Arab-Israeli Conflict

Arab-Israeli Conflict

1. Background

   • Collapse of Ottoman Empire
     • Artificial states made
   • Partition
     • 1947

2. Arab Cold War

   • Socialism
     • supported by Soviet Union
     • Egypt
     • Syria
     • Iraq
   • Monarchies
     • Supported by US
     • Saudi Arabia
     • Jordan

3. Before 1973

   • Palestinians become refugees
   • Suez Crisis 1956
   • 6 day war 1967
     • Israel humiliates Arab Nations
       • Gains a lot of territory
         • Sinai penisula
   • UN resolution 242
     • Withdrawal of Israeli army from recent conflict territories
       • Caused disagreement of the territories

4. Yom Kippur War

   • October 6th - 1973
   • Egypt retook Suez Canal
   • Syria retook Golan Heights
   • Israel pushed back Syrians
     • Threatened Damascus
   • Sinai
     • IDF crossed the Suez Canal
       • Cut off Egyptian army
         • Many Israeli casualties
           • Egypt and Syria considered it a victory
   • Outcome
     • Israel wins again
       • Not as confidently as 6 day war
       • UN refuses recognition
     • Shows Israel dependence on the USA
       • counterbalanced by the Soviet support of Arab nations
     • Growing confidence in Arab world
       • OPEC embargo
   • Consequences
     • Palestinians become political force
       • PLO
         • Shift of focus of the conflict
           • Appeal to the UN
     • Palestinian violence
       • Black September
         • PLO
     • Rise of right-wing Likud party in Israel
       • Systematic approach to colonisation of Territories
     • West looking to broker peace agreement

5. Camp David Accords

   • Egyptian president negotiate peace with Israel
     • Arab world not impressed
   • Cold War victory for US
     • Egypt now ally
       • Egypt secure the Sinai
         • as well as concessions for the Palestinians
         • Israel gains recognition
           • Peace treaty with Egypt
           • Hopes other Arab nations will also recognise
             • They don't
               • Egypt isolated
                 • Extreme Islamist groups see it as betrayal
                   • Sadat (Egyptian leader) Assassinated - 1981

6. Lebanese War - 1982 - 2000

   • Violence in Israel by PLO
     • Israeli army wanted a short war to wipe them out
   • South Lebanese Muslim resistance
     • Civil War ensues
   • Israeli massacres refugees
     • Resistance grows

7. First Intifada

   • PLO declare Palestinian state 1988
   • Israeli peace plan
   • Uprising/flood

8. Peace Process

   • 'Land for Peace' formula
     • 2-state solution
   • Election of Rabin in 1992
     • Recognition of Palestine
     • Foster talks
   • 1993 Olso Accords
     • Foundations for peace
       • Israel partial withdrawal
   • Return occupied territories
     • Set up Palestinian Authority

9. Current Issues

   • General election Israel
     • Sharon leads more violent approach
       • Refusal to leave occupied territories
     • Leads to second Intifada
       • Groups adopt terrorist tactics
         • Hamas
         • Islamic Jihad
       • Israel forces invade and conduct extra-legal killings
   • Building security walls
     • Official reason is to keep out terrorists
     • Actually about securing some of Israels territory

10. Post Gaza

    • War attracts more criticism of Israel
      • Talks ongoing
    • Egypt taking the main role in working for a ceasfire
    • Palestine 'observer state' in UN
    • John Kerry energetically pursued dipolmacy
      • With little success

11. Gaza, Hamas and Lebanaon

    • 2005
      • Israel withdraws from Gaza
        • expands into West Bank
    • 2006
      • Election of Hamaz in Palestine
        • Disliked by US, EU and Israel
    • Israel launch air and sea attacks on Lebanon
      • Due to Lebanon group (Hezbollah) captures 2 Israeli soliders
    • Hezbollah hit badly
      • Not destroyed though
        • IDF hurt
          • Lebanon claims vicotry
    • Hamas continues to attack Israel
      • Incursions into Gaza and West Bank by Israel

12. December '08 - January '09

    • 4 weeks of intensified conflict
      • Breach in ceasefire by Hamas
        • Strong Israeli support
    • Showed tensions still high
      • always dealt with using violence

13. Why so difficult?

    • Conflict focus moved
      • From external
        • Arab-Israeli
      • To internal
        • Israeli-Palestinian
    • Agenda on both sides controlled by extremists
      • Majority want a settlement
    • Israel benefits from divided groups
      • Hamas
      • Fatah
    • Both sides claim Jerusalem as their capital
    • Gaza very unsafe
    • Arab world Anti-US due to continued alliance with Israel

14. 2 state settlement

    • Unlikely to happen
      • Israel PM (Netanyahu) devoted political career to avoid 2-state
        • Many parties also oppose
      • Israel public opinion theoretically supports
      • Israel anxious over Arab spring
        • Threatened by Iraq