Chapter Nine: The Question of Israel and Palestine

Chapter Nine:Chapter Nine:

The Question of Israel and The Question of Israel and PalestinePalestine

The Origins of the ConflictThe Origins of the Conflict


Conflict between Palestinians and Conflict between Palestinians and ZionistsZionists Zionist- A person favoring the Zionist- A person favoring the

creation of a Jewish statecreation of a Jewish state 1890- European Jews began flocking 1890- European Jews began flocking

to Palestine to create a Jewish stateto Palestine to create a Jewish state The European Jews were willing to The European Jews were willing to

remove the Turks, but they also remove the Turks, but they also wanted control of Palestine without wanted control of Palestine without interference from the Palestinians interference from the Palestinians

The promises made by the British during WWIThe promises made by the British during WWI ArabsArabs

The British hinted to the Arabs that they The British hinted to the Arabs that they would allow Arabs all through the region to would allow Arabs all through the region to unite in one government if the Arabs unite in one government if the Arabs would revolt against the Turkswould revolt against the Turks

ZionistsZionists The British promised the Zionists they The British promised the Zionists they

would recognize the creation of Israelwould recognize the creation of Israel FrenchFrench

The British promised the French to split The British promised the French to split the Middle East when the war was overthe Middle East when the war was over


Two terrorist organizations created Two terrorist organizations created by the Jewishby the Jewish Irgun Zvai LeumiIrgun Zvai Leumi The Stern GangThe Stern Gang

19481948 The United Nations recognizes The United Nations recognizes

IsraelIsrael The Arabs attack IsraelThe Arabs attack Israel


Seeking peace with IsraelSeeking peace with Israel Egypt sought peace with Israel in Egypt sought peace with Israel in

19731973 Jordan joined the peace processJordan joined the peace process Syria and Iraq rejected peaceSyria and Iraq rejected peace The militant Arabs who joined the The militant Arabs who joined the

Syrians and Iraqis called Syrians and Iraqis called themselves the Rejectionist Frontthemselves the Rejectionist Front


The Palestinians turn to terrorismThe Palestinians turn to terrorism Since the Palestinians were not Since the Palestinians were not

strong enough to attack the Israeli strong enough to attack the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) directly, they Defense Force (IDF) directly, they used other tactics (e.g., bombing used other tactics (e.g., bombing public places, conducting open public places, conducting open murder), referring to their actions murder), referring to their actions as as military operationsmilitary operations and and commando tacticscommando tactics


The Rise of the PLOThe Rise of the PLO

The Rise of the PLOThe Rise of the PLO Creation of the PLOCreation of the PLO

In 1957, Yasser Arafat gathered In 1957, Yasser Arafat gathered groups of disgruntled Palestinians groups of disgruntled Palestinians in Jordanin Jordan

In 1964, Arafat formed the In 1964, Arafat formed the Palestinian Liberation Organization Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)(PLO)

Arafat’s purpose was to create a Arafat’s purpose was to create a political organization to help form a political organization to help form a multinational alliance against Israelmultinational alliance against Israel

The Rise of the PLOThe Rise of the PLO FatahFatah

Joining a group of young Joining a group of young Palestinians, Arafat formed a Palestinians, Arafat formed a quasi-military organization called quasi-military organization called Fatah in 1959 and merged it into Fatah in 1959 and merged it into the PLO in 1964the PLO in 1964

Fatah ran its first operation in Fatah ran its first operation in 1965, blowing up an Israeli water 1965, blowing up an Israeli water pumppump

The Rise of the PLOThe Rise of the PLO Tactics of FatahTactics of Fatah

Sending small ambush teams from Sending small ambush teams from the Jordanian borderthe Jordanian border

Planting bombsPlanting bombs Shelling Israeli settlements from Shelling Israeli settlements from

JordanJordan

Fatah after Karamah: A Fatah after Karamah: A Legend is BornLegend is Born

Fatah after Karamah:Fatah after Karamah:A Legend is BornA Legend is Born

KaramahKaramah On March 21, 1968, the Israelis launched a On March 21, 1968, the Israelis launched a

mechanized assault on the village of mechanized assault on the village of Karamah- one of Arafat’s primary bases in Karamah- one of Arafat’s primary bases in JordanJordan

After heavy fighting, Karamah held firm After heavy fighting, Karamah held firm despite the odds against the Palestiniansdespite the odds against the Palestinians

It was the Jordanian army that stopped the It was the Jordanian army that stopped the Israeli armorIsraeli armor

Yet, the PLO emerged from Karamah with the Yet, the PLO emerged from Karamah with the reputation of a fighting force, and Yasser reputation of a fighting force, and Yasser Arafat became a bona fide hero Arafat became a bona fide hero


