Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict:
Introduction
The conflict between
Israel and the
Palestinians is one
that is:
• Extremely dangerous
• Long-lasting
• Animated by religious
fervor
The Roots of the Conflict
• 1896 – Zionism movement started in Europe
(goalcreate a Jewish state in the holy land)
• WWI – British promise Palestinian Arabs
independence in exchange for their help.
• 1917 – Balfour Declaration – British govt.
supports the eventual creation of a Jewish
nation in the area of Palestine. OOPS!!!
Palestinian – Israeli Conflict
The Balfour Declaration,
1917
Expressing support for
“the establishment in
Palestine of a national
home for the Jewish
people…it being clearly
understood that nothing
shall be done which may
prejudice the civil and
religious rights of
existing non-Jewish
communities in Palestine…”
Jewish migration to Palestine
• Began in the 1920s
• 1920: 95% Palestinian; 5% Jewish [29,000]
1947: 68% Palestinian; 32% Jewish [630,000]
• Jewish population after the creation of Israel:
– 1948: 0.8 million
– 1964: 2.4 million
– Now: approximately 6.4 million
– Latest population influx after the disintegration of USSR
1939 British suspends ALL immigration to Palestine
Holocaust Connection
• Post WWII – Many
people in the world
feel sorry for
European Jews =
support for creation of
Israel.
• David Ben-Gurion
leads the movement
to create Israel after
WWII.
United Nations Partition Plan, 1947
•UN decides to split
the land into two new
nations (Israel and
Palestine).
•Israel accepts the
plan / Palestinians
rejects it.
Tan: Jewish state
Grey: Arab state
White: International zone
War Breaks Out
• David Ben-Gurion decides to declare
Israel independent in May 1948.
• Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon all
declare war on Israel in support of the
Palestinians.
• War ends in a victory for Israel.
1967 War: The Six Day War
• Fearing attack by
Egypt, Syria, Iraq and
Jordan, Israel
launched a
preemptive strike
• Israel captured the
West Bank, Gaza
Strip, Sinai Peninsula
and the Golan
Heights.
1967- The Six Day War
1970s = beginning of terrorist
attacks
• In response to Israeli
attacks on their
communities,
Palestinian terrorist
groups are formed.
• 1972 – Palestinian
terrorists kidnap and
later kill 11 Israeli
athletes at the Munich
Olympics.
WAR AGAIN!!!!
• 1973 – Egypt and Syria launch a surprise
attack during Yom Kippur. War results in
a draw.
• 1974 – Egypt and Israel make peace.
Israel returns territory to Egypt.
1980s = still more conflict!!
• 1981 – Israeli air force bombs a nuclear
reactor in Iraq.
• 1982-2000 – Israel invades Lebanon in
order to stop terrorist attacks coming from
there.
• 1987 – Terrorist attacks increase in Israel.
1990s = more of the same?
• 1993 – Israel and
Palestinians sign
agreement to begin
peace talks.
• 1994 – Jordan makes
peace with Israel.
• Bill Clinton with
Yitzhak Rabin and
Yassir Arafat.
Not so Fast!!!
• Many Palestinian groups were not happy
with the Oslo Accords (Hamas). Why?
• Nov. 1995 – Rabin assassinated by a
Jewish man unhappy with the Oslo
Accords.
• More violence breaks out!!!
2000 – today: Will it ever end?
• 2006 – Israeli govt. forced all Jewish families to move out of the
Gaza Strip (Palestinian territory).
• 2006 – Israeli govt. began to build a wall around the West Bank to
prevent terrorist attacks.
• 2006 – Hamas (a terrorist organization) wins elections in the Gaza
Strip.
• 2007-2008 – Civil War erupts between Hamas and forces loyal to
Arafat’s successor, Abbas.
• 2008-2009 – mini-war erupts between Hamas in the Gaza Strip and
Israeli military.
• 2009 – H. Clinton meets with Abbas who calls for Israeli settlers to
be removed from the West Bank, a free Palestinian capital in half of
Jerusalem and the end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip.