Israeli-Palestinian+Conflict


 * The Israeli-Palestinian conflict** includes mutual recognition, security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom of movement & refugees in the area of Israel on the Mediterranean Coast. Both Jewish & Arab groups claim the same rights to the land & water & tell a different version of the same history. The United Nations & many foreign nations have gotten involved with this ongoing conflict.

- Ancient times - 1917 mandate - Post holocaust migration
 * History **

- 1948 Palestinian War

- 1956 Suez War - 1967 6-day war - 1988 two state solution - Oslo Accords - Occupation of West Bank & Gaza Strip - Refugees - Palestinian Terror - Israeli Repression - Israeli Security - Water - Jerusalem - Election of Abbas - Hamas movement - Gaza authority - Qassam Rockets - Apartheid Wall
 * Issues **
 * Current Events **
 * Sources **

Originally Judea, home of the Jews, was conquered by the Roman Empire & renamed Palestine. Palestine was later conquered & controlled by Arabs of the Ottoman Empire for more than a thousand years. The area had few Jewish people living there, because of Jewish Diaspora, or the forced emigration of Jews. But the Zionist movement (Jewish resettlement of Israel) has failed to recognize the large Arab population. After WWI, Palestine was given to Britain as a League of Nations mandate. Palestine was supposed to be the Jewish homeland. But the Arabs of the area, led by Grand Mufti Hajj Amin El Husseini resented & rioted against the Jewish taking of their land. The British stopped the migration of the Jews because of the growing enmity between the Arab & Jewish people. After WWII, a large number of Jewish people had been affected by the Holocaust in Europe. Britain was pressured to allow European Jews to return to their homeland in Palestine. In 1947, The United Nations separated Palestine in to Jewish & Arab states. But the Arabs of the area did not accept or recognize the new Jewish state & war broke out. The Jews won & expanded their state, creating over 700,000 Arab refugees. The Arabs refused to make peace with Israel & violence & war continued throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
 * HISTORY **
 * Ancient Times **
 * 1917 Mandate **
 * Post Holocaust Migration **

 The Arab nations (Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Syria) invaded Israel. Israel unsuspectingly won, taking the western part of the Negev Desert and access to the sea. This caused a major refugee problem, with over one million Palestinian refugees. During the Cold War, Americans were paying for a hydroelectricity project in Egypt (The Aswan Dam), but halted funding once they learned of Egypt's arms deal with communist Czechoslovakia. Nasser, the Egyptian leader, then made decisions to annoy the Americans, like recognizing Red China and then getting the USSR to pay for the Aswan Dam project. The main instigator of the war, however, was when Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Canal so that the Allies could no longer use it. It was very important to them because it gave them a pathway through to the Indian Ocean, and they used it to get many necessary goods, like oil. Israel, which was supported by the Allies, attacked Egypt with the help of British and French forces. In turn, the USA became angry as she was allied with Britain and France but didn't want to lose her access to the important Arab oil supply. The British and French were ultimately humiliated and lost middle eastern influence. Israel, on the other hand, won a major victory and gained land and power. On the unfortunate side, the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) was created after this war, an anti-Israel terrorist group led by Yassar Arafat. This quick war was fought June 5 to June 10 between Israel & surrounding Muslim states, including Egypt, Jordan & Syria. It began with Israel’s surprise air strike on Egypt & ended with Israel winning control of the Gaza strip & Sinai Peninsula Bank from. They also gained West Bank & East Jerusalem from Jordan & the Golan Heights from Syria. Controversy over whether the strike was an act of aggression or in defensive nature has left many international law issues. A solution accepted by the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization). It involved creating two separate states, one being a Jewish Israel, the other being an Arab Palestine. The Palestinian refugees would get citizenship to the new country & the Arabs living in Israel would have a choice of staying or leaving. Israel did not accept this UN resolution. Under Norwegian mediators, Palestinian & Israeli representatives began secret negotiations. The PLO represented the Arabs & both they & the Israelis agreed to a 5 year interim period of Palestinian self rule. It gave Palestinians self-rule of Gaza & West Bank. The PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace & security. They also promised to settle all future issues with negotiations, instead of violence. Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people & agreed to commence negotiations for permanent status in order to create peace in the Middle East. Although promising, neither side followed through with the agreements & the possibility of peace crumbled as Israeli settlement of Gaza & West Bank expanded & violent resistance from Palestinians returned.
 * 1948: The Palestinian War **
 * 1956: The Suez War **
 * 1967: 6 day war **
 * 1988: Two state solution **
 * Oslo Accords Aug. 20 1993 **

