The Middle The Middle East ConflictEast Conflict

Palestine-Israel

Ancient IsraelAncient IsraelAround 1500 BC, Jewish tribes fled Around 1500 BC, Jewish tribes fled

from persecution in Egypt and from persecution in Egypt and settled in their new homeland settled in their new homeland which they called Israel. (Moses, which they called Israel. (Moses, the Exodus in the Old Testament)the Exodus in the Old Testament)

Their kings included David and Their kings included David and Solomon who ruled from Solomon who ruled from JerusalemJerusalem

In AD 135 the Romans destroyed In AD 135 the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and expelled the Jews Jerusalem and expelled the Jews in the DIASPORAin the DIASPORA

JerusalemJerusalemJerusalem is a holy Jerusalem is a holy

city for three city for three religionsreligions

The Jews worship at The Jews worship at the wall of the wall of Solomon’’s Solomon’’s TempleTemple

Muslims pray at the Muslims pray at the Dome of the RockDome of the Rock

Christianity was Christianity was centred around centred around events in events in JerusalemJerusalem

The DiasporaThe DiasporaAfter the Jews were After the Jews were

exiled from Israel exiled from Israel they drifted to they drifted to many countries. many countries.

They were expelled They were expelled from Western from Western Europe in the Europe in the Middle Ages.Middle Ages.

The largest group The largest group settled in Russia settled in Russia and Polandand Poland

They were often They were often persecutedpersecuted

The Arabs in PalestineThe Arabs in Palestine After the Jews After the Jews

vacated Israel vacated Israel their place was their place was taken by the Arabs taken by the Arabs and their and their homeland was homeland was called Palestine.called Palestine.

In the 7In the 7thth century century they were they were converted to Islam.converted to Islam.

For 400 years they For 400 years they were ruled by the were ruled by the Ottoman Turks, Ottoman Turks, until the First until the First World WarWorld War

The Turkish Empire

ZionismZionismIn the 19In the 19thth century a century a

world wide movement world wide movement of Jews called for a of Jews called for a national homeland for national homeland for the Jews, a return to the the Jews, a return to the “Promised Land”. This “Promised Land”. This was the Zionist was the Zionist movement (“Zion” movement (“Zion” means Jerusalem).means Jerusalem).

Between 1880 and 1914 Between 1880 and 1914 60,000 Zionists settled 60,000 Zionists settled in Palestine and bought in Palestine and bought land.land.

British MandateBritish MandatePalestine became a British Palestine became a British

mandate after World War mandate after World War I.I.

The British promised The British promised Palestine to the Jews and Palestine to the Jews and to the Arabs.to the Arabs.

By 1939 there were 450,000 By 1939 there were 450,000 Jews in Palestine and the Jews in Palestine and the Arabs were in rebellion.Arabs were in rebellion.

After World War II the British After World War II the British tried to prevent thousands tried to prevent thousands of Jews arriving. In 1947 of Jews arriving. In 1947 the British handed over the British handed over Palestine to the UN.Palestine to the UN.

Israel’s Independence Israel’s Independence 1948 1948

In 1947 the United In 1947 the United Nations voted to Nations voted to partition Palestine partition Palestine and create two and create two states: Israel and states: Israel and PalestinePalestine

Israel’s Prime MinistersIsrael’s Prime Ministers

First Arab-Israeli War 1948First Arab-Israeli War 1948In May 1948 five In May 1948 five

Arab countries Arab countries attacked Israelattacked Israel

Israel captured Arab Israel captured Arab territory which it territory which it has held ever sincehas held ever since

Palestine Palestine disappeared and disappeared and 700,000 700,000 Palestinian Palestinian refugees fled from refugees fled from Israel and settled Israel and settled in neighboring in neighboring countriescountries

The Suez War 1956The Suez War 1956Colonel Nasser seized Colonel Nasser seized

power in Egypt in 1952.power in Egypt in 1952.

In 1956 Nasser seized the In 1956 Nasser seized the Suez Canal from the Suez Canal from the BritishBritish

Israel joined Britain and Israel joined Britain and France in a war against France in a war against Egypt. They advanced Egypt. They advanced towards Suez.towards Suez.

They were condemned by They were condemned by the US and UN. They the US and UN. They withdrew.withdrew.

Nasser was a heroNasser was a hero

Arafat and the PLOArafat and the PLO

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) was created in 1964, aiming to destroy Israel and form an independent Palestinian state. Arafat became their leader in 1968.The PLO’s army of freedom fighters was called Fatah.

The Six Day War June 1967The Six Day War June 1967Israel was under Israel was under

pressure from Nasser pressure from Nasser and the Syriansand the Syrians

In 1967 Israel launched In 1967 Israel launched a surprise attacka surprise attack

Israel seized more Arab Israel seized more Arab land: Sinai, Gaza, land: Sinai, Gaza, West Bank and Golan West Bank and Golan Heights – known as Heights – known as “The Occupied “The Occupied Territories”Territories”

Palestinian TerrorismPalestinian TerrorismIn the 1970s,to bring the world’s attention to their cause, a number ofPalestinian groupsresorted to terrorism: airplane hijackingsand taking hostagesat the MunichOlympics

The Yom Kippur War The Yom Kippur War 19731973

In 1973 Egypt and In 1973 Egypt and Syria launched Syria launched another war on another war on Israel, on the Israel, on the Jewish holy day Jewish holy day of Yom Kippurof Yom Kippur

The Arabs did not The Arabs did not succeed in succeed in driving Israel driving Israel from the from the occupied occupied territories, but territories, but they did discover they did discover a new weapon: a new weapon: OILOIL

Lebanon ExplodesLebanon ExplodesIn the 1970s thousands of In the 1970s thousands of

PLO Fatah fighters moved PLO Fatah fighters moved into southern Lebanon and into southern Lebanon and launched attacks on Israel.launched attacks on Israel.

