Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Hello, and welcome to Fairfield University s annual Model UN Conference! It is a pleasure to have so many devoted and dedicated high school students visit our university because they deeply care about the current issues our world faces. My name is Andrew Johnian. I am from Andover, Massachusetts a town 20 miles north of Boston. I am currently a senior, majoring in Politics and minoring in Economics and American Studies. Last Spring, I had the honor and privilege of studying abroad and interning in Washington, DC for the Committee on Homeland Security in the House of Representatives. The opportunities and experience I gained were instrumental in my personal and professional growth. I look forward to applying what I learned to my extracurricular activities that include President of the College Republicans, President of Model United Nations and President of Fairfield Pi Sigma Alpha political science honor society. Following my education at Fairfield, I aspire to attend graduate school to pursue an advanced degree in public policy or public administration. I am also considering choosing an intermediary career to gain work experience directly after my graduation. I am currently aiming to take on a career as a political advisor or as a counterterrorism and intelligence agent in the FBI or CIA. I also aspire to run for office at some point in my life, and it would be a dream come true to serve the American people in Congress. I have a wide variety of hobbies ranging from sports, to music, to the outdoors and of course an avid consumption of news and current events. All of these hobbies are important to me because they define who I am as an individual. As you continue your high school education and begin to set life goals for yourself, it is important to be a well rounded person who has a strong moral compass and a person who pursues a life that it is fulfilling, rewarding and cohesive with your strengths and passion. I have been fortunate enough to continue with my hobbies at Fairfield despite the countless hours of studying and hard work. My favorite thing about Fairfield is the willingness of the faculty to extend their knowledge and help to those who seek guidance. I am grateful to say that the faculty at Fairfield is passionate about their fields of expertise and they always have the students interests at heart. Aside from academics, Fairfield boasts many other qualities. Among these, is the school s proximity to a beautiful downtown that is composed of stores, restaurants and much more. One of my favorite dinner venues that I suggest you visit is Archie Moore s located close to the railroad tracks in downtown Fairfield. Without further ado, I look forward to chairing the Committee on the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict. I decided to pursue this project because of the historical and contemporary political significance it has, not only for the region, but the entire world. I was first introduced to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when I was in middle school. While the dynamics and details have changed since that time, the fighting that is occurring now is part of a decades long conflict with no end in sight. When I was your age, I learned more about how intricate the conflict was from a political, religious, ethnic, economic and security standpoint. My interest in this conflict provoked me to take a course in Middle East Politics last Fall, and one of the units dealt specifically with the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. This course helped me to appreciate the content matter even more and the need to utilize all of the knowledge, skills and tools that are available to bring about long-lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians for the sake of humanity.

Today, the Israelis and the Palestinians are perhaps more divided than ever before. It is clear that the ramifications and failure to achieve peace has and will continue to have severe consequences for the future of Israel and Palestine, the region of the Middle East and potentially the global community. Because this topic is of the utmost concern in terms of the preservation of humanity through peace as outlined in the United Nations charter, I am very much interested and eager for a resolution. I look forward to conducting the lively debates that are in the near future. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Above all, I would encourage all delegates to participate as much as possible because the UN works best when there is transparency and a diversity of opinions. Please do not forget that the deadline to submit position papers is on Friday, November 6, 2015. If you could please submit your position papers to my email at (andrew.johnian@student.fairfield.edu), that would be greatly appreciated.

Reasons for a Committee on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict The current state of Israeli and Palestinians relations is arguably at its lowest point since the conflict began. Both sides have repeatedly accused one another of human rights violations, infringement on territory and trade agreements and unfair tactics both in warfare and diplomacy. Following repeated attempts at deliberation and negotiations for a deal to secure peace led by the United States and Western European allies, nothing has come to fruition. Last summer s warfare carried out by the militant wing of Hamas, who are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and the Israeli Army and security was one of the bloodiest and costliest crisis yet. In March of 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress to address his concerns about Iran s pursuit of nuclear weapons as well as Iran s support of terrorist organizations and militant wings such as Hamas. In that same month, fearing pressure from Hamas and ally Iran, Netanyahu declared that there would never be a two state solution under his watch. Many political observers believe that Netanyahu made these comments to bolster support for the center right and right wing base in Israel. What was expected to be a close race according to pre-election polls, turned out to be a sweeping victory for Netanyahu and his center right Likud Party. In the meantime, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas has called for a two state solution that recognizes the grievances committed by Israel in the past. The comments and ensuing election of Netanyahu has led to a virtual standstill in Israeli and Palestinian dialogue. Without dialogue, deliberation, negotiations, engagement and transparency the conflict will not be resolved. For this reason, the committee is called to action to determine a fair and just resolution through peaceful means. Overview and Background For the duration of the 20 th century and into the 21 st century, the Israelis and the Palestinians have had disputes regarding land/territory, irrigation, trade, jurisdiction and defense and security as well as ethnic, religious and demographic disagreements. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict dates to the Balfour Declaration of 1917 when Great Britain promised to the creation of a Jewish homeland. The rise of Zionism and pan Arabism led to increased tension from World War I through World War II. In the years after the Second World War, Israel became an internationally recognized state in 1948 by the United Nations. The lands of the Middle East were for years ruled by Britain and France and it was there responsibility to make boundaries for a free, secure and peaceful region. That land that is now Israel and Palestine was under British domination as was nearby Jordan and Iraq. To the north, the lands of Lebanon and Syria were under French domination. In the years after the Second World War, Israel became an internationally recognized state in 1948 by the United Nations. This was the beginning of the end of European colonial rule in the Middle East as pan-arabist and nationalist sentiments grew. Feeling disenchanted, the Palestinians created the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) that called for an internationally recognized state of Palestine. As tensions increased, the 1967 Six Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War resulted in

