ages Renaissance Modern Era

• Anti-Semitism is the belief that Jews are evil or pose a threat to others. Some of this came from the belief that Jews had crucified Jesus (instead of the Romans) and that Jews lived a somewhat separate life from Christians in Europe. They were more likely to live in cities, to be educated, and practices different diet (Kosher) and worship styles. In a society in which there was so little diversity, the little differences freaked people out

• Anti-Semitism against Jews in Europe became common; massacres of Jews by Crusaders on the way to Jerusalem from 1095 to 1300 is the biggest example, but not the only one

• Anti-Semitism also caused Christians to blame the Jews for the Great Plague that began in 1347 (it was caused by bacteria-carrying fleas that lived on rats)

• Western European Jews weren’t granted civil rights (the right to a trial or to own property) until the 1790’s; that meant no right to own property or press charges against someone or defend themselves

• Western European Jews were more secular (less religious); blended with rest of the nation but still looked down upon socially; this led to anger and a desire for their own country

• Jews in Russia were very oppressed; clung to religion as foundation of identity to survive; which also led to anger and desire for their own country

• Almost half immigrated out of Europe prior to WWI in 1914(most to USA)

The different Jewish Communities in 1914

• There were basically two large and quite different Jewish groups by 1914; the very traditional Russian Jews who practiced an old and very rigid form or Judaism with lots of rules (which had been designed to keep the community together in the face of Russian oppression) and the much more modern and less religious American and European Jews.

• There was a third, smaller group too. They were called the Oriental (eastern) Jews. They had never left Canaan and had lived under Muslim rule in the eastern Mediterranean since the fall of the Roman Empire

Learning Activity

What problems do you think if these three groups might have if members of the two larger groups decided to move back to Canaan with the smaller group?– What religious problems conflicts might they

have?– What land ownership conflicts might they

have?

Meanwhile, back in Canaan…

• Canaan/Israel had suddenly become a pretty important place for three world powers: the British, the French, and the Ottoman Empires

The Ottoman Empire• From the 1300’s on, the

Ottomans had slowly taken over the Middle East. By 1900, they were weak but desperate to keep control over the region of Israel to hold on to tax revenues and prestige

• The British and French both wanted the area for themselves and Britain had already gained control of Egypt

The French Empire• The French wanted to

compete with the British and the Germans for control of smaller weaker nations. Access to Israel/Palestine would give them a route to build a railroad to Asia and establish new colonies

• It would increase tax revenue and improve France’s standing in the world (they had lost an embarrassing war with Germany in 1876).

The British Empire• The “sun never set” on

the British Empire. Having control over Israel/Palestine would allow them to build a railroad to their colonies in India and allow them to control sea routes to colonies in Asia and the Pacific.

Why did everyone care so much?

• The Suez Canal cut the distance between Europe and Asia by more than half. Time = money in shipping. Whoever controlled it, controlled global shipping and prosperity. Revenues from fees could be huge and a rival could be impoverished

Learning Activity

Explain why the Ottomans, the British, and the French wanted to control the region of Israel/Palestine.

Zionism (belief that Jews need a national homeland

and that the land of Canaan is it)• In 1890’s western European Jews (generally non-

religious and capitalistic) and Russian Jews (very religious and often socialistic) began to buy property from absentee Muslim landlords in Israel – the two groups had very different ideas– 1891-1914 50,000 immigrated 1914 Ottoman Empire’s landowning class paid no

attention to Arab concerns about increasing numbers of Jewish immigrants

• 1914-1918 Israel becomes strategically important: British and French want to divide up the Ottoman Empire and protect their interests in the region

World War One 1914-1918French, British, Russian, and American goals for

Israel/Palestine• France wanted to expand & protect French outposts in Lebanon (leftover

from Crusades!)• Great Britain wanted to protect routes to India & access to oil to fuel Navy• Russia wanted to add to its empire

Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Ottoman Empire goals for Israel/Palestine

• Ottomans wanted to retain influence• Germans wanted oil and to cut off India from Great Britain• Austria-Hungary wanted to take land from Ottomans

Learning Activity

Whose interests seem to be ignored by the goals of all of these other nations?

