IGCSE Arab Israeli conflict 1915 - 1981

What were the details of the Hussein McMahon agreement? (date)

1915 - 1916
British were to gain help from the Arabs to defeat the Otterman Empire.
In exchange the Arabs would gain independance and 10 million would be freed from turkish rule
However there was mistrust in the agreement as Britain would have control in the area.

What were the details of the Sykes Picot Agreement?

1916
Britain and France's scret agreement outlining their spheres of control in the Middle East, seen by Arabs as a betrayal of the Hussein McMahon agreement.

What did the Balfour decleration outline?

1917
Balfour sends a letter to to Lord Rothschild stating that the government would suppourt a 'national home for the jewish people' in palestine.

What was the British mandate in Palestine? (3 points) + date

Britain had to (1922):
Protect arab rights
Establish jewish state
Prepare to leave country to its independence

What were the details of clashes between Jews and Arabs? (1929) (3 details)

- Arguments between Muslims and Jews over access to the western wall
-130 Jews killed + 339 Arabs wounded
- 114 Arabs killes + 232 British wounded

What was the Arab Strike? (Date) (4 details)

1936
- Full blown Arab protest arguing about immigration into Palestine
- Demanded : End to jewish Immigration, end Land sales and government of their own.
- Road railways and Oil Pipes were attacked
- Leaders arrested and homes searched, British reaction harsh, neighbouring Arab states called for calm

What was the Arab Revolt? (Date) (2 details)

1937 - 1939
- Reaction to Peel's recommendations, lead to violent attacks on British forces
- Helped by 15,000 men from Haganah and 50,000 British, harsh tactics used
- Curfews , Rebel houses destroyed, man beaten and tourtured, weapons confiscated
- 250 British, 300 Jewih and 5000 Arabs were killed.

What did the Peel Commision find? (Date) (2 details)

1936 - 1937
- Leader of the commision that investigated the palestine situation.
-He said that the mandate would never succeed, no common ground between communities
- Situation had reached a deadlock and only way to solve the situation was through partition only a small part under british control

What were the details of the King David Hotel Bombing? (Date) (4 details)

July 1946
- Deadliest act of anti - british terrorism in History commited by the Irgun on the King David Hotel in Jerusalem which was the british headquaters at the time.
- Irgun disguised as Arabs entered the building and placed Milk churns containing explosives on the main collums in the hotel
- Begin said that calls went through to evacuate but in the end killed 41 Arabs, 28 Brits and 17 Jews
- caused outrage, Britain high state of alert Jews recieved harsh actions.

What was the Impact of Jewish terrorism?

- Made mandate increasingly hard to run and it was hard to justify 100,000 troops in Palestine after WW2
- Turned opinion away from the mandate, did not understand why troops were still dieing even after the war, demoralised troops

What was Lehi, Irgun Hagganah?

- Israeli defence groups, whose main aim is to protect the Israelis however at points did branch out into terrorism like the Irgun

Why did Britain hand over the Palestine problem?

- Britain had just come out of WW2 and had been highly damaged by the Nazis so it needed to focus on the rebuilding of infastructure, instead of spending more money in the middle easr
- Britain had just lost casualities in the war, it did not want to lose more (public opinion)

What was the Partition Plan? (Date) (2 details)

1947
- Reccomended the patition of Palestine into seperate Jewish and Arab states, Seperate parts that would link together
- Economic Unity and shared currency and transport systems
- Jerusalem and Bethlehem under international control as all holy sites to more than one religion

What was the reaction to the partition plan? (3 details)

- Arabs completely rejected plan, saw as their country, not consulted on the plan itself, gave over a half of Palestine to Israel, also given the most fertile points in the country eg North and the coast
- Britain said it would lead to war and quickly withdrew from enfocing the plan as it saw a war as too costly
- Most jews accepted the plan, it ensured them land and it made sure that they had their own homeland, but Jerusalem buried deep in Arab territory and Arabs living in the country 400,000 Arabs owning 80% of the land.

