Arab-Israeli Conflict
I. Palestine & Israel Jewish view: God promised land to Jews (1700 BCE) Jewish Diasporas (scattering) occurred 586 BCE: Destruction of Solomon s Temple 70 CE: Destruction of the Second Temple Muslims expanded into the area in 600s
Importance of Palestine All 3 monotheistic religions have significant ties to Jerusalem Judaism = The Western Wall Ruins of the Second Temple Christianity = Church of the Holy Sepulchre Site on which Christ was crucified, buried, & resurrected Islam = Dome of the Rock Site from which Muhammad ascended to heaven
The Western Wall (70 CE) (Holiest site in Judaism)
Church of the Holy Sepulchre (site on which Christ was crucified, buried & resurrected) (4 th cent.)
Dome of the Rock (705 CE) (site from which Muhammad ascended to Heaven)
Inside the Dome of the Rock
Zionist Movement: an internat l call to Jews to immigrate to Palestine to est. a country (late 1800s) Palestine became a British mandate following WWI.
Balfour Declaration: 1922: Brits opened Jewish immigration into Palestine
1920: 1 Jew to 10 Arabs in Palestine 1947: 2 Arabs for every Jew
Arabs rioted as Jews immigrated 1939: Brit. shut off Jewish immigration (WWII) Palestinian Jews turned to terrorism 1946: Israel was a war zone 1947: Brit. backed out of governance of Israel UN took over formed partition betw. Jews & Arabs Two-State Solution Truman endorsed
The U.N. s Two State Solution (Each group gets a piece)
1948: Israel officially became a country Muslim countries did not recognize Israel as a country
Arabs launched an attack on Israel (1948) Other wars: 1956, 1967, & 1973 Israel fought off every invasion b/c of U.S. aid
1967 (Six Day War)-Israel defeated Egypt, Syria, Jordan, & Iraq Reclaimed the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights (original living space for Pals), and the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt)
The Israeli Occupied Territories
-1964: Palestinian Liberation Organization(PLO) *Represent the interests of Palestinians *Yasir Arafat (leader) *Goal of PLO: complete liberation of Palestine Seen as terrorists
1979: Egypt recognized Israel as a country Israel returned Sinai Peninsula to Egypt Pres. Anwar Sadat was assassinated (1981)
1993: Israel & PLO signed the Oslo Accord: First time Palestinians recognized Israel s right to exist PLO becomes peaceful Provided for Palestinian self-govt. in two places (Gaza & parts of West Bank) Activists from both sides criticized this accord
1994: Violence broke out An Israeli killed 29 Muslims in West Bank Palestinians responded with suicide bombings PLO is an agent of Israel? Hamas: an Islamist group said war until an independent Palestine was created
2000: peace talks broke down after disagreement on how Jerusalem would be shared The Arab leader who would surrender Jerusalem is not born yet. (Arafat) Palestinian Intifada broke out
2004: Yasir Arafat died Mamoud Abbas current PLO leader Denounced violence Hamas: Islamist party in control of Gaza Strip Promotes violence to achieve an independent Palestinian state (suicide bombers) Who s in charge? Gaza = Hamas WB = PLO Benjamin Netanyahu (PM of Israel)
Israel s Solution to Suicide Bombers 2002: Israel began building a wall around West Bank protection against Palestinian suicide bombers Israel s method of claiming more land/resources
Beginning in 1995, Israeli settlers began taking control of water resources in West Bank Water amount used: Jews: 74 gal/day Pals: 19 gal/day WHO: 27 gal/day is needed for health
Israelis settle on Palestinian lands & exploit valuable resources (water)
Notice the Israeli controlled land in the green==== What make this land so attractive? Water Ag. land
Effects of the Separation Wall: Cuts Pals off from water resources Takes up valuable ag. land of Pals Hinders travel & economic development of Pals
Palestinian Refugees
Wealth Disparities betw. Israelis & Palestinians
Road Map to Peace: a U.S. sponsored peace plan to create a Palestinian state Two State Solution is the solution, but Gaza & WB must politically reunify with the disarmament of Hamas, and Israel must remove settlers in the WB
Let s sum it up CONFLICT IN ISRAEL B/C: 1) Jewish settlements in Pal s lands Separation Wall 2) Jerusalem (religious sites) 3) Water Access