ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICTHistorical Background

The Middle East

Let’s Review!

Question:What country in the Middle East is special

for all 3 monotheistic religions?

Question: What City is Holy to All 3 monotheistic

religions?

Jewish Ties to Land Jerusalem

God made covenant w/ Abraham 1st born son (Isaac) get’s “promised land”

Western Wall Last wall of Jewish Temple

Dome of the Rock Site of Isaac’s almost sacrifice

Christian ties to Land Israel = Holy Land

Bethlehem birthplace of Jesus

Jerusalem Miracles Last Supper Trial & Crucifixion Via Dolorosa (“Way of Suffering”) Death & Resurrection

Muslim ties to Land Jerusalem

God’s covenant w/ Abraham 1st born son (Ishmael) gets

“promised land” El Aqsa Mosque & Dome of the Rock

Muhammad’s Night Journey Dome of the Rock

Abraham almost sacrificed Ishmael on Mt. Moriah

Canaan = Israel = Palestine Problem:

Canaan (Palestine/Israel) conquered by Romans

Action: Jewish Diaspora

(dispersal) Arabs move into Canaan

(Palestine) Outcome:

Romans leave & sell land deeds to Arabs

Prediction:Why might this be a

problem?

The Holocaust

Problem: Hitler wages Holocaust

against Jews in WWII Action:

Jews who survive return to “Canaan” which is Palestine (Israel)

Outcome: Arabs + have to share

land w/ Jews

Israel: Physical Maps

Jewish Migration Jewish settlement post WWII? Arab/Palestinian reactions? What is there the potential

for? How do we make everyone

happy?

Problem: Arabs & Jews have to share

land & resources = & potential for war/fight

1947 U.N. Partition Plan Changes to

Palestine? Who gets

Jerusalem? Action:

1947 Partition Plan splits land between Jews & Arabs

Jewish reactions? Arab reactions? Outcome:

Jews gain land = Arabs lose land =

1948 War What do the Jews do w/

their new land? Problem:

Jews create state of Israel = Arabs

Arab reactions & goals? Whose attacking who? Action:

Arab nations of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq & Lebanon attack Israel

Jewish response & goals?

1948 War Results Who won? Jewish gains? Arab reactions? Outcome:

Israel wins & gains more Palestinian land & ½ of Jerusalem (Buffer Zone) & Arabs have less land & no self-rule (autonomy)

Arab Refugees Problem:

Israel controls most of Palestine What did Palestinians do after the

war? Action:

Palestinians flee to refugee camps in neighboring Arab countries

Arab reactions? Jewish reactions? Outcome:

Arabs put troops on border & close Gulf of Aqaba (shipping route) for Israel

1967 “6 Day War” Problem:

Arabs are mobilizing troops on borders w/ Israel

Action: Israel launches pre-emptive

strike (1967 “6 Day War”)

Outcome: Israel wins & takes Sinai

Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank & Golan Heights (Buffer Zones) & takes East Jerusalem (2nd 1/2)

Yom Kippur War

Problem: Israel takes land

from Arabs in 6 Day War

Action: Arabs (Egypt &

Syria) attack Israel on Yom Kippur (Jewish Holiday)

Yom Kippur War Outcome:

Yom Kippur = stalemate

Israel has no friends & bad intn’l rep.

Problem: Israel has no friends

& bad intn’l rep.

Camp David Accords Action:

1978 Camp David Accords arranged by US creates peace btwn Israel & Egypt

Outcome: Egypt gets Sinai Israel gets official

recognition from Egypt

Terrorism

Problem: Anti-Israel groups such as the PLO

(Palestinian Liberation Organization), Hamas & Hezbollah

Action: Purpose of Anti-Israel groups is to

destroy Israel & they launch terrorist attacks against Israel

Outcome: Hamas gains support & settles in

the West Bank & Gaza Strip

Intifada 1987 Problem:

Anti-Israel grps gain Palestinian support

Action: 1987 Intifada -

Palestinians rebel w/ uprisings in WB & GS

Outcome: Israel gains control

w/ force

Gaza Strip Problem:

Israel uses force = neg. worldwide attn.

Action: Israel focuses on WB w/

security fence & checkpoints Grants Gaza autonomy (2005)

Outcome: Gaza uses new freedom to create Arab

political parties & Hamas is elected in 2007

Gaza Strip Problem:

2007 Gaza elects Hamas

Action: Hamas attacks Israel

w/rockets periodically

Outcome: Ongoing conflict btwn

Israel & 2 Palestinian territories (WB & GS)

Current Challenges Gaza Strip

Continues to launch rockets into Israel Jerusalem

Jews claim West & East of city & call it their capital

Arabs live in E. Jer. and want it as their future capital Settlement Movement

Jews moved into WB in order to claim land Angers Arabs

Peace Plans? One state option? Two state option?