What is the Israeli – Palestinian Conflict and how do these two side’s disagree? What is the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? • The Israeli – Palestinian conflict is an ongoing conflict between two (2) Middle Eastern groups: 1. The country of Israel (Jewish) 2. The Palestinians (Muslims that use to live in Israel) What is Zionism? Y Zionism is a Jewish political movement in Europe during the 19th / 20th Centuries Y GOALS: The spiritual and political renewal of the Jewish people in its ancestral homeland of Palestine. Founder Theodore Herzl 1860-1904 First Zionist Conference, 1897 Y Herzl writes Der Judenstaat, or The Jewish State in 1896. Y Met in Basel, Switzerland Y Creates the First Zionist Congress Y Actively court the support of the British (who are hoping for colonies in the Middle East) Y Motto: “Next Year in Jerusalem!” Palestine Was Part of the Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire joins the Central Powers in World War I Captain T. E. Lawrence [1888-1935] Captain Lawrence goes to Palestine to help the local Arabs rebel against Ottoman rule. He become a local / international hero. The Arab Revolt: 1916-1918 The Allied (British) Advance Against the Ottoman Turks The British & Arab Armies Meet British Forces Lawrence got the Arabs to go along with the rebellion because he promised them independence after WWI The Balfour Declaration (1917) • The formal show of support by the British to the Zionists British Promise to the Jews: Balfour Declaration, 1917 His Majesty’s Government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Sir Arthur James Balfour Palestine… Br. Foreign Secretary The League of Nations’ Mid- East Mandates (1919) How did the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict start? • After World War I, Great Britain took control of what is today Israel as a “mandate” – 1918 – Called it “Palestine” – Muslim citizens = “Palestinians” First Jewish Settlements: The Kibbutz System Y First one founded in 1908. Y Communal living. Y “Make the Desert Bloom!” Jews & Arabs in Palestine, 1920 × In 1920, there was 1 Jew to every 10 Arabs in Palestine. × By 1947, the ratio was 2 Arabs for every Jew. The Arabs felt that they were loosing control of their “country!” Palestine Arab Revolt: 1936-1939 Their Goals: Z An end to Jewish immigration to Palestine. The Grand Mufti of Z An end to the transfer Jerusalem, Haj Amin of lands to Jewish al-Hussani, with Adolf owners. Hitler. Z A new “general representative government.” The Peel Commission Partition Plan, 1937 The Peel Commission, headed by Earl William Peel, sought a reason for why the Palestinian Muslims revolted. They concluded the land should be divided. It was rejected. British White Paper (1939) § Limited Jewish immigration to Palestine to 75,000 over the next five years § It ended Jewish land purchases § Independence for Palestine within 10 years § It is NOT British policy that Palestine become a Jewish state. The “Arab Legion” of the British Army During World War II The “Jewish Brigade” of the British Army During World War II Aliyah Bet : Illegal Jewish Immigration (1940’s) British “Detention” Camps in Cyprus : 1946-1948 The 1947 UN Deal The 1947 UN Deal (a revamped version of the Peel Commission’s plan) was designed to avoid war when the British left Palestine. Palestinian Jews accepted the plan, but the Muslims did not Israel Becomes a Nation: May 14, 1948 Arab Refugees, 1948 The Palestinian Diaspora (“scattering”) begins! Palestinian Refugee Camps What are the two sides of this conflict? Why do they disagree? • Israeli side: – Believe that this land was given to them by God (ancestral home) – Want a homeland for protection – Consider the Palestinians “terrorists” Palestine Liberation Organization Yassir Arafat Palestinian suicide bombers (Hamas) Bus Bombing in Tel Aviv, Israel The Palestinian Intifada (Rebellions) What are the two sides of this conflict? Why do they disagree? • Palestinian side: – They also believe that this land was given to them by God (ancestral home) – Their land for forcible take and sold without their consent – Consider the Israelis “invaders” Palestinian Refugees Palestinian Diaspora Of the total Palestinian population worldwide, estimated at between 9 to 11 million people, roughly half live outside of their homeland Jewish settlements “Dividing wall” between a Jewish and Muslim settlement .