What was the Deir Yassin? (Date) (2 details)

9 April 1948
- Village of Deir Yassin signed agreement not to fight with nighbour, one evening 100 Irgun and Lehi fighters lead by Begin massacred 120 inhabbitants including women and children
- begin claimed military grounds as Arab fighters were using Deir Yassin as a base. Arbas responded by radio attacking lorries containg jewish doctors and nurses 70 killed. Radio caused panic, 250,000 left

What caused the decleration of war on May 14th 1948?

Israel (Ben Gurion) had announced the state of Israe, recognised by America and USSR but denounced by 5 Arab staes

What were the populations of groups in Palestine in 1948?

770,000 Jews, 300,000 Arabs fled from Israel after it was declared as a indepndant state.

Who were the Arab Leauge and what did they declare?

Syria, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Trans Jordan, were all part of the Arab leauge a group of Araba countries with similar interests and they declared war on Israel

What was the effect of WW2 on Israel and Palestine?

WW2 meant that becuase of the holecuast alot of Jewish Sympathy was seen after the war internationally which meant that the suppoirt for a jewish homeland increased
6 million murdered and many wanted a new start in Palestine 250,000 displaced Jews, Ernst bevin (brit foreign secretary) set a limit of 1,500 immigrants a month as
he believed would cause a civil war
Britain on good terms with Arabs
Caused terrorism

What was Plan D? (Date) (3 details)

March 1948
Haganah introduced plan D, Took control of all Arab towns and villages inside or close to Jewish territory, under military control but expelled if resisted
Argue that it started Ethnic clensing as Arabs felt forced to leave their homes

Who was Lord Peel?

Lord Peel was the Head of the peel commision that gave the report recommending a partition between Palestine and Israel with Jursalem under British control

Who was Arthur Belfour?

Member of Parliment (foreign secretary) the sent a letter to Lord Rothschild, leader of the British zionist movement that the Zionist cause would be suppourted in Palestine

Why did Palestine reject the UN partition plan? (2 details)

- It gave alot of Fertile Land in the norther regions to the Jews as well as having over half of the country
- Palestinians still believed that the country was truly theirs and the could not stand for it to be taken away from them

What was UN resolution 181?

- The UN code for the partition plan that was put to vote in the General assembly of the UN
- 2/3 majority was needed but many western European countries felt guilt towards Israeli after WW2 to voted in favour in the end 33 nations voted for, 13 abstained = passed

What was UNSCOP?

The UN Special Commitee on Palestine

What was the Law of Return?

1950
The law of return stated that every jew should have the right for Israeli citizenship, population of Israel grew to 1.5 million in three years.

Details of the First Arab Israeli war? (date) (4 details)

May 1948
- Arab states declare war after Israel declare independance and invade
- Israel struggle in the first three weeks, 5 field guns 1/3 have weapons, Ceasefire lasts for a month created by the UN and Israel become organised and by weapons from Czechoslovakia (30,000 rifles)
- Israel go on offensive, use suprise as the main weapon and capture towns, expelled Arab populations
- Another ceasfire is signed lasts three months but Israel stops early to gain more land then pace treaties are signed.

Reasons for Israel's Victory? (2 details)

- UN negotiator Count Bernadotte allowed a months truce, allowed Israel to gain weapons from czechoslovakia and to coordinate their response meant they were more organised

- Israel also more experienced, hanganh had been trained but the British and Lehi and Irgun had experience fighting the british, Tactics also better as they were organised and moved from region to region quickly unlike the Arabs, israel also fighting for their homelands survival = spirit

Consequences of the First Arab Israeli war? ( 2 details)

- Seen as a catostophe and and cause a refugee crisis for Arabs that leave Israel
- Israels state has been truly cemented although 6,000 died and law of return passed

When did Nasser come to power and How? (2 details) (Date)

1952
King Farouk was a play boy and many of the Eygyptians were poor under his rule, forced to abdicate by group of army officers, nasser installed, nationalist ideals

What was Soviet involvement in Eygpt?