In 1975 the Lebanese army In 1975 the Lebanese army attacked the PLO. A civil attacked the PLO. A civil war erupted between war erupted between Christians and Muslims.Christians and Muslims.

The Syrian army invaded.The Syrian army invaded.

Israel entered the war and Israel entered the war and remained there for 10 remained there for 10 years.years.

Beirut was left in ruinsBeirut was left in ruins

Camp David Peace AgreementCamp David Peace Agreement

In 1979 President Carter brought the Israeli and In 1979 President Carter brought the Israeli and Egyptian leaders together to make peace.Egyptian leaders together to make peace.

Israel handed back Sinai to Egypt and both Israel handed back Sinai to Egypt and both countries exchanged ambassadorscountries exchanged ambassadors

The Peace ProcessThe Peace Process

Beginning in 1991 the peace process reached its climax Beginning in 1991 the peace process reached its climax in 1993 when President Clinton brought Arafat and in 1993 when President Clinton brought Arafat and Rabin together to sign a peace agreement.Rabin together to sign a peace agreement.

Israel accepted the Palestinian right to govern West Israel accepted the Palestinian right to govern West Bank and Gaza and Arafat agreed to recognize Bank and Gaza and Arafat agreed to recognize Israel’s right to exist.Israel’s right to exist.

The Palestinian AuthorityThe Palestinian Authority

The agreement of The agreement of 1993 established 1993 established the the Palestinian Palestinian AuthorityAuthority with with Arafat as presidentArafat as president

The PA is centred on The PA is centred on the the West BankWest Bank and and GazaGaza

Jewish SettlementsJewish SettlementsSince the 6 Day War Jews Since the 6 Day War Jews

have been moving into have been moving into the occupied territories the occupied territories and building settlements.and building settlements.

Palestinians have protested Palestinians have protested and attacked the settlersand attacked the settlers

Israeli governments have Israeli governments have supported the settlers.supported the settlers.

Today there are dozens of Today there are dozens of Jewish settlements in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and GazaWest Bank and Gaza

Barak-Arafat Talks Fail 2001Barak-Arafat Talks Fail 2001 In his final month as In his final month as

president, January president, January 2001, Bill Clinton 2001, Bill Clinton brought Israeli PM brought Israeli PM Barak and Barak and Palestinian Palestinian Authority president, Authority president, Arafat together for Arafat together for one last attempt to one last attempt to reach a settlement.reach a settlement.

Clinton blamed Clinton blamed Arafat for the failure Arafat for the failure of these talksof these talks

9/11/019/11/01 Al Queda’s attacks Al Queda’s attacks

on Sept 11, 2001 on Sept 11, 2001 were, in part, an were, in part, an attack on US attack on US support of Israelsupport of Israel

President Bush President Bush declared war on declared war on Terrorism. Terrorism.

Arafat and the Arafat and the Palestinian fighters Palestinian fighters were classed as were classed as terroriststerrorists

Sharon Walks on the Temple MountSharon Walks on the Temple Mount

When Ariel Sharon When Ariel Sharon walked on the walked on the Temple Mount on Temple Mount on 28 September 28 September 2001 the 2001 the Palestinians Palestinians rioted.rioted.

Soon after Sharon Soon after Sharon beat Barak in the beat Barak in the general electiongeneral election

Sharon claimed Sharon claimed he would be tough he would be tough on terrorismon terrorism

The Second IntifadaThe Second Intifada A full scale Palestinian A full scale Palestinian

uprising, the Intifada, has uprising, the Intifada, has been underway since 2001been underway since 2001

Sharon has labeled the Sharon has labeled the Palestinian fighters Palestinian fighters “terrorists”“terrorists”

He refused to talk to He refused to talk to Arafat and came close to Arafat and came close to bombing his HQbombing his HQ

Sharon built a fence along Sharon built a fence along the Israel-West Bank the Israel-West Bank border to keep the border to keep the “terrorists out”“terrorists out”

Whe

HamasHamas

Hamas has split from Arafat’s Palestinian Authority and wants to destroy Israel.Hamas fighters are the suicide bombers

Since the Death of ArafatSince the Death of Arafat Since Arafat died in Since Arafat died in

December 2004 the December 2004 the Palestinian situation Palestinian situation looks more hopeful:looks more hopeful:

1.1. Both Sharon and Both Sharon and Bush are talking to Bush are talking to the new Palestinian the new Palestinian leader Mahmoud leader Mahmoud AbbasAbbas

2.2. Sharon has recently Sharon has recently forced Jewish forced Jewish settlements out of settlements out of GazaGaza

SummarySummary1948-1976: War and terrorism1948-1976: War and terrorism

1977-2001: Negotiation and peace1977-2001: Negotiation and peace

2001-now: War and terrorism 2001-now: War and terrorism

Why did the peace process break down?Why did the peace process break down? Arafat’s failure to compromiseArafat’s failure to compromise Sharon’s reluctance to make peaceSharon’s reluctance to make peace Bush’s lack of involvementBush’s lack of involvement Extremist Arabs fed up with everyone Extremist Arabs fed up with everyone