Great Britain tries to get Palestine

Great Britain tried to get Palestine away from the Ottomans in two ways that contradicted each other and contributed to the current problem

1. Balfour Declaration promised to support a Jewish homeland in Palestine – Zionists promised to help protect Suez Canal and to keep the French out

2. In 1915, British generals made deals with the Sharif of Mecca to become the new caliph if he started a revolt to take down the Ottoman Empire.

– The British were losing to Ottomans at Gallipoli and needed help

– The Sharif agreed to keep French out and would get control of all of Mesopotamia, Syria, Jordan, & Palestine

Both groups promised the same land

Learning Activity

Explain how the Balfour Declaration and the deal with the Sharif of Mecca would conflict with each other.

Conflicting Agreements• When the war ended, the British

established a “mandate” that had two local governments working under their government – Mufti of Jerusalem; man from a Palestinian

tribal family, hated Jews; favored his own tribe over others; left Palestinians in disunity

– Jewish Agency; group of highly organized leaders who made the most of the lack of Palestinian unity

Palestinian Mandate falls apart1918-1948

• Son of the Sharif of Mecca agrees to drop claims on Palestine to become King of Iraq (a country the British invented just to offer him something!)

• Jews 11-12% of population of Palestine but gaining in land ownership due to non-Palestinian (Egyptian or Turkish) landowners selling for quick profits

Palestinian Revolt 1936-1939• As World War Two approached, Britain

needed oil and began to try to calm Arabs and Palestinians – Proposed to partition the country into Jewish and

Palestinian sections with British control of Jerusalem and Bethlehem with both sides having access to both

• Zionists agreed to partition, Palestinians disagreed and revolted– Many Palestinian leaders were deported;

Palestinians lost their leaders at crucial time

Learning Activity

What do you think was the biggest reason that the Zionists and the Palestinians couldn’t work together?

Holocaust 1939-1945• Holocaust proved the need for a Jewish

homeland in the eyes of many Americans & Europeans – Jewish or not

• United Nations begins to plan for creation of independent Jewish state

• British too broke to support the Mandate and the US (we were paying their bills) wanted a Jewish homeland; opened up unrestricted immigration to Israel

After World War II• Hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees

were in “displaced persons” camps in Europe and most wanted to immigrate to Israel. US President Truman encouraged immigration. Shifted population balance in the Palestinian Mandate towards Jewish population.

• British couldn’t spare the 100,000 troops required to hold onto the Mandate

Creation of Israel - 1948• UN proposed to partition the country –

Zionist General Council (the Jewish legislature) approved the idea but Palestinians and Arab nations who supported them said they would fight it to the death. US didn’t want a war.

• Israel proclaimed itself independent on May 14th, Arab nations invaded on May 15th

War of 1948• Fearing a massacre, Palestinian civilians

fled their homes – two stories:– Some say…Told to flee because Arab troops

were going to kill everyone who stayed to wipe out Jewish population

– Some say…Fled in fear after an Israeli guerilla group killed 250 Palestinian civilians

• Israeli forces captured an area larger than the UN plan had given them – held these borders until 1967

Palestinian Refugees• Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were

grouped into refugee camps on the borders with Jordan, Syria, and Egypt.

• Arab nations did not want to take them in– It would be an acknowledgement that the eviction

was permanent– It would devastate their economies and de-

stabilize their nations, which were newly independent

Result: 90% of Palestinians living under Israeli military rule

Learning Activity

How would you feel about the situation if you were..– A) a Palestinian who was living in a refugee

camp who had fled his or her home in 1948?– B) a young Jewish soldier who had fled the

Holocaust and made it to Israel?

Leading up to war• Israeli Defense Forces – (IDF) created to stop

the actions of Jewish guerilla groups• All Israelis (boys and girls) serve in it after high

school and many serve beyond – huge part of national life

• Over 1.2 million new Jewish people arrived in 1950’s - totally different people than previous groups (rural, not educated, poor)

Leading Up to War • Defense (Emergency) Regulations

– Israel could expel anyone from its “security zone” for national security reasons

• Emergency Regulations (Cultivation of Waste Lands) Ordinance– Land that had been left behind my fleeing

Palestinians could be confiscated by Israeli government and used for Israelis (needed a place for those 1.2 million new citizens)