Told Egypt that Israeli troops were massing on Syrian border lead to war
Both nations purchased arms of the Czech
Agreed to finanace the nationalisation of the Aswan Dam after the suez crisis

What was the agreement at Sevres?

Agreement in secrent between Britain France and Ben Gurion plus Moshee Dyan that Israel would attack Egypt then Britain and France would invade pretending to keep peace, Israels trade secured and Britain and France had control of the Sini Peninsula and Suez

what was the suez crisis?

The Suez Crisis was a conflict in 1956 between Egypt, Britain, France, and Israel. It started when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, which was controlled by Britain and France. The three countries intervened militarily, but a United Nations ceasefire was later agreed upon and foreign troops withdrew from Egypt.

What were the consequences of the suez crisis?

Consequences of the Suez Crisis: UK lost its global prestige, US became the dominant power in the Middle East, Short term victory for Israel secured trade. Egyptian gain Nasser is a hero, USSR financed the Aswan dam.

Events of the Suez Crisis?

* Israeli para troopers and military invade shame El Sheik
* Britain orders a ceasefire but Nasser refuses (16km each side)
* Brits launch an air born attack and defeat Egypt
* Nasser blocks canal with ships, military intervention is good but political backlash is bad
* USA and USSR are critical of attack and Un order ceasefire Uk are forced to withdraw with France

What were the causes of the suez crisis?

* USSR ties with Egypt, $300 million for Cotten in exchange for weapons 300 tanks , 100 SPG and 50 bombers
* Uk and France need a secure trade route through the Suez Canal
* Israel need access to the straits of Tiran

What was the Six day war?

Conflict between Israel and its neighboring Arab states, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, that lasted from June 5 to June 10, 1967. Israel emerged victorious and gained control of additional territory, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.

What were the causes of the six day war?

* Headwater division plan
* Israel needs to open straits of Tiran
* USSR tells Egypt that Israeli troops are massing on the border, defense treaty signed with Jordan, UN peace keepers told to leave
* Samu incident of 1966

What was the headwater division plan by Egypt ?

Plan by Egypt to divert the Nile's headwaters in order to control water distribution and increase agricultural land, Syria and Lebanon would divert water with the dam away from the Sea of Galilee, met with tension and air strikes by Israel, would cut Israel off.

Agreed at Cairo conference

PLO also setup by Yasser Arafat

What was the Samu incident in 1966 with Israel?

In 1966, a border incident occurred between Israel and Jordanian-controlled West Bank town of Samu. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated by launching a large-scale military operation, resulting in the deaths of 18 Jordanian soldiers and 3 civilians. The incident caused international outrage and led to the United Nations Security Council passing a resolution condemning Israel's actions.

Events of the Six Day war?

* Suprise attack launched by Israel ordered by Ekshol and the Moshe Dyan
* Air attack knocks out 309/340 of Egyptian aircraft at all 19 airbases
* Then targeted Syria and Lebanon
* Air supremacy meant that Israel could launch a ground attack seizing control of East Jerusalem, West Bank and the Golan heights
* UN Call a cease fire
* 779 Israelis killed, Arabs lost 20,000 men 430 aircraft 800 tanks 70,000km

Reasons for Israeli victory at Six day war?

* Tactics - Israeli attack was a surprise attack, preemptive strike prevented air attacks, air dominance caught opposition off guard
* IDF - well trained highly motivated, superior tanks and weapons
* Arab weakness - unprepared, poorly equipped and coordinated plus lack of a singular leader

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Reasons for Victory in the first Arab Israeli war?

