Exploring Middle East Conflict Israel Palestine General Overview

Exploring Middle East Conflict Israel & Palestine

General Overview n. A decades old conflict between two religious-national groups Palestinians Israelis Arab Muslim Jewish

Fundamentals n The cornerstone of the conflict is related to land, in particular, who claims modern day Israel – both sides have claims

Causes of War sides claim jurisdiction over the land n The land has significant religious implications for two of the world’s largest religions n Both Islam & Judaism

A Shifting Land n For centuries the “Holy Land” – known as Palestine - fell under the rule of various empires. n Slowly, Arab groups consolidated control The Ottoman Empire I did this thing on the Ottoman Empire. Like, what was this? A whole empire based on putting your feet up? “ – Jerry Seinfeld

Anti-Semitism n By the turn of the century, Anti-Semitism was a global problem n To resist, new political movements emerged to advocate for Jewish rights

Significant Terms Zionism - Nationalist movement founded by the Jewish journalist Theodor Herzl. Ø He argued that the best way of avoiding anti. Semitism in Europe was to create an independent Jewish state in Palestine. Ø By 1905 thousands of Jews were moving to Palestine Ø

Colonial Implications: The Role of Britain n As WWI came to an end Palestine was under British control n The British made promises to several groups regarding the future of the land: A) Arabs B) Jews C) French

The Balfour Declaration n Page 357 in your text book

Balfour Implications n Jewish immigration to Palestine rapidly increases

Balfour Becomes BMP n British Mandate for Palestine n Official policy of support for Jewish land claims in Palestine n At this point only the Brits are largely supporting Zionism

The Holocaust n 6 million European Jews killed n Worldwide anti-Semitism n Guilt spreads globally

Post WW 2 Developments n The tragic events of WW 2 (The Holocaust) resulted in a global awareness of the Zionist Movement n U. S President Harry Truman & PM Churchill lobbied heavy support for the Zionist cause

n Starting in 1947, explain how Israel became a formalized state. What was the reaction from neighboring Arab states?

May 1948 n With support from England & USA, Israel declares itself the official Jewish homeland n Israel is now recognized Jewish homeland n Arab citizens revolt and civil war erupts (1948) n Jews still maintain a minority of the population

Arab Response n Almost immediately, the armies of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria & Iraq mobilize n Amazingly, Israel defends its newly claimed territory.

Arab/Israeli Wars Group 1 – War of Independence Group 2 – Suez Crisis Group 3 – 6 Day War Group 4 – Yom Kippur War Group 5 – 1 st Intifada

Arab/Israeli Wars You mission: - Create a multi-media presentation that provides an overview of your conflict. Please limit your examination to 4 slides Slide 1 – Brief background on the conflict Slide 2 – Description of the actual conflict Slide 3 – Outcome of the conflict Slide 4 – Consequences of the outcome

Themes of Conflict n IDF combat competency n Reduction of Arab land n Increased Western support n Terrorism – on both sides

The 6 Arab-Israeli Wars 2) The 1956 Suez Crisis Ø Egypt is under control of Gamal Nasser who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1954 Ø Nasser was a firm believer in Pan Arab Nationalism and a staunch opponent of the Zionist Movement

Nasser Ø Viewing western influence as detrimental to Arab interests, Nasser began a rapid program of nationalization Ø His most noted act of nationalization came when he seized control of the Suez Canal (a very important shipping lane)

Response A tri-lateral force of England, France & Israel invades Egypt in an attempt to take back the Suez Canal

Canada’s Role n F. A Minister Pearson urges restraint n Proposes a Peacekeeping force n United Nations Emergency Force was deployed to the Sinai Peninsula n Remain there until 1967

3 rd Arab Israeli War – 6 Day War Ø May 1967, Egypt expels the UNEF from the Sinai Ø Unilaterally closes the Straits of Tiran and amasses troops on the Sinai – Jordan & Syria follow suit Ø Egypt and Jordan enter into a collective defense agreement

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Israel Reaction Ø Before the advances of Egypt and Jordan, Israel launches a pre-emptive strike against the Egyptian air force – completely destroying it Ø Israel’s intelligence service – MOSSAD – is used heavily for intel

War at Jerusalem Ø Arab forces invade Jerusalem but are quickly pushed back

Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights 41 kilometers (25 mi) long, and between 6 and 12 kilometers (4– 7. 5 mi) wide, with a total area of 360 square kilometers (139 sq mi).

