Modern History of the Modern History of the Arab-Israeli ConflictArab-Israeli Conflict

Origins of Conflict Origins of Conflict - 1890- 1890

• Land controlled by the Ottoman empire through WWI

• Majority Arab Muslim population

• New ideology: Rise of Zionism • Create a Jewish state and end the diaspora

• European Jews organize efforts to create a homeland.

• By the early 1900s 25,000 have settled in Palestine.

• Thoedor Herzl

WWIWWI

During WWI the British promise Jews, During WWI the British promise Jews, Muslims, and the French different ideas about Muslims, and the French different ideas about the future of Palestinethe future of Palestine A Jewish state – idea from the Balfour DeclarationA Jewish state – idea from the Balfour Declaration An Arab state independent from the OttomansAn Arab state independent from the Ottomans A French-British colony – idea of the Sykes-Picot A French-British colony – idea of the Sykes-Picot

AgreementAgreement

Two Potential OptionsTwo Potential Options

Balfour Declaration Balfour Declaration

19171917

Dear Lord Rothschild,

…On behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations...

“His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people…it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done with may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rightsand the political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

Arthur James Balfour

Proposed Proposed

Sykes-Picot AgreementSykes-Picot Agreement

The Interwar YearsThe Interwar Years League of Nations grants GB a

charter in 1920 to govern areas around Palestine.

British Mandate of Palestine

Quotas restrict flow of Jews to region

Slow Jewish migration continues through the interwar years

WWII and the Shoah WWII and the Shoah

During the interwar years GB and the US limited Jewish Migration. Why?

During WWII the British forbid the migration of European Jews into Palestine. Why?

After the Holocaust there is widespread, international support for the creation of a Jewish state

United Nation Partition Plan - 1947United Nation Partition Plan - 1947 After WWII the UN attempted to solve the issue of the After WWII the UN attempted to solve the issue of the

Jewish/Arab state with the 1947 Partition PlanJewish/Arab state with the 1947 Partition Plan

This agreement split the territory into two separate statesThis agreement split the territory into two separate states

Jewish state: Israel Jewish state: Israel David Ben Gurion = First PMDavid Ben Gurion = First PM

Arab state: PalestineArab state: Palestine

Arab-Israeli ConflictsArab-Israeli Conflicts 1948 – Israel declares independence and is invaded. Defeats Arab 1948 – Israel declares independence and is invaded. Defeats Arab

invaders and Palestine. No two state solutioninvaders and Palestine. No two state solution

1956 – Sinai Peninsula Conflict. Egypt and General Nasser 1956 – Sinai Peninsula Conflict. Egypt and General Nasser nationalize Suez Canal and close Straight of Tiran. Israel, GB and nationalize Suez Canal and close Straight of Tiran. Israel, GB and FR invade. Minimal land exchangedFR invade. Minimal land exchanged

1967 – Six Day War. Egypt militarizes Sinai Peninsula. Israel 1967 – Six Day War. Egypt militarizes Sinai Peninsula. Israel launch preemptive attack and captures the West Bank, Gaza Strip, launch preemptive attack and captures the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heightsand Golan Heights

1973 – Yom Kippur War. Arab nations invade and are pushed back1973 – Yom Kippur War. Arab nations invade and are pushed back

1948 1948 19561956

19671967 1973 1973

Use the information provided to examine the following political cartoons and maps

██ Gaza and West Bank██ Israel██ Arab Nations██ Have been in war with Israel

Why would the Israeli’s have attacked first in the 1967 conflict?

Internal MovementsInternal Movements

1964 – Creation of the 1964 – Creation of the Palestinian Liberation Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)Organization (PLO)

Led by Yasir Arafat. Led by Yasir Arafat.

Goal to destroy Israel Goal to destroy Israel and return land to and return land to Palestinian ArabsPalestinian Arabs

Internal MovementsInternal Movements 1987 and 2000 – First and Second Intifada. 1987 and 2000 – First and Second Intifada. ““Shaking Off” or “Uprising” Shaking Off” or “Uprising” Civilian movement of civil disobedience, strikes, Civilian movement of civil disobedience, strikes,

and boycottsand boycotts

Peace Accords 1979 – Camp David Peace Accord signed

between Egyptian (Sadt) and Israel (Begin)

1993 – Oslo Accord between Israel (Rabin) and the PLO (Abbas)

Still no two-state solution

Contemporary CartoonsContemporary Cartoons

No successful two-state No successful two-state solution to this day…solution to this day…

Build A SolutionBuild A Solution

Create your own solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict

Topics to address: Borders?

Government? Reparations? Jerusalem?

Maintaining peace in the future?