* Arab over confidence - 25,000 troops sent vs 108,000
* Arab inexperience - Tactics were ineffective, Israeli members had fought along side and against the British, coordinated moves


* UN First truce - Un truce from Count Bernadotte allowed Israel to buy Czech weapons, 30,000 rifles, Ben Gurion installed as leader
* Fighting spirit- Israel was fighting for the existence of their homeland

Consequences of the six day war?

Event that occurred in 1967 between Israel and neighboring Arab states. Resulted in Israel's territorial gains, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.

Led to increased tensions and conflicts between Israel and Arab countries.

Embarrassment for Egyptian forces, destroyed Suez Canal occupied and unstable

USSR supplied 100 planes and Sam 3 missiles to defend the dam plus built 80 missile bases with 20000 troops along the canal

War of Attrition meaning?

A term used by Nasser to describe the ongoing conflict with Israel and the rearmament along the canal.

What was UN resolution 242?

Land for peace, attempted to settle the six day war, Israel would withdraw, right to exist would be passed, settlement for refugees

Met by three nos from Nasser and the Palestinians also objected

When did Nasser die?

1970

What was the Yom Kippur war?

The Yom Kippur War was a conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. It began on October 6, 1973, which was the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, and lasted for three weeks. The war ended in a ceasefire, with Israel maintaining control of the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights.

What were the causes of the Yom Kippur war?

* Egypt needs land to repair its broken nation, oil and trade in these areas were needed for the economy especially in the sini peninsula, cities needed to be rebuilt and resolution 242 had failed
* An attempt to gain attention especially from the superpower nations to put pressure on Israel to negotiate more favorable terms with with Arab nations eg Syria and Golan heights

Yom Kippur War

This was a war fought by Israel and neighboring Arab nations in 1973, where the Arabs launched a surprise attack during the holy festival of Yom Kippur. U.S. support for Israel during the war led to OPEC boycotting the U.S., creating an energy crisis.

Camp David Accords

A two part framework for peace in the Middle East from 1978. The first dealt with the Palestinian Territories and was unsuccessful. The second resulted in the Egypt

Menachem Begin

Leader of Israel who signed a peace treaty with Egypt withdrawing from Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip and returning them to Egypt.

Anwar Sadat

Former President of Egypt and the first Arab leader to visit, recognize and make peace with Israel. He was assassinated 1981 for 'treachery' against the Arab world.

Jimmy Carter

President of the USA whose time in office saw the signing of the 'Camp David Accords'.

Black September + Munich Olympics Attack(1972)

Black September lead an attack on Israeli olympians. Wanted to raise global awareness towards palestinian suffering. Outrage in Israelis, thus attacks Syria + Lebanon (500 dead) Worked as international news was flooded with reports on Palestine and also the attacks. Eventually lead to UN being addressed by Arafat. Could be said to be counterproductive as attacks lead to more sympathy for Israel.

Shuttle Diplomacy

US economy tanking due to oil ban

Camp David Accords

Sadat addresses Israeli Parliament, States the palestinian issue must also be solved, Israeli PM Begin wanted to also get peace and Sadat agreed to advance the process, Jimmy Carter invites the two to camp david for peace talks. Framework for Israeli Egyptian peace Peace, Sinai returned, 3bn to Israel to help leave Sinai, 1bn to Egypt from US Framework for middle eastern peace, Israel accepts palestinians have real rights, West bank and Gaza have palestinian councils for 5 years, Israel eventually withdraws, After palestine, egypt, israel, jordan decide how palestine operates. Framework for egypt israel peace was signed at washington 1979, but did not mention framework for middle east peace

Israeli efforts to destroy PLO

Washington allowed Israel to focus on other matters. Coastal Road Massacre PLO hijacking + gunfight

Israel response to PLO

Operation Litani 26k IDF invade Lebanon. Aiming to destroy PLO and set a buffer zone. USSR armed PLO to fight back. Operation Failed.

Causes of Israeli invasion in Lebanon (1982)

PLO attempts to kill Israeli ambassador. Israel Relatiates with operation peace for galilee.

