Israel Palestine Conflict History of the People The

Israel Palestine Conflict

History of the People • The origins of how each group arrived in Palestine is complicated as much evidence is unknown. • Biblical story of Moses has Hebrews being enslaved to build the pyramids. • So they are led by Moses to Palestine. 40 days, parting seas etc.

Factual? • The really is no evidence to say any of the story is accurate. • The pyramids were completed at least 1000 years before the biblical account. • Conflicting evidence of the workers being slaves. • Conflicting accounts of there being any large numbers of Hebrews in Egypt.

Settlements • 925 BC • Two groups of people that inhabited the land split apart. • Two kingdoms were formed comprised of • Kingdom of Israel and Judah. • People from Judah called themselves “Jews”

Two Kingdoms

Conquests and Diaspora • 722 – 586 BCE • Assyrian empire conquers the Kingdom of Israel. • Deports Israelites throughout empire. • Lost forever, Judah Jews are the only ones left.

Conquests and Diaspora • 586 - 536 BCE – Babylonian Empire conquers the Assyrians. • Take over Judah, burns Jerusalem. • Many Jews are dispersed throughout the empire. • Some are allowed to stay.

• 536 – 142 BCE • Persian Empire takes over. • Allows Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem Temple.

Roman Empire • • 63 BCE Rome takes over. Burns temple in Jerusalem. Jews revolt against it. Romans deport them as slaves throughout the empire. • Many end up in Europe. • Jesus time.

• Roman Empire adopts Christianity throughout the whole empire. • Build religious sites at Jerusalem, Bethleham.

Arab Rule • 313 - 636 Byzantine rule. • 636 – 1099 Arab rule. • Most Jews leave under heavy taxation restrictions on religious freedoms. • Dome of the Rock built

Crusaders • 1099 – 1299 • Christian Crusaders vow to take back their Holy Lands. • non Christians are massacred, burned in temples. • Saladin of the Arabs defeats the Crusaders

Arab Rule • Saladin dies. • 1291 – 1516 Mamluks rule • 1517 – 1917 the Ottoman Empire takes over. • Allows Jews to return.

World War 1 • Britain and the Allies were at war with Germany, Austro Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. • Britain met with the Palestinians and convinced them to revolt against the Ottomans. • Promised them a homeland (entire Israel)

• Revolt was a success and the British took control over the Ottoman Empire.

Zionism • • Theodore Herzl World wide organization of Jews. Advocated for a Jewish homeland in Israel. 270000 in the US, 15000 in Canada.

Balfour Declaration • At the same time as the promise to the Arabs the British also create the Balfour declaration. • Promised the same land of Israel to the Zionists for a Jewish homeland.

U. N Partition Plan

1967 6 Days War: Before and After

UN Resolution 242 • After the 6 days war, the U. N. denounced Israeli actions. • States “territories acquired through war is illegal”. • Calls for an independent Palestinian state comprised of the West Bank and Gaza. • Free corridor connecting them. • Despite acceptance, Israel does not withdraw.

1973 Yom Kippur War • Arab nations were desperate to take back all the land they lost in the 6 days war. • Oct 1973 – Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israel’s holy day of Yom Kippur. • Also organized an oil embargo for Western nations which caused the price of gas to go up by 4 times. • 2 weeks later U. S secured a cease fire.

U. N Resolution 232: 2 State Solution

Peace Processes Camp David Accords 1979 • 1979 Camp David Accords – Egypt and Israel sign a peace treaty which sees the return of the Sinai peninsula to Egypt. • Israel can use Suez canal.

Settlements and Intifada • For the next few decades Israel controlled the West Bank and Gaza. • Many Israeli settlements, roads, security checkpoints created. • Palestinians revolted in a series of “Intifadas” or protests. • Israeli Army put them down with violence. • 1000 Palestinian casualties.

Oslo Accords 1990’s • Allowed for a Palestinian municipal government but not a state. • Leader would be Yasser Arafat • Demanded Israel would remove military from West Bank and Gaza. • During negotiations Israel continues to build settlements. • No formal agreement met.

Roadmap to Peace 2002 • The UN, European Union, outline a plan for a two state solution. • 1 st step, Palestine must make efforts to arrest those committing violence against Israel. • 2 nd step Israel will remove settlements and prevent further settlement in the West Bank.

Issues for Peace • Borders and division of the land; • Palestinian concerns over Israeli settlements in the West Bank; • Status of Jerusalem; • Israeli security concerns over terrorism, safe borders, incitements, violence; • Right of return of Palestinian refugees living in Palestinian refugee camps. (400, 000)

Israeli Settlements

Palestinian Loss of Land 1946 - 2000

Today • Israel continues to build settlements in the West Bank. • Two sides have traded acts of violence. • Israel has a blockade of Gaza ports and controls airspace. • Palestinians have little access to water or electricity. • Is constructing a wall around the West Bank.

The Wall