The Arab-Israeli Conflict

An Introduction

Objectives

1. Locate important places in and around Israel/Palestine.

2. Explain how geography lies at the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

3. Discuss the religious significance of Jerusalem.

What is the Arab-Israeli conflict?

1 land, 2 peoples

1 land

Israel/Palestine = disputed land, both Israelis & Palestinians claim it

land has changed hands: before 1948 – Palestine (under the

control of various imperial powers) 1948 – Israel created

2 peoples

Palestinians religion: Muslim (90%) & Christian (10%) language: Arabic supported by Arab countries

Israelis religion: mainly Jewish language: Hebrew supported by US and Britain

Why do Palestinians and Israelis both claim the same land? land is connected to birth of Judaism, Christianity,

and Islam Jerusalem

both Palestinians and Israelis claim it as their capital because it contains important holy sites:1. Temple Mount / Haram al Sharif (Judaism & Islam)

a. Dome of the Rock

b. Al-Aqsa Mosque

c. Wailing Wall

2. Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christianity) divided into quarters: Christian, Muslim, Jewish,

Armenian

Temple Mount

Temple Mount

Dome of the Rock

Western or Wailing Wall

Al Aqsa Mosque

Church of the Holy Sepulchre