Detaiks of Isreali invasion of Lebanon (1982)

70K troops + tanks, airforce. 20k Lebanese dead (mostly civilians due to location of PLO Base).Afterwards IDF surrounds refugee camps and fires on them, 3500 civilians killed. Sabra + Shatila massacre. PLO fled (Success), However massacres and civilian murders lead to more extremist terrorists (Hezbollah) and international condemnation + protests in israel

First Intifada(1987 to 1993)

Constant minor revenge murders from IDF and Palestinians, lead to protests and then rioting in Gaza and West Bank. Unorganised rioting,stones, graffiti, barricades, bombs. Eventual lead to organised rioting under UNLU, such as tax refusal, embargo on israeli products.

Course of First Intifada

Israeli PM demands “iron fist response” Thus:1000s of ringleaders arrest, homes bulldozed, live ammunition for crowd control, schools closed.Division in Israel surrounding adequate responses, International condemnation, Economy (both side) suffered.

PLO Impact of First Intifada

Losing support in Palestine as this was not associated with them, risking irrelevance, needed to gain relevance + support, thus Arafat denounces terrorism at UN speech (1988).

Details of the gulf war (1991)

Iraqi invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussain, Us lead operation desert storm backed by the UN and Arab nations removes Iraq from Kuwait however Araft supports Iraq and loses favour when Israeli was bombed by the Iraqis but Israelis did not retaliate, destroyed 4,000 homes.

Impact of the Gulf war (2)

Israel gained support, did not retaliate despite 4000 homes being destroyed, showed great restraint and was appreciated by the Americans and middle eastern states.

PLO severley damaged, yasser Arafat supported Sadam Hussein which made the PLO openly support the cause, Kuwait and saudi arabia withdraw financial support for the and 200,000 palestinians removed from Kuwait, After PLO discredited and bankrupt.

Impact of the Cold War (2)

PLO lost its main source of support and arms, further weakened Arafat’s decision, More imigrants from the USSR 200,000 jewish imigrants placed more pressure on Arafats bargaining position, Arafat needed to make an agreement

Israel also affected by the collapse of the USSR, US now only the super power and so had less choice in descisions as depended on the USA for aid, USA no longer needed Israel and could withdraw finnancial aid to pressure Israel.

Oslo Accords (1993)

Hamas suicide bombing + Hezbollah terrorism made working with the PLO seem more viable as they looked more moderate.

At Oslo (1993)

Israel accepted PLO as representing Palestine, PLO accepts the existence of Israel, Palestinian national authority on West bank, Israeli forces withdraw from West Bank and giving autonomy to the region, Final talks should be held to discuss final borders, Permanent Peace after 5 years

Oslo Accords 2 (1995)

West Bank had a heavy influx of Jewish settlers since USSR collapse. Thus agreed to split West Bank into 3 zones. Z1: 3% of land @@-Full Palestine control. Z2: 25% of land, Joint control. Z3: Rest of land for Israeli settlers@@ and over time they and Israeli withdraw and complete full handover of the country.

Hardline israelis didnt want to lose any land

Palestinians didn’t like zone 3 as it had too much land.

Israeli hardlines assassinate Rabin

Oslo two viewpoints

Hardline israelis didnt want to lose any land, Palestinians didn’t like zone 3 as it had too much land. Israeli hardlines assassinate Rabin

Netanyahu + 2nd Intifada

Netanyahu became PM and promised to not follow with Oslo Accords and instead made more israeli settlers go to West Bank to consolidate claim. Israel wasn’t happy that Hezbollah and Hamas existed

2nd Intifada (2000)

Netanyahu visits Islamic Holy site (Temple mount). Outrage and lead to more violent intifada with guns, suicide bombings. Violence appeared to work as Israel pulled out of Lebanon, 9/11 inspired militant Palestinians, and PLO had little control ovre Hezbollah Hamas + Islamic Jihad. No chances of cooperation again. “Palestinians must be hit, and it must be very painful”

Causes of second intifada

Anger and frustration, Jihadism, Provication

Ariel Shannons response to second intofada

Operation Defensive Shield, Security wall, ironic as mimics concentration camp walls, Curfews. Bombing of PLO compounds.