– Used land to build 350 new Jewish communities; called “settlements”

1967 War

• Israel shot down Syrian jets near their shared border

• USSR told Egypt that Israel was going to attack Syria on May 17th; Egypt & Syria geared up for war; told UN they would invade

• June 5th – Israel attacked and destroyed the Egyptian Air Force on the ground

1967 War

• Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were defeated in six days

• Israel captured the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, all of Jerusalem, and the West Bank – That’s all of Biblical Israel– Huge boost to religious pride; became

religious duty to keep it

Results of 1967 War: Areas in red were captured in 1967 war; areas in white were Israel prior to the war

Problems with the new territories

• Israel never thought it would capture these places– No plan for what to do with them– Did not want to give them back for religious

and security reasons AND population pressures (new arrivals needed a place to live)

– Some groups made plans to build settlements on the new areas, others wanted to negotiate their return for safety and recognition – big internal dispute for Israelis

UN Resolution 242

• UN called on Israel to return West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Arab nations– Israeli response: Maybe, but probably not– Arab response: ‘Three No’s”:

• No peace with Israel• No recognition of Israel• No negotiation with Israel

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)

There was no Palestinian government and the governments of Arab nations were using the refugees as political pawns– PLO founded to represent Palestinian interests– PLO led raids on Israeli settlements– Israel responded with “asymmetrical force” – by

striking back even harder– PLO based in Jordan until they got kicked out in 1970

for making trouble; moved to Lebanon until forced until exile in Tunisia in 1980’s

Learning Activity

Why do you think the Palestinians were at a disadvantage in negotiating to get their land back after the 1967 war?

1973 War (Yom Kippur War)

• October 1973, Egypt and Syria attacked Israel – Arab nations much more successful this time– US negotiated a cease-fire after 18 days– US began to fund Israeli military– Arab states (with lots of oil money) began to

improve their military and fund the PLO– US had Israel as an anti-communist ally AND

needed Arab oil

US Involvement in Israel/Palestine

• US would provide $2 billion a year in aid and drop requirement for Israel to pull out of West Bank

• US would not negotiate with PLO– US won’t talk to PLO, neither will Israel– Palestinians have no government other than PLO;

resort to terror to get their message heard– Arab nations won’t talk to Israel

US is the only nation that can negotiate – we’re stuck in the middle

Since 1970’s• Israel has added lots of settlements in land acquired in

1967 war• Refugees still in camps (which are now cities with very

high population growth rates)• First Intifada in 1987 erupted over access to jobs in

Israel (required to have passes to go into Israel itself)• Second Intifada in Fall 2000 began over the same issue

and lack of progress toward peace• Suicide bombings and security barrier• Click here for the Palestinian view of the Intifada• And click here for the Israeli view

Learning Activity

How do the two descriptions of the Intifada differ? Write a 2-3 sentence summary of the Palestinian description and a 2-3 sentence summary of the Israeli definition.

Conclude with 1-2 sentences about why you think the definitions differ.

Green squares are settlements built within the Palestinian territories acquired in the 1967 War. Settlements are connected by roads that do not have exits or entrances to Palestinian communities.

The Security Barrier• At the start of the second Intifada, Israelis began to plan

and then build a security wall/fence (it is a concrete wall in some places and chain-link fence in others) to keep Palestinians from entering Israel except at military checkpoints and protect the Israeli settlements you saw on the previous map. Click here to see the map of it. It generally follows the outline of the occupied territories you saw in the previous slide.

About the fence/wall

• Click here to read about the wall from an organization called MidEastWeb that is generally more pro-Palestinian.

• Click here to read about the wall from the Israeli pro-wall side at the Jewish Virtual Library.

Learning ActivityList two questions that you would like to ask an Israeli and

two questions you would like to ask a Palestinian about this conflict.

Summarize what the Palestinians want.Summarize what the Israelis want.

Write a paragraph explaining what you think needs to be done to solve this problem. You must be more specific than simply saying “everybody needs to get along”.

Summative Assessment

Write a letter to one of the following:– Secretary of State Hillary Clinton– President Obama, – Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar (chair

and ranking members of Senate Foreign Relations Committee)

Your letter should state what position you think the US should take on Israeli settlements and/or the security barrier