• Jews claimed Israel more than 3,000 years agoJews claimed Israel more than 3,000 years ago• Muslims & Christians (Palestinians) believed Muslims & Christians (Palestinians) believed

the land belonged to them since the Jews the land belonged to them since the Jews were driven out in 135 ADwere driven out in 135 AD

• Arabs believed the land belonged to them Arabs believed the land belonged to them since they had conquered the area in the 7th since they had conquered the area in the 7th centurycentury

Claims to the Holy Land

Claims to the Holy Land

• After the Diaspora, or dispersal of Jews, they After the Diaspora, or dispersal of Jews, they were unable to establish their own statewere unable to establish their own state

• Jewish nationalists, known as Zionists, were Jewish nationalists, known as Zionists, were determined to reclaim the Jewish homeland in determined to reclaim the Jewish homeland in PalestinePalestine

• At this time, Palestine At this time, Palestine was controlled by the was controlled by the Islamic Turks of the Islamic Turks of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire

• After WWI, the After WWI, the League of Nations League of Nations asked Britain to asked Britain to oversee Palestine’s oversee Palestine’s independenceindependence

Zionism & PalestineZionism & Palestine

• In a letter to Zionist In a letter to Zionist leaders in 1917, the leaders in 1917, the British Foreign British Foreign Secretary Sir Arthur Secretary Sir Arthur Balfour promoted the Balfour promoted the idea of creating a Jewish idea of creating a Jewish state state

• Despite the Balfour Despite the Balfour Declaration, the efforts Declaration, the efforts to create a Jewish state to create a Jewish state failed, but the hostility failed, but the hostility between Palestinians between Palestinians and Jews grewand Jews grew

The Balfour DeclarationThe Balfour Declaration

Israel:1947

&Israel:1949

Israel:1947

&Israel:1949

• After WWII, the United After WWII, the United Nations General Assembly Nations General Assembly voted for a partition of voted for a partition of Palestine into a Palestinian Palestine into a Palestinian state and a Jewish statestate and a Jewish state

• Jerusalem would be an Jerusalem would be an international state owned international state owned by neither sideby neither side

• Islamic countries, as well Islamic countries, as well as Palestine, voted against as Palestine, voted against the partitionthe partition

• On May 14. 1948, Jewish On May 14. 1948, Jewish leader David Ben Gurion leader David Ben Gurion announced the creation of announced the creation of an independent Israelan independent Israel

An Independent IsraelAn Independent Israel

• May 15, 1948, six Islamic states (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, May 15, 1948, six Islamic states (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, & Syria) invaded IsraelLebanon, Saudi Arabia, & Syria) invaded Israel

• This was the first of many Arab-Israeli warsThis was the first of many Arab-Israeli wars• During this fighting, more than 600,000 Palestinians fled During this fighting, more than 600,000 Palestinians fled

from Israeli controlled areasfrom Israeli controlled areas• Various Arab nations then claimed other Palestinian Various Arab nations then claimed other Palestinian

landslands• Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip, Jordan annexed Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip, Jordan annexed

West Bank of Jordan RiverWest Bank of Jordan River

First Arab-Israeli WarFirst Arab-Israeli War

• In 1956, Egypt, under In 1956, Egypt, under President Nasser, seized President Nasser, seized control of the Suez Canal control of the Suez Canal from the Britishfrom the British

• Britain made an agreement Britain made an agreement with France and Israel to with France and Israel to retake the canalretake the canal

• British, French, and Israelis British, French, and Israelis marched on the Suez Canal marched on the Suez Canal and defeated the Egyptiansand defeated the Egyptians

• Pressured by the U.S., Pressured by the U.S., Soviet Union, and other Soviet Union, and other countries forced them to countries forced them to withdraw from Egypt and withdraw from Egypt and give Egypt control of the give Egypt control of the Suez CanalSuez Canal

Suez CrisisSuez Crisis

Gamal Abdul Nasser,

President of Egypt

• 1967, Nasser and Arab 1967, Nasser and Arab allies (including Soviet allies (including Soviet assistance) were assistance) were prepared to confront prepared to confront IsraelIsrael

• Sensing attack, Israelis Sensing attack, Israelis struck airfields, in struck airfields, in Egypt, Iran, Jordan, & Egypt, Iran, Jordan, & SyriaSyria

