IsraeliPalestinian Conflict Who is involved Jews Palestinians Arabs

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Who is involved? • Jews • Palestinians (Arabs) • Ok, but who are they?

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Where is this happening? • Israel, formerly Palestine

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Key Historical Events • Growth of Zionism (1900 s) • In response, Anti-Semitism grown in Middle East • Balfour Declaration (1917) • British promise to establish “national home” for Jews • British Mandate of Palestine (1920 -1948) • British control Palestine as a colony • Allow Jews to return to Palestine • Jewish population grows 84, 000 to 445, 000 in less than 20 yrs

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Key Historical Events • UN Partition Plan for Palestine • British gives up control • Country divided into two states • Arabs did not accept the plan • Arab-Israeli War- 1948 • 6 Arab nations invaded Israel • US supports Israel with $100 million in assistance • Israelis defeat the Arab armies • 750, 000 Palestinians are forced to leave their homes as refugees

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • 1967 – Six Day War • Nationalism, Superpower involvement and arms buildup lead to conflict • Surprise attack by Israel against Egypt and Syria • Israel takes West Bank and Golan Heights – swift victory

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Key Places • Jerusalem • After 1948 war, Jerusalem was split • Israel controlled West, Palestine controlled East (where most important religious sites are located)

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Key Places • West Bank • 59% officially under Israeli civil and security control • 23% under Palestinian civil control, but Israeli security control • 18% under control of Palestinian National Authority • Israeli Settlements http: //education. nationalgeographic. com/education/ media/israel-palestine-conflict-zone/? ar_a=1

“We have to decide on separation as a philosophy. There has to be a clear border. ” West Bank Barrier • Construction began in 2002

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Key Places • Gaza Strip • Controlled by Egypt after its creation • Israel captured control after Six Day War • Israeli troops left in 2005, still control airspace, borders, and water • 2007: Militant group, Hamas, took control of the strip – broke ties with Palestinian Authority of the West Bank

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Gaza Strip & Israel • Restricted entry to & from Gaza • Heavily guarded metal fences along border • Blockade of trade • Only humanitarian goods allowed in • No exports allowed out • Lack of economic growth & shortages greatly impact waste management, sewage treatment, and water supplies

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict • Gaza Strip & Israel • Violence • Militants in Gaza fire short-range homemade rockets into Israel’s cities • As retaliation, Israel sends air strikes over Gaza

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Assignment Now that you know the facts & have seen the experiences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, put yourself in the situation. • Imagine that you are a teen living in this conflict. • Write a journal entry from both the Palestinian and the Israeli perspective. • What would a day-in-the-life of a Palestinian or Israeli teen be? What would they think, what would they do? • For each, reference 3 things we have discussed in class or seen in the videos • Each entry should be ~ 2 paragraphs in length.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Solutions? • Two-State Solution • Why would it work? • Creates independent State of Palestine and State of Israel • Each group has their own land, their own laws, etc. • Supported by majority of the world (US, European Union, United Nations, Arab League) • Why wouldn’t it work? • Israeli settlements continue to take land away • Fear that Palestinians would not accept State of Israel, would continue to fight for land

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Solutions? • One-State Solution • Why would it work? • Creating one democratic nation where everyone is considered equal • The two groups could work together to create a system that works for them • As time passes, more and more are believing that this is the only feasible option • Why won’t it work? • Both groups would not get the national selfdetermination they have fought for • Takes away borders; will Palestinians have land?

Peace Talks • Focus on building a Two-State Solution • Occurring between Israeli Prime Minister and Palestinian Authority President • Biggest Issues: • Where would the border be drawn? • Militarization? • Where’s Hamas? • Gaza Strip will not see any peace talk as legitimate if they are not involved

Peace Talks • If you were part of the Peace Talks, what would be the most important issue to you?