Case Study: The Palestinian Refugees

The Modern Mid EastThe Modern Mid East

Modern ME is home to various struggles and conflicts…

Terrorism, religious conflict, etc…

One conflict is between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Palestinian Territory

Israel

Jerusalem

The LandThe Land

ZionismZionism

The Jews have been persecuted frequently throughout history. DIASPORA

- Romans- Black Plague- Crusades- WWI - WWII – Holocaust

The Zionist movement sought to rebuild a Jewish state in Palestine.

The BritishThe British

Controlled the area during WWI

1917 - Set up an official home for the Jews in Palestine.

Jews began migrating to the area in large numbers.

Increased after WWII

TensionTension

The area had been inhabited by Arabs for hundreds of years.

Both the Arabs and the Jews felt they had the right to the land. Tension began to grow.

Britain turned the problem over to the U.N.

Israel-Palestine SplitIsrael-Palestine Split

The U.N. partitioned Palestine into a Jewish state and a Arab state (1946)

ISRAEL – Jewish statePALESTINIAN STATE - Arab

Jews accepted the plan.

Arabs felt like they were being kicked out.

1948 War1948 War

U.S. and Soviet Union agreed to recognize Israel.

Arabs launched military attacks.

Israel was much stronger and gained even more land.

This war displaced about 700,000 Arabs from Palestine.

The RefugeesThe Refugees

Refugees are located in:- West Bank- Gaza- Syria- Lebanon- Jordan

West Bank RefugeesWest Bank Refugees

West Bank =majority

Some are controlled by Israel

Others are controlled by the PA (Palestinian Authority)

ConditionsConditions

Overcrowded Movement is restricted by

Israel Poor economic conditions High poverty Limited work Severe persecution

Conditions vary a lot!

Peace EffortsPeace Efforts

Leaders are talking again – Issues they must confront:

- Refugees (right of return?)

- Borders? - Settlement building- Jerusalem?

Until then, the Palestinian people have no home