West Bank

Yom Kippur Ø October 1973 – Egypt & Syria once again invade Israel in an attempt to vindicate the disastrous 6 -Day-War Ø Yom Kippur is a Jewish religious observance Ø Israel, once again, defeats invading military and captures large portion of Golan Heights

Golan Heights

Aftermath Ø Nuclear showdown b/t Superpowers ( Nixon vs. Brezhnev) – Anwar Sadat asks for Soviet help Ø Israel captures large portion of Golan Heights Ø New American President arrives on the scene:

The Road Map Ø Carter hoped his legacy would be defined by an end to the Middle East Conflict Ø His efforts culminated in the Camp David Accords

Camp David Fails n Despite a series of promises made, neither side could agree on a path for peace n Core issue was forced resettlement of Palestinians

Intifada - Resistance Ø In the lead up to Yom Kippur the Jewish gov’t actively re-settled thousands of Arabs Ø Lead to the formation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1967 Ø The PLO pushes for Intifada – uprising – all Palestinian people resist Israeli in any manner they can

How to Resist? As the 1970 s rolled into the 1980 s the PLO waged various resistance campaigns n Terrorism was a fixture n Black September & the Munich Olympics – 11 Israeli athletes killed n

Role of Religion n n Muslim Arabs linked oppression in Palestine with the concept of Jihad (“Struggle or war”) Dawson Field Hijackings – 4 planes hijacked in Jordan Violence becomes a daily occurrence in Israel Religious mandate to fight against the infidel

The Net Tightens n n Israel significantly restricts the movements of Palestinians Gaza and the West Bank become military zones Documentation needed / search and seizure permissible Israel slowly creates additional settlements

A Road with no Destination From Intafada 1 to Intafada 2 several attempts at peace are made n Deals focus on land for peace n 2 major road blocks 1) Palestinian terrorism 2) Israeli land grabs and restrictions

Israel 2014 n The PLO has lost its influence and splintered Palestinian Authority Fatah Moderate Hamas More Radical

Restriction n Israel has erected Berlin-like walls around Gaza n Shelling is a regular occurrence (concern with population density)

2 State Solution Peace talks now focus on a 2 state plan n Palestine & Israel n No formalized plan – so far n

Canada n The Harper government is a staunch supporter of Israel n Condemns Hamas n Canada sends millions in aid to Israel every year – most spent on military

The Road to Peace

The Case for Israel 1937 Peel Commission

UN Resolution 242 Land For Peace

The Current State You Tell Me: What is the current state of the Israel/Palestine conflict? Summarize events from 2009 -2012

No End in Sight Ø Continued loss of Palestinian territories – Military control Ø Siege of Gaza Ø Growth of Hamas and Hezbollah Ø Palestinian Authority Two State Solution

Mess-o-Potamia Name of the peace plan during the post Intafada era but pre-Obama A) Land for peace B) 2 state solution C) Guns for land

n Nasser’s A) B) C) plan to combat Zionism Muslim Solidarity Pan Arab Nationalism Islamic Jihad

n Name A) B) C) of the failed 1993 peace deal Norway Agreement Potsdam Conference Oslo Accords

n Group A) B) C) responsible for Munich Massacre Al Qaeda Black September Al Shahaab

n Controlling Fatah B) PLM C) Hamas A) Gaza Strip government

n Who A) B) C) D) is to blame? Israel Palestine Combination of both USA and UK