Conflicts in the middle east

Title: Conflicts in the Middle East
“Palestine” today is Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Past History: * Jews lived in Palestine about 3,000 years ago * Jews were driven out in the 2nd century- since then, they did not have a homeland- Diaspora- scattering of the Jews * Movement of Zionism- a desire for a Jewish homeland in Palestine grew as anti-Semitism spread through time in Europe * Balfour Declaration- 1917- Britain states their support of creating a homeland for Jews- tension builds between the Arabs living in Palestine and the Jews that are migrating to the area * After WWII and the Holocaust, the UN decides to partition Palestine (which was a British Mandate) into a Palestinian state for Arabs and a Jewish state for Jews with neither side “owning” Jerusalem * All Islamic countries voted against this

The Hostility Begins: * The DAY AFTER Israel is created, all Islamic neighbors invade (First Arab-Israeli War- 1948)- Israel wins * The Arab land of Palestine ceases to exist as Palestinians flee land under Israeli control * Second Arab-Israeli War- 1956- Egypt’s president Nasser seizes the Suez Canal, which Britain controlled- Israel, France and Britain fight back- Egypt remains in control of the canal * Third Arab Israeli War- Six Day War- 1967- Israel attacks Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Syria before they can attack Israel- Israel gains Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, the West Bank * Fourth Arab Israeli War- 1973- a.k.a. the Yom Kippur War- Arabs led by Egypt’s Anwar Sadat invade Israel- Israel counterattacks under the leadership of Golda Meir and wins most land back

The Palestinians: * Wind up as refugees along what was once their homeland of Palestine * Without a “homeland”, it is difficult for them to organize * They form the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) to help fight for a Palestinian homeland- * Yasir Arafat becomes the head of the PLO in 1969 * The