Israel and PalestineIsrael and Palestine

The Birth of ZionismThe Birth of Zionism

• The drive to reestablish a Jewish The drive to reestablish a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israelhomeland in the Land of Israel

1.1. The ancient religious dream of The ancient religious dream of returnreturn

2.2. The wave of nationalist enthusiasm The wave of nationalist enthusiasm that was sweeping Europethat was sweeping Europe

3.3. The threat of anti-Semitism & The threat of anti-Semitism & physical dangers to Jewsphysical dangers to Jews

The First Zionist CongressThe First Zionist Congress•Held in 1897Held in 1897•The congress was organized by The congress was organized by

Theodor Herzl (Herzl wrote Theodor Herzl (Herzl wrote The Jewish The Jewish StateState, that argued that Jews must have , that argued that Jews must have their own independence)their own independence)

•This attempt was known as political This attempt was known as political ZionismZionism– The attempt to achieve statehood The attempt to achieve statehood

through political support of through political support of superpowerssuperpowers

Balfour DeclarationBalfour Declaration

• In 1917 the British issue the In 1917 the British issue the Balfour DeclarationBalfour Declaration

•Balfour Declaration supports a Balfour Declaration supports a Jewish national home in PalestineJewish national home in Palestine

•Palestine was British mandate Palestine was British mandate after WWIafter WWI

ImmigrationImmigration

•Basic premise of Zionism - Jews could Basic premise of Zionism - Jews could not rely on others if they were to fulfill not rely on others if they were to fulfill the dream of an independent state. the dream of an independent state.

•The most critical form of Zionist The most critical form of Zionist activity was immigration and activity was immigration and settlement of the land.settlement of the land.

•1882-1939 – Jews began to immigrate 1882-1939 – Jews began to immigrate to Palestine (formed kibbutzim)to Palestine (formed kibbutzim)

A bilingual poster in Romanian and Hungarian promotinga film about Jewish settlement in Palestine, 1930s:Toward a New Life (in Romanian)The Promised Land (in Hungarian)

Immigration continuedImmigration continued•1939 – British adopted “White Paper” 1939 – British adopted “White Paper”

that forbade any further purchase of land that forbade any further purchase of land by Jews in Palestine & restricted by Jews in Palestine & restricted immigration 75,000 total over 5-yr periodimmigration 75,000 total over 5-yr period

•Was adopted after failure of conference Was adopted after failure of conference between Jewish and Palestinian between Jewish and Palestinian delegationsdelegations

•Balfour Declaration repudiatedBalfour Declaration repudiated

Immigration continuedImmigration continued• Jewish people left Europe because of Jewish people left Europe because of

persecution and settled in Palestinepersecution and settled in Palestine

•Numbers really increased after WWII.Numbers really increased after WWII.•UN Partition 1947 - Territory of UN Partition 1947 - Territory of

Palestine is divided by UN to provide a Palestine is divided by UN to provide a homeland for the Jewish people after homeland for the Jewish people after WWII.WWII.

•1948 Israel declares itself an 1948 Israel declares itself an independent nation.independent nation.

1948 1948 StateState of of Israel Israel createdcreated

The Army & Military The Army & Military ExperienceExperience•Numerous terrorists attacks Numerous terrorists attacks

had occurred between 1936-had occurred between 1936-1939 due to Arab hostility 1939 due to Arab hostility towards Jewish settlerstowards Jewish settlers

•Arab countries object to Arab countries object to Israeli independence and Israeli independence and declare war on Israel declare war on Israel

The Army & Military The Army & Military ExperienceExperience•1948 - 750,000 Palestinians are 1948 - 750,000 Palestinians are

driven from or leave their homes driven from or leave their homes and villages at the start of the war and villages at the start of the war between Israel and the Arab between Israel and the Arab countries (settle in refugee camps countries (settle in refugee camps on West Bank or other Arab nations)on West Bank or other Arab nations)

•1948-1949 – The first Arab-Israeli 1948-1949 – The first Arab-Israeli war, Israel repulsed invasions by war, Israel repulsed invasions by Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria & LebanonEgypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria & Lebanon

1956 Sinai Campaign – Suez 1956 Sinai Campaign – Suez CrisisCrisis•A war fought in Egyptian territory. In response to Egypt’s moves to nationalize and take control of the Suez Canal,

•Israel, British and French troops invade. The Soviet Union threatens to intervene on Egypt’s behalf. The U.S. feared a larger war and forced the British and French army to withdraw.

