IB HL World History: Arab-Israeli Conflict

Senior Yr of HS

Jews

Religious group who originally claimed the Holy Land

Zionism

A movement pushing for a protected homeland for Jews.

Theodor Herzl

Founder of Zionism

Ottoman Empire

Held control of Palestine before WW1

Great Britain

Took control of Palestine after WW1

Balfour Declaration

A letter in which Britain states their support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

UN Partition Plan

Palestine gets 45% of the land while Israel gets 55%. Jerusalem is internationally controlled by the UN.

1950 Absentee Property Law

Allows Israel to take ownership of the land Palestinians fled from during the war.

Jews and the UN Partition Plan

Accepts it though the group states they want more land.

Arabs and the UN Partition Plan

Reject it entirely.

After Israel Declares Independence

US is the first country to recognize Israel, while Arab nations reject it and invade the country the following day after independence is declared.

Arab Struggle During the 1948 War

Arab Nations were not coordinated and did not work together, so Israel was able to push them out and gain additional land (now 78% of Palestine).

Palestine Refugee Crisis

Palestinians fled or were forced out during the war and essentially none of them are able to return due to the 1950 Absentee Property Law.

Egypt after the 1948 War

Gains control of the Gaza Strip

Jordan after the 1948 War

Gains control of the West Bank and east Jerusalem

Suez Canal

Originally controlled by Britain and France to send oil to Europe from the Middle East.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Leader of Egypt after the country gained independence from Britain after WW2. Wanted to nationalize the Suez Canal and use the profits to build the Aswan Dam.

Impact of Holocaust on Zionism

Many survivors has nowhere to go after, increasing sympathy for Jews and support for a Jewish homeland.

Egypt Attacked

Israel invades Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula because they believe Egypt is becoming too powerful. Britain and France attack Egypt by air because they are curious about losing the Suez Canal to Egypt.

End of the Suez Crisis

All countries withdrew from Egypt after the US and USSR demanded a ceasefire. Nassar remained in power and is seen as a hero by the Arabs. It becomes clear that Britain and France are losing their global power, but Israel showed that their military is dominant.

Tensions Prior to the Six-Day War

Egypt expelled the UN peacekeepers from the Sinai Peninsula, closed the Strait of Tiran to Israel shipping, and Arab nations formed military alliances against Israel.

Six-Day War

Israel preemptively strikes Egypt, destroying Egyptian aircrafts and runways. Israel still had to fend off against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, but with control of the skies they were able to end the war in less than a week.

Land Gained from the Six-Day War

Israel gained control over the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.

Yom Kippur War

Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack against Israel. Conflict was fought in the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. The US-backed Israel and Arab nations retaliated by using their oil to create a global economic crisis.

Intifada

Meaning “uprising” in Arabic, the event is a Palestinian uprising against Israel control which mainly took place in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Intifada Causes

Tensions were high between Palestinians and Israelis because under Israeli control, many Palestinians faced economic hardships and had little-to-none political power, and Israelis were still settling in Palestinian land and homes.

First Intifada

A traffic incident (an Israeli driver accidentally kills a Palestinian in an accident) sparks widespread organized boycotts and protests, as well as stone-throwing attacks.

Second Intifada

Palestinians began protesting with suicide bombings and armed attacks. In response, Israel launched military operations in Palestinian cities.

Second Intifada in the West Bank

Israel builds a security barrier to prevent Palestinian infiltration, however it violates international law as it goes through occupied territory considered UN states.

Camp David Accords

US President Jimmy Carter invites Israeli and Egyptian leaders to Camp David. Talks last 13 days and Israel agrees to give back the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, stopping the fighting while allowing peace between the two countries.

Oslo Accords

Israel officially recognized the PLO, which in doing so means that Israel recognizes Palestine as a sovereign nation. Palestinians are given limited self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza.

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)

Officially represented/s Arabs living in Israel.

Palestinian Authority (PA)

Created to govern the self-ruled parts of Palestine.

Hamas

Formed in 1987 during the first Intifada, as both a political party and a militant group.

2-State Solution

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Land for Peace

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