Israel gaining territory in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. Israel later gave up land from the Sinai Peninsula after an agreement between Egypt and the United States. Palestinians, feeling betrayed by their fellow Egyptian Arabs, eventually called for and carried out The First Intifada against Israel. Later, the much more violent Second Intifada led to more bloodshed and losses for Palestine. At the conclusion of the 20 th century and into the 21 st century, the state of Israel has been more effective at gaining international support and legitimate allies. The United States and the Western powers give significant foreign aid, intelligence, and military weapons systems to Israel to defend against militants and terrorism. The Palestinians, while they have gained more international support and recognition in recent years, mostly have relied on militant groups and states such as Iran for security and missions designed to advance the Palestinian cause. Questions to Consider 1.) What are the similarities between the Israelis and the Palestinians? Do they have the same goals? 2.) What role does religion play in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? 3.) What is the importance of land or territory for a nation-state? 4.) What is meant by human rights and justice? Who determines what is just and fair? 5.) What should be done about resettlement due to years of violence and bloodshed? And what should be done about Israel s construction of settlements in the West Bank? 6.) Should there be equal access to land, irrigation, ways and means of commerce? 7.) What would constitute a legal and effective security policy for both Israel and Palestine? 8.) Has the legacy of European colonialism had an impact on the region? And does it influence the current crisis and process for peace? 9.) Is the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict a legitimate interest to the United States? 10.) Should the United States and the West be involved with outlining the terms for an agreement? Or should this solely be the responsibility of Israel and Palestine and maybe other countries in the region?

Additional Information and Resources Timeline 1917: Balfour Declaration was a promise by Britain to support the creation of a Jewish state. 1939-1945: World War II and the Holocaust 1947: UN Partition Plan 1948: State of Israel declared 1964: Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) created 1967: Six Day War preemptive strike by Israel 1973: Yom Kippur War 1978: Camp David Peace Accords (Israel and Egypt peace treaty) 1987-1993: The First Intifada 1993: Oslo Accords creates the Palestinian Authority. Gained the ability to administer territory under its control. 1994: Israel and Jordan sign peace treaty 2000-2005: The Second Intifada 2002: Israel begins building boundaries and ramping up security 2011: Arab Spring June 2014: The 50 Day Gaza War. Commenced after the kidnapping of 3 Israeli teens. This lead to repeated rocket attacks between the Israelis and the Palestinians that ultimately resulted in an Israeli victory. October 2014: Netanyahu announces Jewish only settlement expansion in East Jerusalem, where the Palestinians eye their future capital. March 2015: Netanyahu speaks to joint session of Congress about Iranian Nuclear Deal and terrorism against Israel. He also promises that a two state solution will not happen under his watch. Earns re-election

Helpful Websites http://www.un.org/en/index.html https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/creation-israel http://www.gov.il/firstgov/topnaveng/engsubjects/engorganizations/ http://palestine.dk/palestine/government/ http://palestineun.org/about-palestine/palestine-liberation-organization/ http://www.haaretz.com http://www.jpost.com http://www.palestinechronicle.com http://www.aljazeera.com/topics/regions/middleeast.html Graphs and Maps Percentage of Jews and Arabs in Palestinian Territory

Symbols and Pictures

Committee Positions 1.) Ban ki-moon UN Secretary General 2.) Richard Falk Official on human rights issues in occupied Palestinian land 3.) Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel 4.) Mahmoud Abbas President of the Palestinian Authority 5.) Moshe Ya alon Minister of Defense (Israel) 6.) Naftali Bennett Minister of Economy (Israel) 7.) Avigdor Liberman Minister of Foreign Affairs (Israel) 8.) Silvan Shalom Minister of Regional Cooperation (Israel) 9.) Hassan Rouhani President of Iran 10.) Ayatollah Khameini Iran 11.) King Salmon Saudi Arabia 12.) Haider al- Abadi Prime Minister of Iraq 13.) Bashar al- Assad President of Syria 15.) Abdel Fattah el- Sisi President of Egypt 16.) Khaled Mashal Leader of Hamas 17.) King Abdullah Monarch of Jordan 18.) Hassan Nasrallah Leader of Hezbollah 19.) Barack Obama President of the United States 20.) John Kerry Secretary of States (United States) 21.) Ash Carter Secretary of Defense (United States) 22.) General Martin Dempsey Joint Chiefs of Staff (United States) 23.) David Cameron Prime Minister of Great Britain

24.) Francois Hollande Prime Minister of France 25.) Angela Merkel Prime Minister of Germany 26.) Vladimir Putin President of Russia 27.) Xi Jinping General Secretary of the Communist Party of China acts as President 28.) Recep Tayyip Erdogan President of Turkey 29.) Stefan Lofven Prime Minister of Sweden 30.) The Red Crescent 31.) The Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group 32.) Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council 33.) Jaber al- Sabah Prime Minister of Kuwait 34.) Tammam Salam Prime Minister of Lebanon 35.) American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights 36.) Palestine Solidarity Campaign 37.) World Trade Organization (WTO) 38.) International Monetary Fund (IMF) 39.) Bandar bin Sultan Arab League 40.) Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa - Bahrain I would like to take this time to thank those involved for taking the initiative to intellectually challenge themselves outside of what is required in high school. I know that many of you are extremely busy with school, work, sports, dance, music, etc. and it is pleasurable to know that you care about the future of the world. I hope that the information listed above is of worthy assistance to you as you begin your research. Please

feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments because I am more than willing to help. I am looking forward to this coming November and I hope to hear from you soon! Best Regards, Andrew Johnian