The Israeli and Palestine Conflict

"The past isn't dead; it isn't even past." William Faulkner.

Question: What are the roots of Question: What are the roots of Israeli-Palestine Conflict today? Israeli-Palestine Conflict today?

Balfour Declaration: Document #1Balfour Declaration: Document #1 Hussein Letter: “(2) Great Britain will guarantee the Hussein Letter: “(2) Great Britain will guarantee the

Holy Places against all external aggression and will Holy Places against all external aggression and will recognise their inviolability. recognise their inviolability. (3) When the situation admits, Great Britain will give (3) When the situation admits, Great Britain will give to the Arabs her advice and will assist them to to the Arabs her advice and will assist them to establish what may appear to be the most suitable establish what may appear to be the most suitable forms of government those various territories. forms of government those various territories. (4) On the other hand, it is understood that the (4) On the other hand, it is understood that the Arabs have decided to seek the advice and Arabs have decided to seek the advice and guidance of Great Britain only, and that such guidance of Great Britain only, and that such European advisers and officials as may be required European advisers and officials as may be required for the formation of a sound form of administration for the formation of a sound form of administration will be British.”will be British.”

Council of Foreign Relations Council of Foreign Relations ClipClip

http://www.cfr.org/publication/13850/http://www.cfr.org/publication/13850/

"No two historians ever "No two historians ever agree on what happened, agree on what happened,

and the damn thing is and the damn thing is they both think they're they both think they're

telling the truth."telling the truth."  Harry   Harry S. Truman.S. Truman.

Causes of the ConflictCauses of the Conflict

ZionismZionism WWI and the Ottoman EmpireWWI and the Ottoman Empire Mandated and promised lands to Mandated and promised lands to

both groups (Fear of French power)both groups (Fear of French power) The Holocaust The Holocaust Pressure and PartitionPressure and Partition

Changes Changes

There were about 600,000 Jews in Palestine, almost all living in the areas allotted to the Jewish state or in the internationalized zone of Jerusalem, and about 1.2 million Arabs.

Modern causesModern causes

Independence 1948Independence 1948 Arab InvasionArab Invasion Sinai campaign and Arab nationalismSinai campaign and Arab nationalism 1976: The 6-Day War **Cold War 1976: The 6-Day War **Cold War

Politics**Politics**

Palestine/Israel after Palestine/Israel after 19481948

The Arabs and The Arabs and Palestinians lost their Palestinians lost their initial advantage when initial advantage when they failed to organize they failed to organize and unite. When the and unite. When the fighting ended in fighting ended in 1949, Israel held 1949, Israel held territories beyond the territories beyond the boundaries set by the boundaries set by the UN plan - a total of UN plan - a total of 78% of the area west 78% of the area west of the Jordan river. of the Jordan river.

In the summer of 1956, In the summer of 1956, Israel, France and Israel, France and Britain colluded in a Britain colluded in a plan to reverse the plan to reverse the nationalization of the nationalization of the Suez canal. Israel Suez canal. Israel would invade the Sinai would invade the Sinai and land paratroopers and land paratroopers near the Mitla pass. near the Mitla pass. Britain and France Britain and France would issue an would issue an ultimatum, and then ultimatum, and then land troops ostensibly land troops ostensibly to separate the sides.  to separate the sides.  The plan was carried The plan was carried out beginning October out beginning October 29, 1956. Israel swiftly 29, 1956. Israel swiftly conquered Sinai. The conquered Sinai. The US was furious at US was furious at Israel, Britain and Israel, Britain and France. France.

Nasser stated: "The Nasser stated: "The armies of Egypt, Jordan, armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of poised on the borders of Israel...to face the Israel...to face the challenge, while standing challenge, while standing behind us are the armies behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will nation. This act will astound the world. Today astound the world. Today they will know that the they will know that the Arabs are arranged for Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have has arrived. We have reached the stage of reached the stage of serious action and not serious action and not declarations."  declarations." 

OutcomesOutcomes The PLO and Intifada in the 1970s and The PLO and Intifada in the 1970s and

1980s1980s Oslo Accords and Camp David Oslo Accords and Camp David The Second Intifada (2001-2005)The Second Intifada (2001-2005) Disengagement: *Israel’s goal is to Disengagement: *Israel’s goal is to

reach a just settlement that would reach a just settlement that would allow both Israelis and Palestinians to allow both Israelis and Palestinians to live in genuine peace and security*live in genuine peace and security*

Rise of HamasRise of Hamas Annapolis Peace Conference 2007Annapolis Peace Conference 2007

Israel 2006Israel 2006