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FrontPage : Turn in your homework to the back box. You are now done with the 9-week grading period. Last Word: No homework. Key Issues in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict. Key Issues. Land and the “Occupation” Settlements Refugees Jerusalem The Security Barrier. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Last Word: No homework
FrontPage: Turn in your homework to the back box. You are now done with the 9-week grading period.
Land and the “Occupation”
This is the heart of the conflict Jews believe the area of Israel/Palestine was
promised to them by God to Abraham Also based on the need for a haven for Jews of the
Diaspora (the “scattering”) Palestinian claims on the land are based on
residence in the area for hundreds of years Palestinians also comprise the demographic
majority
UN Plan for Partition
After WWII, the UN recommended that Palestine be separated Israeli state (tan) Palestinian state (purple)
After British troops leave in 1948, war breaks out…
After the 1948 War of Independence
Israel drives out the attackers…occupies most of Palestine Egypt takes Gaza Strip Jordan controls West Bank
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees flee Israel for surrounding areas
The 6 Day War
Israel makes major territorial gains Takes Gaza Strip and Sinai
Peninsula from Egypt Takes Golan Heights from
Syria Takes W. Bank from Jordan Seizes East Jerusalem
The “Occupation”
The two regions of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank of the Jordan River were/are considered “occupied territories”. Israel has “occupied” or “liberated” these territories
since 1967. Many nations consider these two territories to be
land for a “Palestinian state”.**They will be at the center of the debate over a
possible “homeland” for Palestinians.
Recently (2005), Israel ended its occupation of the Gaza Strip
The Camp David Accords (1979)
Signed between Anwar Sadat (Egypt) and Menachim Begin (Israel)**First Arab-Israeli peace treaty Egypt agrees to recognize
(accept) existence of Israel Israel agrees to return control
of Sinai to Egypt
**Many Arab nations were angry with this agreement
The Oslo Accords (1993)
Signed between Rabin (Israel) and Arafat (PLO) Israel and PLO agree to recognize each other. PLO promises to stop attacking Israel Israel agrees to withdraw from occupied territories
**They return later in response to terrorist activities Arafat becomes head of Palestinian Authority – group
responsible for controlling the Palestinian territories
Settlements
Israelis have built “settlements”, or housing developments, in many areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip (**now dismantled) Some of these settlements are
considered illegal under UN resolutions
The “Refugee Question”
Refugees: Those who fled Palestine after the creation of Israel in 1948Located in refugee camps in several places outside Israel West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon,
the Sinai
The “Right of Return” to their homes and lands is a key issue of contention
Refugees
Refugee camps were supposed to be temporary places for Palestinians Have become permanent
settlements for generations of Palestinians
The Question of Jerusalem
The center of three religious: Christianity, Judaism and Islam East Jerusalem is home to sacred
sites of all three Both Palestinians and Israelis would
like to make Jerusalem the capital city of their nations.
Temple Mount or Haram al Sharif
Judaism: Site of the First and Second Temple in
ancient times known in Jewish tradition as the
"abode of God's presence".
Islam: Called the “Noble Sanctuary” One of the three most important sites
in Islam
The Western (“Wailing”) Wall
Judaism The holiest site in the Jewish faith Believed to be the remains of the first
and second Jewish temples
The Al-Aqsa Mosque
Islam: the third holiest
mosque in Islam. The mosque was the
first direction of prayer, before Mecca in western Saudi Arabia became the focal point of Muslim worship.
One additional issue:The Security Barrier
Israel has planned and begun construction on a security wall around sections of the West Bank Also referred to as the “Apartheid Wall” Aim is to provide a barrier between
Palestinians and Israelis to prevent attacks
Construction is underway in the West Bank Some parts are completed