The Arab-Israeli Wars (1956-present)

1. The Arab-Israeli Wars (1956-present) Source: Susan M. Pojer, pptpalooza.net

2. Taken from http://www.geographyiq.com/pic/meast.gif

3. Claims to the Holy Land • Jews claimed Israel more than 3,000 years ago • Muslims & Christians (Palestinians) believed the land belonged to them since the Jews were driven out in 135 AD • Arabs believed the land belonged to them since they had conquered the area in the 7th century

4. Maps of Arab countries (green) and Israel (red).

5. Setting the Stage • Diaspora • Anti-Semitism • Zionism = Jewish/Israeli nationalism • Theodore Herzl – “The Jewish State”

6. Palestine & WWI • Palestine ruled by Muslim Turks of the Ottoman Empire before WWI • Turks defeated by Allied Powers • Britain given control over Palestine (Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Jordan) • Governed as a mandate – permission to rule would end on May 15, 1948

7. Sykes-Picot Agreement • British & French spheres of influence in the Middle East

9. McMahon Agreement The McMahon-Hussein Agreement of October 1915 was accepted by Palestinians as a promise by the British that after World War One, land previously held by the Turks would be returned to the Arab nationals who lived in that land.

10. The Balfour Declaration, 1917 • British Foreign Secretary Sir Arthur Balfour promoted the idea of creating a Jewish state • Despite this Balfour Declaration, the efforts to create a Jewish state failed, • Hostility between Palestinians and Jews grew

11. Tensions Grow • Both Jews & Arabs were upset with British • Attacks • Conflict over Jerusalem • Population of Jews doubled • Threatened Arabs in the region • Violence erupted in 1929, 1936, etc.

12. An Independent Israel • After WWII, the United Nations General Assembly voted for a partition of Palestine into a Palestinian state and a Jewish state • Partition voted down – but mandate ends May 15th!!! • On May 14. 1948, Jewish leader David Ben Gurion announced the creation of an independent Israel

13. David Ben-Gurion declares Israel’s Independence May 14, 1948 Israel was quickly recognised by the USA and Russia. They were powerful, and rich, friends.

14. Israel Post-WWII:1947&1949

15. First Arab-Israeli War • May 15, 1948, six Islamic states (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, & Syria) invaded Israel

16. 1948 Arab Invasion plans of Israel ( in red.) From Lebanon and Syria From Transjordan and Iraq From Egypt

17. Israeli Defense Force (IDF) • Ben Gurion combined all of Israel’s forces together, Zionist or not • Arab forces were dispersed, disunified • Israeli’s had knowledge from assisting Brits in WWII

18. Results of first Arab-Israeli War, 1948-49? ‘West Bank’-Jordanian Israel • Israel expanded by 25% • Jordan received E. Jerusalem & West Bank • Egyptians received Gaza strip • Other Arab forces pushed back • UN declared cease-fire on the “Green Line” • Israel signed armistices w/Arab states Gaza Strip-Egyptian

19. Palestinian Arab refugees. The seeds of years of future discontent ?

20. Six-Day War, 1967 • 1967, Egypt’s leader Gamal Abdul Nasser and Arab allies (including Soviet assistance) were prepared to confront Israel • Sensing attack, Israelis struck airfields, in Egypt, Iran, Jordan, & Syria • Israel defeated the Arab states in this Six-Day War, and gained control of Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, and the West Bank

21. Suez Crisis • In 1956, Egypt, under President Nasser, seized control of the Suez Canal from the British Gamal Abdul Nasser,President of Egypt

22. The Yom Kippur War • In October 1973, Nasser’s successor, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest Jewish holidays • Coalition w/Syria • Israelis counterattacked and regained lost territory • After several weeks, both sides agreed to a truce

23. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) • In 1964, Palestinian officials formed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to push for the formation of a Palestinian state • Guerrilla groups dominate organization • In 1969, Yasir Arafat, became chairman of the PLO & led several attacks against Israel • Neighboring Arab countries allowed the PLO to operate from their lands • In November 1977, Anwar Sadat offered peace to Israel in exchange for the rights of Palestinians Yasir Arafat

