The Struggle for Palestine - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Struggle for Palestine

A place for Jews and ArabsSlide2

I.

Forming the Israeli StateKnesset

: Israel’s parliament systemPrime Minister: head of

government

First was David Ben-Gurion. Current Prime Minister is Benjamin Netanyahu

Citizenship: any Jew could become a full citizen

Palestinians: over 80% fled the territory that became Israel and became refugees

Most that remained received Israeli citizenship but were not treated equally

Only Jordan offered its Palestinian refugees citizenshipSlide3

Conscription: every Jewish citizen must serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) including both men (3 years) and women (2 years)

Some exceptions including for religious reasonsOptional for Arab citizens

Military Aid: Israel dependent upon foreign aidFrance was the first major supplier of arms

Helped Israel build its first nuclear power plant in 1950s

U.S. is giving over $3 billion in aid in 2012Slide4

II. Egypt

Egyptian king was overthrown in 1952

Gamal Abdel Nasser

became the president in

1954

Britain

agreed to withdraw from Suez Canal

in June 1956 and turn control over to Egypt

British could intervene if Egypt were attacked by a third party

U.S. tried to influence Egypt by offering to help finance the building of the Aswan Dam on Nile RiverUS revoked its offer after Egypt recognized Communist ChinaSoviets became the primary arms supplier to NasserSlide5

III. Suez Crisis

1956Egypt took the Suez Canal in June 1956Blocked Israeli shipping and closed Gulf of Aqaba

Britain wanted to keep Nasser in checkBritain formed a coalition with France and Israel in August 1956France was angered

at Nasser’s support of rebels in

Algeria (French colony)

Israel agreed to invade Sinai, then Britain and France would intervene to secure Suez Canal

Assault planned during the U.S. presidential raceSlide6

Israeli paratroopers landed in Sinai

in late October 1956Small contingent at first to test British/French commitmentBritain and France announced their forces would intervene in EgyptNasser refused to move his troops from the Canal

Israeli tanks advanced in Sinai; British/French bombed Egypt’s airbasesNov. 5 – British/French

landed in Egypt

Nov. 6 – British and French signed ceasefires because of intense U.S.

and international pressure

U.S. feared that Soviets would intervene with rocket attacks

WarSlide7

Results

France and Britain lost their reputation in Middle East and their standing as world powersBritish Prime Minister forced to resign

UN peacekeeping forces were placed along Egypt-Israel borderIsrael demonstrated its military ability and strengthSoviets

continued to support Egypt

U.S.

became the big financer of Israel

U.S. pressured Israel to withdraw from Gaza and Sinai in 1957

Nasser became the hero of the

Arabs and main Arab leaderSlide8

IV. Six Day War

1967Israel repeatedly retaliated against Jordan and, primarily, Syria for Palestinian cross-border raidsEgypt and Syria signed a joint-defense

pact (will aid each other if one of them is attacked)May 1967 – Nasser demanded UN troops evacuate Sinai and GazaEgyptian troops mobilized into Sinai

May 22 – Nasser closed Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli

shipping at Straits of Tiran

In addition, his “destroy Israel”

rhetoric

was seen as another act of aggressionSlide9

Preemptive Strike!

June 5 (7:45 AM)- Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egyptian air force Egyptian air force virtually destroyed

Israeli tanks invade Sinai later that afternoonHearing falsely that Egypt had destroyed Israeli forces, Jordan and Syria began to bombard Israeli positionsAfternoon – Israeli jets attack Syrian, Iraqi, and Jordanian air bases

Israel announced losing 26 aircraft, while destroying 416 Arab aircraft

IDF jetsSlide10

War with Jordan: Jerusalem and the West Bank

June 6 - Israelis captured all of Jerusalem and dug inIncluding Western Wall and Temple Mount

June 7 - King Hussein of Jordan (fearing Israeli air superiority) moved his troops across Jordan RiverIDF seized all of the West Bank

That evening UN initiates cease-fire between the two nations

“First, the Israeli government had no intention of capturing the West Bank. On the contrary, it was opposed to it. Second, there was not any provocation on the part of the IDF. Third, the rein was only loosened when a real threat to Jerusalem's security emerged. This is truly how things happened on June 5, although it is difficult to believe. The end result was something that no one had planned.”