After KaramahAfter Karamah The PLO began a terrorist The PLO began a terrorist

campaign against Israelcampaign against Israel Terrorism was the only viable Terrorism was the only viable

military tactic for a small group of military tactic for a small group of relatively weak people who wanted relatively weak people who wanted to launch an offensive against a to launch an offensive against a superior forcesuperior force


PLO as a model for terrorist groupsPLO as a model for terrorist groups The PLO was a model for terrorist groups The PLO was a model for terrorist groups

in the Americas, Europe, and Asiain the Americas, Europe, and Asia Nationalistic militants from Ireland and Nationalistic militants from Ireland and

the Basque region of Spain trained in PLO the Basque region of Spain trained in PLO campscamps

The ideological left and European left-The ideological left and European left-wing terrorists flocked to training centerswing terrorists flocked to training centers

Cuba claimed the PLO served as an Cuba claimed the PLO served as an example for South and Central American example for South and Central American revolutionary groupsrevolutionary groups


The PLO splintersThe PLO splinters Despite Arafat’s attempt to keep the Despite Arafat’s attempt to keep the

movement together, various groups movement together, various groups started to go their own way as early as started to go their own way as early as 19701970 The Democratic Front for the The Democratic Front for the

Liberation of PalestineLiberation of Palestine Popular Front for the Liberation of Popular Front for the Liberation of

PalestinePalestine Individuals such as Abu Abbas, Abu Individuals such as Abu Abbas, Abu

Nidal, and Abu Ibrahim defectedNidal, and Abu Ibrahim defected

Palestinian Violence Palestinian Violence ExpandsExpands

Palestinian Violence ExpandsPalestinian Violence Expands

King Hussein of JordanKing Hussein of Jordan Concerned with the growing influence Concerned with the growing influence

of foreign nationals in his own land, of foreign nationals in his own land, in 1970, King Hussein ordered the in 1970, King Hussein ordered the PLO to stop attacking IsraelPLO to stop attacking Israel

Hussein was trying to stop the rival Hussein was trying to stop the rival influences in Jordaninfluences in Jordan

Arafat defined Hussein’s order, and Arafat defined Hussein’s order, and stepped up operations against Israelstepped up operations against Israel

Palestinian Violence ExpandsPalestinian Violence Expands Hussein attacks the PLOHussein attacks the PLO

In September, 1970, Hussein In September, 1970, Hussein attacked the PLOattacked the PLO

The PLO had nowhere to run; The PLO had nowhere to run; Arafat fled to LebanonArafat fled to Lebanon

Palestinian Violence ExpandsPalestinian Violence Expands Black SeptemberBlack September

Arafat created a new group to Arafat created a new group to strike at Israel, naming it Black strike at Israel, naming it Black SeptemberSeptember

Black September attacked in Black September attacked in Munich at the 1972 Olympics Munich at the 1972 Olympics GamesGames

The PLO and the Changing The PLO and the Changing Face of Middle Face of Middle

Eastern TerrorismEastern Terrorism

The PLO and the Changing Face The PLO and the Changing Face of Middle Eastern Terrorismof Middle Eastern Terrorism

As various terrorist groups split off from Arafat’s As various terrorist groups split off from Arafat’s control, a host of Arab states offered support and control, a host of Arab states offered support and assistance, causing further splits in Fatahassistance, causing further splits in Fatah

The Abu Nidal Group (Black June)The Abu Nidal Group (Black June) Formed in the 1970’s after Arafat stated publicly Formed in the 1970’s after Arafat stated publicly

that the PLO would recognize Israel’s right to exist that the PLO would recognize Israel’s right to exist in return for a Palestinian homelandin return for a Palestinian homeland

Knowing Abu Nidal’s frustration, Saddam Hussein Knowing Abu Nidal’s frustration, Saddam Hussein approached the terrorist group with a propositionapproached the terrorist group with a proposition Abu Nidal could develop his own organization, Abu Nidal could develop his own organization,

and the Iraqis would assist with fundingand the Iraqis would assist with funding

The Abu Nidal Group organizationThe Abu Nidal Group organization Abu Nidal developed a rigid Abu Nidal developed a rigid

hierarchy and assumed control of hierarchy and assumed control of the new organizationthe new organization

He created an internal committee, He created an internal committee, the Committee for Revolutionary the Committee for Revolutionary Justice, a group of internal thugs Justice, a group of internal thugs that kept Abu Nidal’s followers in that kept Abu Nidal’s followers in lineline