24. Camp David Accords (1979) • Pres. Jimmy Carter invited • Egypt’s Pres. Sadat • Israeli Prime Minister  to Camp David (presidential retreat in rural MD) • 13 days of negotiations • Egypt recognized Israel as legitimate state • Israel agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt • The 1979 Camp David Accords ended 30 years of hostilities between Egypt and Israel (first ever signed agreement between Israel and an Arab country)

25. Camp David Accords (1979) President President Prime MinisterAnwar Sadat Jimmy Carter Menachem Begin of Egypt of the U. S. Of Israel

26. Camp David Accords (1979)

27. Sadat’s Assassination • Sadat’s peace initiative angered many Arab countries • In 1981, a group of Muslim extremists assassinated him • Egypt’s new leader, Hosni Mubarak, also worked to maintain peace w/Israel • However, we know what later happens to Mubarak…

28. Hamas • Founded in 1987 • Islamic Sunni’s • Gaza Strip • Goal = Palestinian liberation from Israel Hezbollah • Lebanon • Shi’ite Islamic group • Support from Syria & Iran • Goal = destruction of Israel

29. Fighting in Lebanon • Palestinians continued to clash with the Israelis • Fighting intensified between the PLO and Israel • In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon to destroy Palestinian strongholds, but later withdrew to avoid involvement in Lebanon’s civil war

30. Intifada • In 1987, Palestinians began a widespread campaign of civil disobedience known as the intifada, or “uprising”, which continued until the 1990s • The intifada put pressure on the Israelis to seek negotiations with Palestine • October 1991, Israeli & Palestinian delegates met for a series of peace talks

31. Oslo Peace Accords (1993) • Secret talks in Oslo, Norway produced the Declaration of Principles, known as the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993 • Israel, under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, gave Palestinians self-rule in the Gaza strip and West Bank, beginning with Jericho • Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by a right-wing Jewish extremist • New Israeli P.M., Benjamin Netanyahu, had opposed the Oslo Accords, but in 1997 met with Arafat to work out partial Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank

32. More Peace Talks, 1999-2000 • In 1999, Ehud Barak was elected PM of Israel • U.S. President Bill Clinton hosted 15-day summit in 2000 at Camp David between Ehud Barak & Yasir Arafat, but no compromise was reached • In later months, Ariel Sharon, an Israeli political leader, visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a Jewish holy place • The Temple Mount is also the location of the Dome of the Rock, one of the holy places of the Muslims • Riots broke out and a second intifada was launched

33. The Second Intifada • Palestinian militant groups began using suicide bombers, attacking Jewish settlements and civilian locations • In response, Israeli forces moved into Palestinian refugee camps, destroying buildings, towns, and camps • The Israeli army also bombed Arafat’s headquarters • In 2001, Ariel Sharon was elected Israeli Prime Minister & refused to negotiate with Palestinians until attacks stopped

34. The Road Map • In 2003, Palestinian leaders appointed first-ever prime minister Mahmoud Abbas • U.S. President George W. Bush brought Sharon and Abbas together at the Red Sea Summit to begin working on a new peace plan known as the “road map”

35. Hostilities Resume, 2006 • In January 2006, the Islamic militant group Hamas won a victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections (76 of the 132 seats) • ruling Fatah (PLO) party trailed with 43 seats • U.S. and Israel under Interim P.M. Ehud Olmert refused to deal with Hamas

36. Hostilities Continue • Israel-Gaza conflict emerged in the summer of 2006 between Hamas and Israeli forces • Israel also began a struggle with Hezbollah in Lebanon • In mid-2007, Palestine entered into a civil conflict between Hamas and Fatah parties • In June 2008, Hamas and Israel agreed to a cease-fire • Attacks continued

37. More recently… • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Congress • Pres. Obama has urged Israeli to return to its 1967 borders • Netanyahu turned down suggestion

38. Just This Fall… • November 2012 • Hamas rocket & missile launches • Israeli military, authorized by Netanyahu, launches “Operation Pillar of Defense” • Israeli Defense Force • Israel’s Iron Dome rocket defense system • Killed Hamas military leader, Ahmed al-Jabari • Hamas considers this to be declaration of war • Continued Hamas rocket & missile attacks • Backed by Muslim Brotherhood • Nov. 21st– Ceasefire

39. Just This Fall… • Palestine upgraded to non-member observer status in the United Nations