Formation of the Formation of the Palestinian Liberation Palestinian Liberation Organization (1964)Organization (1964)

•Formed to take up the war Formed to take up the war against Israel – against Israel – nationalisticnationalistic

•Set up as an umbrella Set up as an umbrella organization to join various organization to join various Palestinian groups that Palestinian groups that had formed in Arab areashad formed in Arab areas

Formation of the Formation of the Palestinian Liberation Palestinian Liberation Organization (1964)Organization (1964)

•Set 2 goals – destroy Israel Set 2 goals – destroy Israel and form secular, and form secular, democratic state in its placedemocratic state in its place

•Launched guerrilla attacks Launched guerrilla attacks on Israeli military targetson Israeli military targets

•Certain factions used Certain factions used terrorismterrorism

Nasser (Egypt),backed by other Arab states, throws Israel into the sea. Pre-1967 War cartoon. Al-Farida newspaper, Lebanon

•The War (AKA the Arab-Israeli The War (AKA the Arab-Israeli war) started out as a border war) started out as a border dispute – Israel’s Arab dispute – Israel’s Arab neighbors Egypt, Jordan, & neighbors Egypt, Jordan, & Syria battle Israel.Syria battle Israel.

•Result of war- Israel seized Result of war- Israel seized Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank (Jordan) and the the West Bank (Jordan) and the Golan Heights (Syria).Golan Heights (Syria).

1967 Six Day War1967 Six Day War

1973 Yom Kippur War1973 Yom Kippur War•Started by Anwar Sadat of Egypt Started by Anwar Sadat of Egypt

to shake up diplomatic situation, to shake up diplomatic situation, get Israel to talkget Israel to talk

•Arabs catch Israel off guard on a Arabs catch Israel off guard on a holy day, take the war to Israelholy day, take the war to Israel

•Satisfy the demands of honorSatisfy the demands of honor• Israel does win, but Arabs Israel does win, but Arabs

commemorate this war on Oct. 6commemorate this war on Oct. 6•Leads to Camp David peace talksLeads to Camp David peace talks

1973 Yom Kippur War1973 Yom Kippur War•Syrian forces attack fortification in Syrian forces attack fortification in

Golan Heights and Egyptian forces Golan Heights and Egyptian forces attacked fortifications around the attacked fortifications around the Suez Canal and on the Sinai Suez Canal and on the Sinai Peninsula. Peninsula.

•After three weeks of fighting the After three weeks of fighting the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was able Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was able to hold the defense and eventually to hold the defense and eventually push them back beyond the original push them back beyond the original lines.lines.

1978 Camp David Accords1978 Camp David Accords

• Pres. Carter - USAPres. Carter - USA

• Pres. Anwar Sadat - EgyptPres. Anwar Sadat - Egypt

• Prime Min. Menachem Prime Min. Menachem Begin - IsraelBegin - Israel

• Opens CommunicationOpens Communication

• Framework for PeaceFramework for Peace

• Egypt first Arab nation to Egypt first Arab nation to recognize Israelrecognize Israel

1978 Camp David Accords1978 Camp David Accords

• Nobel Peace Prize for both Sadat Nobel Peace Prize for both Sadat and Begin in 1978and Begin in 1978

• Admired in the West Admired in the West

• Anwar Sadat assassinated Anwar Sadat assassinated October 6, 1981October 6, 1981

• Targeted by Islamist groups in Targeted by Islamist groups in Egypt for negotiating with Israel Egypt for negotiating with Israel

1987 – The First Intifada1987 – The First Intifada•By 1987, there was mounting By 1987, there was mounting

frustration & anger among the frustration & anger among the Palestinians, who had been living Palestinians, who had been living in the West Bank & Gaza under in the West Bank & Gaza under Israeli occupation for 20 yearsIsraeli occupation for 20 years

•The Palestinians had a strong The Palestinians had a strong desire for their own state, desire for their own state, independent from Israeli controlindependent from Israeli control

•PLO renounced its goal of PLO renounced its goal of destroying Israel in 1988destroying Israel in 1988

1987 – The First Intifada1987 – The First Intifada•The intifada was the culmination of The intifada was the culmination of

growing tension and violence between growing tension and violence between the Israelis and Palestinians, the the Israelis and Palestinians, the uprising is also known as “the war of uprising is also known as “the war of stones”stones”

•As a result – The Palestinians had As a result – The Palestinians had global recognition as a people, world global recognition as a people, world media criticized Israel in a way that media criticized Israel in a way that had not been done before, the had not been done before, the intifada led to the Oslo Peace Accords intifada led to the Oslo Peace Accords

““DAVID v. GOLIATH”DAVID v. GOLIATH”Palestinian boys fight the soldiers Palestinian boys fight the soldiers with slingshots and stoneswith slingshots and stones

•As violence continued over As violence continued over the next couple of years, the next couple of years, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin decided it was time to enter decided it was time to enter into peace negotiations with into peace negotiations with the Palestinian Liberation the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) under the Organization (PLO) under the leadership of Yasser leadership of Yasser ArafatArafat

1993 Oslo Peace Accords1993 Oslo Peace Accords• Pres. Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Pres. Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser

Arafat negotiate terms for Palestinian Arafat negotiate terms for Palestinian Self RuleSelf Rule

• Israel negotiates directly with PLO & Israel negotiates directly with PLO & ArafatArafat

• PLO recognizes Israel’s right to existPLO recognizes Israel’s right to exist

1993 Oslo Peace Accord1993 Oslo Peace Accord•Offered limited self-rule in the Offered limited self-rule in the

West Bank & Gaza to Palestinians West Bank & Gaza to Palestinians & withdrawal of Israel from & withdrawal of Israel from occupied land (the “territories”)occupied land (the “territories”)