- Intelligence Officer NarkisSlide11

War with Egypt:

SinaiIDF tanks raced across Sinai with total air supportAriel Sharon (future PM) commanded IDF armored division

Israeli navy secured Gulf of AqabaJune 8 – Israel captured Suez CanalIDF halts their advance

IDF in SinaiSlide12

War with Syria: Golan Heights

June 9 – Israeli troops assault Golan HeightsMost intense fightingJune 10 – Israel-Syria cease-fire signed ending fighting Slide13

Results

Casualties:800 Israelis killed6,000-10,000 Arabs killedIsrael’s borders increased by nearly 4 times!Occupied West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, and Sinai Peninsula

Launched a Jewish settlement program in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to solidify their hold on the territoriesOver 1 million Arabs in the territories

Arab states are

humbled by the loss

Nasser lost popularity

New wave of Palestinian refugees

Over 300,000 Palestinians

flee into Jordan from West BankSlide14
Slide15

V. Palestinian Liberation

Arab countries created Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)

in 1964 1967 –

Jordan’s population almost had more

Palestinians than Jordanians

1968 – Yasser Arafat rises as leader of the PLO

Tries to create a “state” within Jordan

In September 1970, the PLO

tried but failed

to assassinate King HusseinHussein militarily expelled the PLO and thousands of PalestiniansPalestinians called this Black SeptemberPLO will settle in Lebanon In 1975 a civil war is triggered because of the influx of Sunni PalestiniansSlide16

King Hussein

Yasser ArafatSlide17

1972 – Palestinian terrorists take hostage 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics

All hostages were killed plus 5 of the terrorists1976 – 2 Palestinians and 2 Germans hijacked a flight originating from Tel AvivUganda offered safety for hijacked jet

4 more Palestinians joined hijackersNon-Jewish hostages were released

Operation Entebbe: Israeli commandos rescued hostages and killed hijackers in secret raid on airport (July 4, 1976)

3 hostages killed

“When I was a kid, my father used to say 'Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized.' Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They’ve now said that there were eleven hostages. Two were killed in their rooms yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight. They’re all gone.

”

- Jim McKay ABC News

Idi Amin addresses the United NationsSlide18

VI. Yom Kippur War

1973 WarAnwar Sadat became Egypt’s president after Nasser died in 1970

Israel became overconfident and ignored Arab strength after Six Day WarSyria and Egypt wanted to regain land lost in 1967

An Arab surprise attack began on the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur when most Jews are fasting and on holiday

October 6, 1973 – Egyptian forces attack IDF across Suez Canal

Egyptians pushed through Israel’s defenses

Syrian tanks push into the Golan Heights

Largest tank battles since WWII

Soviet Union airdropped supplies to Egypt

IDF ran low on ammunition in SinaiU.S. aircraft carrier offloaded suppliesSlide19

In Mid-October, IDF turned the course of the battle and retook Suez Canal and Golan Heights

IDF tanks were 40 km from Damascus and 100 km from CairoSoviets threatened to intervene if U.S. did not stop Israeli offensiveNuclear alert! Threat of nuclear weapons by both sidesOctober 24 – ceasefire was declaredSlide20

Results

Israel won the war, but was in dismay!2,838 Israelis killedRealized that Israel was not invincibleArabs proved they had the will to fight and could coordinate an attack with multiple states

Golda Meir - Israel’s “Iron Lady” in 1973

Anwar Sadat - Egypt’s President in 1973Slide21

VII. Camp David Accords

(1978)President Jimmy Carter mediated peace between Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s

