History of Israel

Lesson #7

Essential Questions

• Why is Israel in perpetual conflict with its neighbors?

• Why is Israel hesitant to give full nation status to the Palestinians?

Modern Problems in Israel• Terrorist strikes• Surrounded by enemy

nations• Always on high alert• Why?• Roots go back thousands

of years

99% of the more than 5,000,000 square miles of former Ottoman Empire to the Arabs to create countries that did not exist previously. Less than 1% was given for a state for the Jews on both banks of the Jordan River.

Ancient Israel• History described in the Bible• A proud civilization• Defeated surrounded lands• They fought their way in• They fought surrounding nations to exist

Roman InvasionAround 2000 years ago…Romans took over Israel

Jews rebelled.Romans kicked out Jews

Jewish DiasporaJews were forced to find new homes.Most moved to Western Russia and Poland

Get out!

Questions (set A)1. What people first owned land that is now

Israel?

2. Who took over and kicked out Jewish people?

3. Where did Jews go?

Return of Jewish People to Israel

• In 1900s, Jews start to return• (called the ZIONIST MOVEMENT)• Goal: form a modern nation of Israel

• Problem: people had moved onto land of Israel

• Romans had called them Palestinians

Zionism• Jews persecuted

while living in other nations as refugees

• Lots wanted a Jewish nation that would protect Jews

• Zionism was the idea to create a new Israel where the old one was (holy land)

Changes in ownership of land

• In 1900s, Ottoman Empire owned land

• Ottomans had become weak.

• Ottomans lost in WWI• British took over land.• British promised Jews they

could create a new nation if they helped in WWI

Post WWI Middle East

Planned partition of Palestine• The British owned

the land after WWI• Region called

PALESTINE was to be carved into THREE independent nations

• Israel was to get the green portion

• Palestinians wanted to own it all.

Questions (set B)1. What was to be formed by Zionism?

2. Who are the Palestinians?

3. What two nations owned Israel, one before WWI and one after WWI?

Road to a State of Israel• United Nations suggested

splitting western land into two Nations:– Jewish State– Palestinian State

• Jews agreed• Palestinians, and surrounding

nations did NOT agree• None of them thought there

should be a new nation of Israelclick

Formation of a new Jewish Nation• The Holocaust (1937-1945)

caused Jews to FLOOD region• By 1948, Israel was done

waiting• Israel declared itself a nation• Rejoicing in the streets… but…• Neighboring nations saw this as

a “Western invasion”• Palestinians saw this as theft• Might lead to conflict

War for Israeli Independence• Israel invaded 1948 by

– Egypt– Jordan– Iraq– Syria– Lebanon

• Overwhelming force• Was not unified• Israel WAS unified• Israel won

3m

Questions (set C)1. What part of Palestine did the Palestinians

think Israel should get?

2. What nations invaded Israel immediately after it formed as a nation?

3. Who won the war?

Result of War• Palestinians

demanded all land• They got none• Most moved into

surrounding nations• Became refugees• And were ANGRY• Surrounding nations

were humiliated• Most vowed REVENGE

Surrounding nations took revenge• Egypt planned to invade• Coordinated Syria and

Jordan to join (1967)• Israel foiled plans• Israel went on offensive• In 6 days, defeated

enemies

• Egypt led another invasion 1973… and lost

Now known as SIX DAY WAR

Questions (set D)1. Where did most Palestinians go after the Israel

won the war?

2. How were the surrounding nations humiliated? (how long did the 1967 war take?)

3. What nation leads the wars against Israel?

Internal problems in Israel• Palestinians still want a

nation• Some Palestinians have

become terrorists– Suicide bombers

• Most Palestinians want to live in peace

• Should Israel give up some land for them?

Palestinian terrorists form to destroy Israel• Refugees formed terrorist

group PLO, 1964• Refugees in Lebanon

formed Hezbollah, 1982• Refugees in Egypt formed

Hamas, 1988click

Questions (set E)1. What do the Palestinians want?

2. What is the goal of the PLO, Hamas and Hezbollah?

3. What two nations owned Israel, one before WWI and one after WWI?

The result of all this conflict

• Disagreement over land• Formation of terrorist groups• Israel always on defensive• Palestinian refugees

• What should Israel do?

Israel Today

• Israel depends on support from USA

• Israel is a “western” nation, like us

• Should we always support them?

Is there any hope?

• Peace talks• Should WE get involved?• We did, in 1978• Billions of $$• Today:

Camp David Accords, 1978

1981 Nobel Prize for Peace

Four gunmenThree grenades37 rounds11 dead

click