Conflicts in the Middle EastConflicts in the Middle Eastaka the Holy Landthe Holy Land

• Former territory of Ottoman Empire, becomes British Mandate of Palestine after Versailles Former territory of Ottoman Empire, becomes British Mandate of Palestine after Versailles Treaty of WWI, Mandate given to United Nations at the end of WWIITreaty of WWI, Mandate given to United Nations at the end of WWII

• 1947, UN recommends partition of Palestine into a Palestinian state and a Jewish state, 1947, UN recommends partition of Palestine into a Palestinian state and a Jewish state, with Jerusalem becoming an international city owned by neither sidewith Jerusalem becoming an international city owned by neither side

• More detailed background information?!?:http://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/palestine.htm

Balfour DeclarationBalfour Declaration19171917

In classic Imperialism “double-speak” fashion, the British seem to make promises to both sides....In classic Imperialism “double-speak” fashion, the British seem to make promises to both sides....

Israel becomes a stateIsrael becomes a stateMay 14, 1948May 14, 1948

• May 15, all surrounding Arab May 15, all surrounding Arab states attack Israelstates attack Israel

• After a year of fighting, cease-fire declared

• Palestinian state proposed by Palestinian state proposed by UN never comes into beingUN never comes into being, Israel seized half of this land during the year of fighting

• Approx. 700,000 Palestinian refugees were expelled or fled newly-created country during conflict over statehood

• UN accepts Israel as a member UN accepts Israel as a member nation in 1949nation in 1949

Six-Day WarSix-Day War19671967

• A swift and decisive victory A swift and decisive victory for Israelfor Israel over Egypt, Jordan, Syria

• Israel took control of Gaza Gaza Strip and Sinai PeninsulaStrip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West BankWest Bank and East JerusalemEast Jerusalem from Jordan, and Golan HeightsGolan Heights from Syria

• The capture of these territories and on-going refugee problems from this war are central concerns in current central concerns in current conflictconflict

Camp David AccordsCamp David Accords19791979

• First signed agreement First signed agreement between Israel and an between Israel and an Arab countryArab country, ended 30 years of hostility between Israel and Egypt

• Egypt recognized Egypt recognized Israel’s right to existIsrael’s right to exist, which at that time was the first Arab country to do so

• Israel returns the Sinai Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula to EgyptPeninsula to Egypt

PalestiniansPalestinians demand demand

IndependenceIndependence

• Unwilling to give up territories seized for securitysecurity, Israelis began to build settlementssettlements on the West Bank and Gaza Strip

• Resenting Israeli rule, Palestinians living in Israel increasingly looked towards the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization)PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) for political representation

• PLO PLO is currently split into 2 factionsis currently split into 2 factions: HAMAS & FATAH: HAMAS & FATAH1. HAMAS is the right-wing, militant/extreme PLO that is designated as a 1. HAMAS is the right-wing, militant/extreme PLO that is designated as a terrorist by the USA....currently controls Gaza Stripterrorist by the USA....currently controls Gaza Strip2. FATAH is left-wing, popular-based PLO that is not designated as a terrorist 2. FATAH is left-wing, popular-based PLO that is not designated as a terrorist organization by the USA....currently controls West Bankorganization by the USA....currently controls West Bank

Current Events in the Middle EastCurrent Events in the Middle East20112011

• Israel’s WallIsrael’s Wall (security fence/separation barrier) in the West in the West BankBank

• On-going construction by the State of Israel for security reasons

• Severely restricts, controls Severely restricts, controls movement of Palestiniansmovement of Palestinians in West Bank and Israel

• UN and nation-states demand that UN and nation-states demand that Israel stop and reverse this Israel stop and reverse this construction projectconstruction project

• Project breaks international laws Project breaks international laws and moves Israeli control further and moves Israeli control further into Occupied Palestinian into Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesTerritories

• CONTROVERSY: Is this WALL a CONTROVERSY: Is this WALL a

form of APARTHEID?!?form of APARTHEID?!?• http://www.btselem.org/Download/Separation_Bar

rier_Map_Eng.pdf

Current Events in the Middle EastCurrent Events in the Middle East20112011

• Israeli settlements in the West Bank built on land that was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War

• considered occupied considered occupied territoryterritory by the international community

• Criticized by Human Rights Criticized by Human Rights organizationsorganizations

• Viewed as a major obstacle major obstacle to the Peace Processto the Peace Process

• CONTROVERSY: Are these CONTROVERSY: Are these settlements legal?!?settlements legal?!?

Current Events in the Middle EastCurrent Events in the Middle East20112011

• President ObamaPresident Obama has recently declared current current situation is “unsustainable”situation is “unsustainable” in regards to Israel’s “permanent occupation” of West Bank.

• Urges creation of Palestinian Urges creation of Palestinian State based on 1967 borders State based on 1967 borders beforebefore the six-day war the six-day war

• CONTROVERSY:CONTROVERSY: Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs, Zionists, Jews, Muslims, etc......Where do we go from Where do we go from here?!?here?!?