Roadmap for Peace (2003)

ABBBAS AND SHARRON, 3 Stages for peace. S1: Palestinian terrorism to stop, Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory stopped, and evacuated. S2: Talks to create sovereign Palestine. S3: Further discussion on Jerusalem. Eventually 50m promise so terrorists agree to ceasefire. Intifada declared over. Israel withdrew from Palestinian towns on West Bank and pulls out of Gaza.

Remianin Issue after Roadmap for peace

Issue still surrounded Jerusalem and israelis in Palestinian territories. Hamas gained power to Palestinian Nation authority opposing peace. Hamas still comitted to israels destruction, used Gaza as a missile launchpad,leading to israeli retaliation. 4k buildings destroyed, 1k dead, Hamas hatred towards israel intensified.

Impact of the second intifada on Palestinians (4)

5,000 Palestinians were killed

Economic damage - 10% to 20% unemployed and tourism had collapsed 60% living in poverty

Homlessness - 5,000 homes were destroyed by the IDF, homes were too damaged to live in

Hardship, in checkpoints, Sharon built a security fence + operation defensive shield

Impact of the second Intifada on Israelis (4)

1,063 died

Economic damage - tourism collapsed, while the cost of military operations were huge on the tax payer

Negative publicity - Israel’s harsh tactics and its refusal to follow international law was criticised

and physocological damage from suicide bombings

Road blocks - The faliure of the roadmap for peace (3)

Right wing Israelis refused to consider withdrawing fron the west bank, west bank palestinians were now invisible becuase of the security fence

Hamas opposed the peace process and wanted the destruction of Israel, hamas millitants fired rockets into Israel from gaza and bomb making

Opposition of Abbas party

Reasons for OSLO accords faliure (3)

1) lack of mutual trust between leaders, Arafat could not stop terrorismn by hammas and lack of economic development in the west bank and Gaza was arafats fault due to corrupt donors, OSLO accords only gave palestine 3% of the west bank for palestinians.

2)Netanyahu’s opposition to Oslo, asked for proof of palestinian good will while still allowing Israeli development in the west bank, against oslo accords however did not publicise as would mean that US aid would be lowered.

3) Violent and extremist groups eg Hamas, issued suicide bombings into Israel from the Gaza strip which served to increase tension between the two nations and undermine the fragile trust between Israeli and palestinian leaders.

Causes of the Gaza war in 2008 (2)

Israels blockade and international sanctions meant a lack of food and mesical supplies, so Gaza described as ‘hell on earth’ Civillians also caught up with hamas and fatah rocket fire increased tension between Israel and hamas as rocket airstrikes increased.

Ideological differences, Egypt negotiated a truce but neither saw as permenant and either side began preparing for an assult on Gaza

Course of Gaza war

israel launched Israel cast lead, israel laucnhed attacks on 100 preplanned targets in Gaza for 30 minutes, Second wave hit hamas bases, government headquarters and police stations, 225 Palestinians died, known as the massacre on ‘black saturday’ hamas then launched rocket attacks on Israel

January 2009, israeli ground invasion began, aims to kill Hamas fighters, seize control of Hamas rocket making equipment and weapons and stop tunnels conflicted lasted three weeks.

Effects of Gaza war (3)

4,000 homes destroyed and roads and briges destroyed in gaza, 1000 Palestinians were killed, many wounded as hamas used covillians as human shields, forced to rely on aid

Israel only lost 13 and recieved tactical victory with Hamas losing fighters weapons and tunnels, cross border rocket attacks stopped

Israel lost the propoganda war with coivillian causalties and sestroyed schools and mosques accused of using white phosphorus and illegal weapons.