• Israel defeated the Israel defeated the Arab states in this Six-Arab states in this Six-Day War, and gained Day War, and gained control of Jerusalem, control of Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, and the Golan Heights, and the West BankWest Bank

Six-Day WarSix-Day War

• In October 1973, Nasser’s In October 1973, Nasser’s successor, President Anwar successor, President Anwar Sadat, launched a surprise Sadat, launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest Kippur, one of the holiest Jewish holidaysJewish holidays

• Israelis counterattacked Israelis counterattacked and regained lost and regained lost territoryterritory

• After several After several weeks, both sides weeks, both sides agreed to a truceagreed to a truce

The Yom Kippur WarThe Yom Kippur War

• In 1964, Palestinian officials formed In 1964, Palestinian officials formed the Palestine Liberation the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to push for the Organization (PLO) to push for the formation of a Palestinian stateformation of a Palestinian state

• Guerrilla groups began to dominate Guerrilla groups began to dominate the organization & insisted the the organization & insisted the need for armed struggleneed for armed struggle

• In 1969, Yasir Arafat, became In 1969, Yasir Arafat, became chairman of the PLO & led several chairman of the PLO & led several attacks against Israel attacks against Israel

• Neighboring Arab countries allowed Neighboring Arab countries allowed the PLO to operate from their landsthe PLO to operate from their lands

• In November 1977, Anwar Sadat In November 1977, Anwar Sadat offered peace to Israel in exchange offered peace to Israel in exchange for the rights of Palestinians for the rights of Palestinians

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

Yasir Arafat

• Pres. Jimmy Carter invited Pres. Jimmy Carter invited Sadat & Israeli Prime Sadat & Israeli Prime Minister to Camp David Minister to Camp David (presidential retreat in rural (presidential retreat in rural MD)MD)

• After 13 days of After 13 days of negotiations, Egypt negotiations, Egypt recognized Israel as recognized Israel as legitimate state, & Israel legitimate state, & Israel agreed to return the agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Sinai Peninsula to EgyptEgypt

• The 1979 Camp David The 1979 Camp David Accords ended 30 Accords ended 30 years of hostilities years of hostilities between Egypt and between Egypt and Israel (first ever Israel (first ever signed agreement signed agreement between Israel and between Israel and an Arab country)an Arab country)

Camp David Accords (1979)

Camp David Accords (1979)

Camp David Accords (1979)

Camp David Accords (1979)

President President Prime MinisterAnwar Sadat Jimmy Carter Menachem Begin of Egypt of the U. S. Of Israel

Camp David Accords (1979)

Camp David Accords (1979)

• Sadat’s peace Sadat’s peace initiative angered initiative angered many Arab countriesmany Arab countries

• In 1981, a group of In 1981, a group of Muslim extremists Muslim extremists assassinated himassassinated him

• Egypt’s new leader, Egypt’s new leader, Hosni Mubarak, also Hosni Mubarak, also worked to maintain worked to maintain peace w/Israelpeace w/Israel

Sadat’s Assassination Sadat’s Assassination

• Palestinians continued Palestinians continued to clash with the Israelisto clash with the Israelis

• Fighting intensified Fighting intensified between the PLO and between the PLO and IsraelIsrael

• In 1982, Israel invaded In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon to destroy Lebanon to destroy Palestinian strongholds, Palestinian strongholds, but later withdrew to but later withdrew to avoid involvement in avoid involvement in Lebanon’s civil warLebanon’s civil war

Fighting in LebanonFighting in Lebanon

• In 1987, Palestinians In 1987, Palestinians began a widespread began a widespread campaign of civil campaign of civil disobedience known as the disobedience known as the intifadaintifada, or “uprising”, , or “uprising”, which continued until the which continued until the 1990s1990s

• The The intifadaintifada put pressure put pressure on the Israelis to seek on the Israelis to seek negotiations with Palestinenegotiations with Palestine

• October 1991, Israeli & October 1991, Israeli & Palestinian delegates met Palestinian delegates met for a series of peace talksfor a series of peace talks

IntifadaIntifada

• Secret talks in Oslo, Norway produced the Secret talks in Oslo, Norway produced the Declaration of Principles, known as the Oslo Peace Declaration of Principles, known as the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993Accords of 1993