Menachem Begin at Camp DavidBegin had planned Irgun’s

attack on King David Hotel

Egypt became first Arab state to make peace with Israel

Sinai Peninsula returned to Egypt

This establishes an Israeli “land for peace” precedent

Israel

was guaranteed

safe passage of its ships through Suez CanalU.S. promised aid to both countriesEgypt continues to receive around $1.3 billion per year in aid to keep the accordsSadat assassinated in 1981 by Muslim Brotherhood

Prime Minister Begin

Begin. Carter, SadatSlide22

VIII. Lebanon

(1982-1985)1975 – Civil war erupted in LebanonDruze

(Arab sect) and Christian militias clashAnger over the “status quo” under the Christian-led

government

Israelis viewed PLO and Syrian presence in Lebanon as a threat

1982 - IDF invaded southern Lebanon

Goal: secure

a 25

mile security zone

Israelis pushed all the way to BeirutPLO was forced to evacuate BeirutSlide23

Sabra

and Shatila massacres enraged Muslims worldwideIDF surrounded the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps while the Christian Lebanese

Phalangist militia went in and killed hundreds in retaliation for the killing of the Lebanese presidentIsraelis accepted indirect

responsibility

Future Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was Defense Minister and helped organize the massacres

Sabra and Shatila MassacreSlide24

1983 - 220

U.S. Marines killed by a car bomb at their barracks in Beirut1985 – Israel withdrew and held small “security zone” in southern LebanonShiite militant groups formed to fight

the Israeli occupation Iran sponsored Hezbollah

War was unpopular in Israel

Expensive and over

600

killed

Lebanese government remained weak and unstable

Menachem

Begin forced to resignSlide25

IX.

First Intifada(1987 – 1991)

Intifada means “shaking off” or “uprising”1985 - Israel launches its “Iron Fist” policy at Palestinians

Israelis

were increasingly encouraged

to “settle” the West Bank and Gaza Strip

1987 - Palestinians rise up against Israel

This was not led by PLO, it was a spontaneous movement

Palestinian youths challenged Israel through stones and boycotts

1988 - Arafat renounced terrorismIntifada “shaking off”Slide26

Israel responded with brutal suppression

Over 800 Palestinians killed by mid-1990 (25% were under 16 yrs.)Around 1100 Palestinians killed by other Palestinians for collaborating with Israel

Palestinians gained worldwide attention and sympathyUN voted to condemn Israel’s actions 130-2 (Israel and U.S. voted against)

30,000 Israelis protested Israel’s methods in Tel Aviv

Hamas, a political and militant Palestinian Islamic liberation group, began during the First Intifada

Intifada

“shaking off”Slide27
Slide28

X. Peace Process

Madrid Peace ConferenceThe First Intifada brought about a need to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

1991 - Madrid Peace ConferenceFirst time Israel met with Palestinians

But Israel refused to meet with PLO leadership

This

brought an

end to

the First

Intifada

Representatives at MadridSlide29

Oslo Accords

1993 - Oslo AccordsFirst time Israel met with PLOIsrael agreed to evacuate from some of the Gaza Strip and West Bank and begin to give some autonomy to the Palestinian

Authority (created to administer those areas)President Clinton oversaw the signing Yitzhak Rabin

(Israeli PM) and

Yasser Arafat

(PLO Chairman) won

the Nobel Peace Prize

Both

Israelis and Palestinians were divided on the accords

Some believed Arafat “sold out” to IsraelHamas refused to recognize accordsKnesset passed accords by a small majoritySlide30

The Future Looks Peaceful

1994 – Arafat arrives in Gaza to become the president of the Palestinian Authority1994 – Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty

Jordan becomes Israel’s second neighbor to make peaceRabin was assassinated in 1995 by a Zionist

A handshake between King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin, accompanied by Bill Clinton, during the Israel-Jordan peace negotiations, October 26, 1994Slide31

XI. Second

Intifada(Sep. 2000 – Feb. 2005)

July 2000 – Middle East Peace Summit failsArafat and Prime Minister Ehud Barak fail to reach agreement over Jerusalem and Temple Mount