Syria and Abu NidalSyria and Abu Nidal Syria was interested in gaining Syria was interested in gaining

power in Lebenonpower in Lebenon Syria approached Abu Nidal with a Syria approached Abu Nidal with a

propositionproposition They offered to fund Abu Nidal if They offered to fund Abu Nidal if

he would conduct operations for he would conduct operations for SyriaSyria


Abu Nidal a gang of mercenariesAbu Nidal a gang of mercenaries Abu Nidal accepted missions and payment Abu Nidal accepted missions and payment

from Libya and other Arab statesfrom Libya and other Arab states The Soviet Union sought his servicesThe Soviet Union sought his services Abu Nidal set up an infrastructure in Abu Nidal set up an infrastructure in

EuropeEurope In Libya, Colonel Moammar Khadaffy In Libya, Colonel Moammar Khadaffy

sought to establish his own links with Abu sought to establish his own links with Abu NidalNidal Abu Nidal was too independent for Abu Nidal was too independent for

LibyaLibya


Intifadas and Religious Intifadas and Religious RevivalRevival

Intifadas and Religious RevivalIntifadas and Religious Revival

Three competing interests in Middle Three competing interests in Middle Eastern violenceEastern violence Who will govern and what will be Who will govern and what will be

governed?governed? The internal struggle among Arab The internal struggle among Arab

statesstates Militant Muslims came to believe Militant Muslims came to believe

that secular politics are doomed to that secular politics are doomed to failurefailure

Intifadas and Religious RevivalIntifadas and Religious Revival The IntifadaThe Intifada

On December 9, 1987, thousands of On December 9, 1987, thousands of protesters marched in Jabiliya, a protesters marched in Jabiliya, a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, to protest the Israeli killing of four to protest the Israeli killing of four PalestiniansPalestinians

A spontaneous riot broke out in Gaza, and A spontaneous riot broke out in Gaza, and within days it had spread through all the within days it had spread through all the Occupied TerritoriesOccupied Territories

As the resistance continued, the As the resistance continued, the Palestinians called the uprising the Palestinians called the uprising the Intifada, and it had a religious flavorIntifada, and it had a religious flavor

Intifadas and Religious RevivalIntifadas and Religious Revival

The United States and the IntifadaThe United States and the Intifada The United States responded to the The United States responded to the

Intifada with a new peace proposalIntifada with a new peace proposal The United States brokered a temporary The United States brokered a temporary

peace agreement in September 1993peace agreement in September 1993 Known as the Oslo Accords, the peace Known as the Oslo Accords, the peace

agreement introduced a radical new agreement introduced a radical new concept to the long struggle: It defined a concept to the long struggle: It defined a semiautonomous Palestinian National semiautonomous Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and hinted at the Authority (PNA) and hinted at the possibility creation of a Palestinian state possibility creation of a Palestinian state

Intifadas and Religious RevivalIntifadas and Religious Revival The Israeli Likud PartyThe Israeli Likud Party

In May 1996, the conservative Israeli Lukid Party came In May 1996, the conservative Israeli Lukid Party came to powerto power

The new Likud government, under the direction of The new Likud government, under the direction of Benjamin Netanyahu, tried to back away from the Oslo Benjamin Netanyahu, tried to back away from the Oslo Accords as it increased military action in Lebanon. This Accords as it increased military action in Lebanon. This brought Hezbollah, Hamas, and other militants back to brought Hezbollah, Hamas, and other militants back to the streets, and the fragile peace threatened to the streets, and the fragile peace threatened to evaporateevaporate

By 1998, the Israelis and Palestinians signed a new By 1998, the Israelis and Palestinians signed a new agreement, the Wye Accords, and Arafat reasserted agreement, the Wye Accords, and Arafat reasserted power over the PNApower over the PNA

Netanyahu lost a 1999 national election to Ehud Barak Netanyahu lost a 1999 national election to Ehud Barak of the more centrist Labor Partyof the more centrist Labor Party

The Likud Party campaigned against Barak in 2000The Likud Party campaigned against Barak in 2000 Ariel Sharon, the leader of the Likud Party, won the Ariel Sharon, the leader of the Likud Party, won the

election and was reelected in 2003election and was reelected in 2003

Intifadas and Religious RevivalIntifadas and Religious Revival The current state of the Israeli-Palestinian The current state of the Israeli-Palestinian

conflictconflict Yasser Arafat died in the fall of 2004Yasser Arafat died in the fall of 2004 Much of the stuggle has turned to religion, Much of the stuggle has turned to religion,

and members of the Rejectionist Front and members of the Rejectionist Front maintain their hatred of Israel with maintain their hatred of Israel with passionate zealpassionate zeal

Israel has produced its own brand of Israel has produced its own brand of religious fanaticismreligious fanaticism This strain of Judaism calls for the This strain of Judaism calls for the

conquest and destruction of the Arab conquest and destruction of the Arab states surrounding Israel, and this view states surrounding Israel, and this view increasingly influences the Israeli increasingly influences the Israeli governmentgovernment

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Chapter Nine: The Question of Israel and Palestine