•PLO becomes Palestinian PLO becomes Palestinian Authority – in charge of Authority – in charge of administration of the West Bank administration of the West Bank and Gazaand Gaza

•Big problems like Jerusalem, the Big problems like Jerusalem, the settlements, status of Palestinian settlements, status of Palestinian refugees put off to another timerefugees put off to another time

1995 – P.M. Rabin 1995 – P.M. Rabin AssassinatedAssassinated•1994 – both Arafat & Rabin win 1994 – both Arafat & Rabin win Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace Prize

•Rabin assassinated by conservative Rabin assassinated by conservative Jewish groupsJewish groups

•Benjamin Netanyahu (his Benjamin Netanyahu (his replacement) allowed forreplacement) allowed for– More Israeli settlements that More Israeli settlements that

would spread into the West Bank would spread into the West Bank & Gaza& Gaza

• Terrorist activity increased as a Terrorist activity increased as a result of the encroachment on result of the encroachment on Palestinian self-ruled landPalestinian self-ruled land

• Israeli “Settlements” in Israeli “Settlements” in Palestinian territoriesPalestinian territories

The Turmoil ContinuesThe Turmoil Continues•Ehud Barak (elected prime Ehud Barak (elected prime

minister in 1999) made proposals minister in 1999) made proposals in 2000 at Camp David II to Arafat in 2000 at Camp David II to Arafat & Palestinians in exchange for & Palestinians in exchange for safety and security.safety and security.

•Palestinians rejected on the basis Palestinians rejected on the basis of three issues (Jerusalem, of three issues (Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, settlements)Palestinian refugees, settlements)

•The situation rapidly deterioratedThe situation rapidly deteriorated

2000 - The second Intifada2000 - The second Intifada•Ariel Sharon visits Temple Mount Ariel Sharon visits Temple Mount

in Jerusalem (the most disputed in Jerusalem (the most disputed piece of territory) and publicly piece of territory) and publicly proclaimed the area as eternal proclaimed the area as eternal Israeli territory (Al-Aqsa Mosque)Israeli territory (Al-Aqsa Mosque)

•A day after Sharon’s visit large A day after Sharon’s visit large riots broke out riots broke out

Jamal and Muhammad al-Durrah prior to being shot; Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip; September 30, 2000 (France 2)

Jamal and Muhammad al-Durrah prior to being shot; Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip; September 30, 2000 (France 2)

Jamal and Muhammad Al-Durrah being shot, Image 3; Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip; September 30, 2000

The second intifadaThe second intifada

The wreckage of a commuter bus in West Jerusalem after a suicide bombing on Tuesday, 18 June, 2002. The blast killed 20 people. The Associated Press.

2002 – 425-mile Israeli Security Wall in the West Bank (b/c of suicide bombings)

2006 – War with “Lebanon”2006 – War with “Lebanon”•Hezbollah Hezbollah (terrorist group)

militants fire rockets across border militants fire rockets across border into Israeli towninto Israeli town

•Kidnap Israeli soldiersKidnap Israeli soldiers• Israel responds with air strikesIsrael responds with air strikes•Civilian infrastructure badly Civilian infrastructure badly

damageddamaged•Casualties include many Lebanese Casualties include many Lebanese

civilians caught in the middlecivilians caught in the middle•Ends with cease fire brokered by UNEnds with cease fire brokered by UN

Palestinian AuthorityPalestinian Authority• Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Abbas,

President of the President of the Palestinian Authority Palestinian Authority since 2005since 2005

• Leader of Fatah political Leader of Fatah political partyparty

• ModerateModerate

• Cannot control Gaza, Cannot control Gaza, which has been controlled which has been controlled by by HamasHamas since 2006 since 2006 elections – not get alongelections – not get along

GAZA 2008GAZA 2008

•Hamas lobs missiles into Israel•Israel responds with airstrikes•IDF ground attack to route out Hamas•Civilian casualties

Video on 2008 violenceVideo on 2008 violence

• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/jan-june08/gaza_03-middle_east/jan-june08/gaza_03-03.html03.html

Current SituationCurrent Situation•Violence has escalated in the Violence has escalated in the

region over the past couple of region over the past couple of yearsyears

•Ariel Sharon (2001-2006) pursued Ariel Sharon (2001-2006) pursued an aggressive policy, in part an aggressive policy, in part because Palestinians deployed because Palestinians deployed suicide bomberssuicide bombers

•Ehud Olmert (‘06-’09) just as Ehud Olmert (‘06-’09) just as aggressiveaggressive

•Netanyahu current Prime MinisterNetanyahu current Prime Minister

2010 Peace Talks2010 Peace TalksP.M. Netanyahu, Secretary of P.M. Netanyahu, Secretary of State Clinton, and Mahmoud State Clinton, and Mahmoud AbbasAbbas

Palestinian Authority & Palestinian Authority & HamasHamas•Since Egyptian Arab Spring – Egyptian leaders have tried to broker peace between Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal•Hamas seen as terrorist organization