September 2000 - Ariel Sharon

(then a PM candidate) visits

Temple Mount

Palestinian riot breaks out

Sharon’s visit was 10 days after the memorial of

Sabra

and Shatila (Sharon was defense minister then)Violence spreads with suicide attacks in Israeli neighborhoods and Israeli airstrikes against PalestiniansSharon visits Temple Mount September 28, 2000Slide32

Confiscated weapons from an Iranian vessel

(intended for Palestinians)In 2001, Sharon was elected Prime MinisterSharon is a hardliner on Palestinians

Sharon takes security power from the Palestinian AuthoritySuicide bombings inside Israel increased in 2002 and 2003Palestinian Authority was divided over Israeli occupation

Arafat sought peaceful solution

Hamas sought violent means

One of the lynchers of two Israeli soldiers, waves his blood-stained hands from the window

Palestinians youths take cover in a crossfire Slide33

2004 – Israel began building a wall to secure its territory from Palestinian attacks

This barrier separates Palestinians in the West Bank from IsraelNov. 11, 2004 – Yasser Arafat diedMahmoud Abbas

replaced Arafat as president of Palestinian AuthorityFebruary 2005 - Sharon began initiative to unilaterally withdraw Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip This will “end”

the Second

Intifada

The barrier between Abu Dis and JerusalemSlide34

Mahmoud AbbasSlide35

Results

Positive impact for Palestinians:Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip

Ruined Israeli dream of a “Greater Israel”Negative

impact

for Palestinians:

Murdered the peace process

Pushed both Israelis and Palestinians to elect hardliner governments (

Hamas(Palestinian), Likud (Israel))

Abbas meets with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Mahmoud Abbas meets with President George Bush and Ariel Sharon. Slide36

XII. Gaza Withdrawal

(2005)By September 2005, Israel had disengaged from the Gaza Strip

Approximately 7000 Jewish settlers were forced to leaveSettlements were destroyed

Many Israelis protested the disengagement

Benjamin Netanyahu

resigned as Finance Minister in protest

Children distribute orange ribbons, representative of the anti-disengagement movement, to cars passing by on Monday, 27 June 2005, at the entrance to Jerusalem.

Slide37

XIII. Second Lebanon War

(July 2006)July 12 – Hezbollah launched diversionary rocket attacks and sent ground troops across border

2 Israeli soldiers were captured to be used for a prisoner exchange

Israel said it was an “act of war” because Hezbollah had two members in Lebanon’s parliament

Israel responded with air strikes

Hezbollah continued to fire rockets into Israel

Around 4,000 total rockets fired

Israeli ground troops entered Southern Lebanon

August

13, 2006 - ceasefire signed U.S. accused of delaying a ceasefireIDF lost 121 soldiers, Hezbollah lost around 500Hezbollah remains in Lebanon and is a threat to Israel’s northSlide38

Israeli cities hit by Hezbollah rocketsSlide39

Areas in Lebanon targeted by Israeli bombing, 12 July to 13 August 2006. Slide40

XIV. Gaza Conflict

(Dec. 2008 – Jan. 2009)Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006

December 19, 2008 – six month truce with Israel expiredIsrael and Hamas could not agree to extend truce

Hamas began firing rockets into Israel

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza commenced

IDF ground troops entered

Gaza on January

3

January

18 – Israel begins ceasefireIsraeli troops pulled out of GazaHamas rocket attacks continued throughout FebruaryIsrael responded with airstrikesDamage in Gaza City

(above)

Damage in Beersheba kindergarten

(below)Slide41

Results

Gaza Strip suffered nearly $2 billion in damagesOver 1000 civilian Palestinians were killedRocket attacks have continued but at much lower rates

2009 Israeli elections resulted in Benjamin Netanyahu elected as Prime

Minister

International pressure has mounted on Israel to find a solution to the conflict with the Palestinians

President Obama has called for an end to the growth of settlements in the West Bank and a resumption of the peace process