Israel has occupied & settled West Bank & the Gaza strip since 1967 (6 day war). 220,000 Israelis, mostly in West Bank, live in these areas that Palestinians have claimed. The Palestinians demand the immediate withdrawal from land conquered & evacuation of Jewish settlements. Israel has offered Palestine 97% of the areas in the negotiations at Camp David & Taba, but they have been turned down by Palestine. There are currently around 4 million Palestinian refugees living in crowded IDP (internationally displaced person’s) camps in West Bank, Gaza, Jordon, Syria, Lebanon & Iraq. They say that they have the right to return to their homes, but Israelis fear that allowing them back would result in an Arab-Muslim majority. This would make Israel a non-Jewish state, something they will not sacrifice. Most Palestinian groups (with the exception of the PLO) were formed with the sole purpose of destroying Israel by using violence & terrorism. Many riots against Israel’s presence turn dangerous when Israel responds with violence. Since Sept. 2000, the resistance (Intifadeh) have killed over 1,000 Israelis in terror & suicide raids. Israelis have killed over 3,500 Palestinians, including many civilians in defence operations. In response to Palestinian violence, Israel created strict checkpoints at the borders. Closing off the Israeli border lowered the Palestinian standard of living, as many Arabs were unable, or afraid to get to work across the border. IDF (Israeli army) soldiers have been criticized for shooting at civilians too quickly, if they are suspicious. Since 2002, Israel has reoccupied much of West Bank & Gaza & IDF soldiers keep the cities & towns under siege. The IDF has killed over 3,500 Palestinians, demolished houses & uprooted olive groves, even though these harsh tactics have been proven to not deter Palestinian suicide bombings. Because water is scarce in the area, both sides have disagreed as to who has the write to the fresh water sources. Most of the fresh water aquifers that supply Israel & contribute to its high standard of living are in West Bank. The Palestinians need the water too, but are unable to defend their water source because of the much more powerful Israeli IDF presence. Both sides claim this ancient city. It is the home of the Jewish holy Temple, as well as Al-Aqsa, the holy mosque. Jewish & Muslim neighbourhoods are interwoven & would be difficult to separate. The city was made an international city under the UN partition plan.
 * ISSUES **
 * Occupation of West Bank & Gaza Strip **
 * Refugees **
 * Palestinian Terror **
 * Israeli Repression **
 * Water **
 * [[image:http://www.nileguide.com/blog/files/2010/07/4344.jpg width="237" height="157" align="right" caption="Jerusalem"]]Jerusalem **

**The radical Hamas movement** does not want recognize that Israel has the right exist & does not want to make peace with them. Although a majority of Palestinians recognize Israel’s right to exist & want to make peace with them, European & American leaders have refused to negotiate with Hamas & refuse to give aid to Palestinians until Hamas disarms & recognizes Israel. An international Court of Justice advisory ruling declares the barrier a violation of international law.
 * CURRENT EVENTS **
 * The election of Mahmoud Abbas ** of the Palestinian National Authority brings hope of peace as he promises to end terror & negotiate the withdrawal of Israeli troops from West Bank & Gaza.
 * The collapse of the Palestinian authority** in Gaza resulted in 2006, when Hamas militants forced the president (Addas) to dissolve the government. Since then, anarchy & terror has risen in Gaza. The president formed a new government in West Bank, where he arrested Hamas officials.
 * Qassam rockets** have been fired by Palestinian groups at Israeli settlements in Gaza, as well as civilian targets in Israel, since 2001. The firing has increased since Hamas took over in 2006. They have claimed 12 lives & caused extensive property damage.
 * The security barrier/ Apartheid Wall ** being built in West Bank cuts off Palestinians from their lands & other towns.[[image:http://www.ikhwanweb.com/uploads/2008/3/19/Separation%20Wall.jpg width="282" height="201" align="left" caption="apartheid wall"]]

media type="youtube" key="AUfFdhIOoQM" height="279" width="313"media type="youtube" key="1lVCAUBpG3w" height="209" width="336" "Current Issues." //Palestine History//. Web. 26 May 2011. []. "Israel." //The World Factbook//. Central Intelligence Agency, 17 May 2011. Web. 26 May 2011. []. //The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in a Nutshell//. MidEast Web. Web. 26 May 2011. []. //The Six-Day War//. Committee for Accuracy in the Middle East Reporting in America. Web. 26 May 2011. [].
 * SOURCES:**

By Holly Wacker