• Israel, under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, gave Israel, under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, gave Palestinians self-rule in the Gaza strip and West Palestinians self-rule in the Gaza strip and West Bank, beginning with JerichoBank, beginning with Jericho

• Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by a right-wing Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by a right-wing Jewish extremist Jewish extremist

• New Israeli P.M., Benjamin Netanyahu, had opposed New Israeli P.M., Benjamin Netanyahu, had opposed the Oslo Accords, but in 1997 met with Arafat to the Oslo Accords, but in 1997 met with Arafat to work out partial Israeli work out partial Israeli withdrawal from withdrawal from the West Bankthe West Bank

Oslo Peace Accords (1993)

Oslo Peace Accords (1993)

• In 1999, Ehud Barak was In 1999, Ehud Barak was elected the Prime Minister of elected the Prime Minister of IsraelIsrael

• U.S. President Bill Clinton U.S. President Bill Clinton hosted 15-day summit in 2000 hosted 15-day summit in 2000 at Camp David between Ehud at Camp David between Ehud Barak & Yasir Arafat, but no Barak & Yasir Arafat, but no compromise was reachedcompromise was reached

• In later months, Ariel Sharon, In later months, Ariel Sharon, an Israeli political leader, an Israeli political leader, visited the Temple Mount in visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, a Jewish holy placea Jewish holy place

• The Temple Mount is also the The Temple Mount is also the location of the Dome of the location of the Dome of the Rock, one of the holy places of Rock, one of the holy places of the Muslimsthe Muslims

• Riots broke out and a second Riots broke out and a second intifadaintifada was launched was launched

More Peace TalksMore Peace Talks

• Palestinian militant groups began Palestinian militant groups began using suicide bombers, attacking using suicide bombers, attacking Jewish settlements and civilian Jewish settlements and civilian locationslocations

• In 17 months, one Israeli died for In 17 months, one Israeli died for every three Palestiniansevery three Palestinians

• In response, Israeli forces moved In response, Israeli forces moved into Palestinian refugee camps, into Palestinian refugee camps, destroying buildings, towns, and destroying buildings, towns, and campscamps

• The Israeli army also bombed The Israeli army also bombed Arafat’s headquartersArafat’s headquarters

• In 2001, Ariel Sharon was In 2001, Ariel Sharon was elected Israeli Prime Minister elected Israeli Prime Minister & refused to negotiate with & refused to negotiate with Palestinians until attacks Palestinians until attacks stoppedstopped

The Second IntifadaThe Second Intifada

• In 2003, Palestinian leaders appointed first-In 2003, Palestinian leaders appointed first-ever prime minister Mahmoud Abbasever prime minister Mahmoud Abbas

• U.S. President George W. Bush brought U.S. President George W. Bush brought Sharon and Abbas together at the Red Sea Sharon and Abbas together at the Red Sea Summit to begin working on a new peace Summit to begin working on a new peace plan known as the “road map”plan known as the “road map”

The Road MapThe Road Map

• In January 2006, the In January 2006, the Islamic militant group Islamic militant group Hamas won a victory in Hamas won a victory in the Palestinian the Palestinian parliamentary elections parliamentary elections (76 of the 132 seats)(76 of the 132 seats)– ruling Fatah party ruling Fatah party

trailed with 43 seatstrailed with 43 seats

• U.S. and Israel under U.S. and Israel under Interim P.M. Ehud Interim P.M. Ehud Olmert refused to deal Olmert refused to deal with Hamaswith Hamas

Hostilities Resume, 2006Hostilities Resume, 2006

• Israel-Gaza conflict emerged in the summer of Israel-Gaza conflict emerged in the summer of 2006 between Hamas and Israeli forces 2006 between Hamas and Israeli forces

• Israel also began a struggle with Hezbollah in Israel also began a struggle with Hezbollah in LebanonLebanon

• In mid-2007, Palestine entered into a civil conflict In mid-2007, Palestine entered into a civil conflict between Hamas and Fatah partiesbetween Hamas and Fatah parties

• In June 2008, Hamas and Israel agreed to a cease-In June 2008, Hamas and Israel agreed to a cease-fire fire

Hostilities ContinueHostilities Continue