Middle East Treaty of Washington & Invasion of Lebanon

treaty of bruhington more leik xDD

Narrative account of the diplomacy between 1973-79

Sadat and Rabin both willing to make a deal based on recognition of Israel for land returned to Egypt.

The Oil Crisis.

Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy.

Reopening of the canal.

Sadat and Begin exchange visits.

1978 Camp David Accords.

1979 Treaty of Washington (cool kids never have the time)

Narrative account analysing the events that led to the reopening of the Suez Canal in 1975

The Oil Crisis: OPEC (group of top oil producers, all Arab and generally stand behind Palestine) members refused to sell any oil to the US and cut production by 25% for everyone else. This caused a major economic crisis and inflation. Led by the US to try and persuade Israel to make peace with neighbours. USSR also wanted peace - frustrated that Arabs wasted their weapons.

Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy: US Secretary of State (Henry Kissinger) flew between Israel, Syria & Egypt for 2 months in 1974, Sadat was willing to talk peace as he needed to reopen the Suez Canal. They couldn’t find a permanent solution, Syria and Egypt weren’t willing to recognise Israel first and Israel weren’t willing to withdraw the IDF from Sinai/Golan Heights first either. They created a demilitarised zone at the Suez Crisis allowing it to be reopened. OPEC then began selling oil to the US again.

Reopening of the canal: Now possible due to UN-policed DMZ (short for demilitarised zone 😏😏), Egyptian troops removed 686,000 mines, Navies from Egypt, US, France and Britain removed 10,000 live shells, 10 shipwrecks, 12k blocks of concrete, Jun 1975 the canal was opened and 600 dignitaries attended the event.

Narrative account analysing the events that led to the signing of the Treaty of Washington in 1979

Sadat and Begin exchange visits: Sadat wanted permanent peace with Israel to regain Sinai and focus on the economy. US president Carter promised Egypt aid if it made peace with Israel. Sadat said he would go to the Knesset for peace, and as a result was invited by new Israeli PM Begin. He made a speech asking for “lasting and just peace”. Begin followed with visit to Egypt. However talks stalled over the issues of the Palestinians.

1978 Camp David Accords: To encourage talks to continue, Carter invited both leaders to Camp David retreat in US. After 13 days, two agreements were made: Framework for Egyptian-Israeli Peace and Framework for Peace in Middle East. The former stated that Sinai were to be returned to Egypt, peace to exist, Israel would use the Suez/Tiran and money would be given to both from US. The latter said Israel would recognise the rights of Palestine, Palestinians could eventually elect own council & IDF would leave Gaza/West Bank.

1979 Treaty of Washington: Camp David Accords led to Egypt being expelled from the Arab League, Palestinians also felt betrayed, however Begin and Sadat could both get what they wanted from the agreement. Treaty activated the clauses from the Framework, Palestinian issue was not addressed.

Consequences/Importance of Arafat’s speech to the UN (1974)

Brought further attention to the Palestinian issue.

Palestine given UN observer status: This meant the PLO could take part in UN discussions about Palestine.

Israel did not trust Arafat or his promises: They argued that the PLO charter still rejected Israel and that PLO attacks on Israel continued.

Could be argued as the start of Arafat being willing to reject terrorism: He formally did this later in 1988.

Narrative account on the events that led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon (1982)

The PLO in Lebanon & Civil War: PLO had moved to Lebanon after Black September in 1970, they ran schools, health clinics and provided electricity for Palestinian refugees, PLO ran training and recruitment, south Lebanon nicknamed ‘Fatahland’, Lebanese Christians set up Phalange militia to challenge PLO. By 1975 a civil war erupted between Christian and PLO/Lebanese Muslim groups. 70,000 died. Syria and Israel both intervened on the side of the Christians.

Raids and reprisals: Israeli involvement in Lebanese Civil War encouraged more PLO attacks on Israel. Some Palestinian militants became ‘rejectionists’ (rejecting Arafat’s speech), Mar 1978 Coastal Road Massacre - 13 PLO terrorists killed 38 Israeli civilians, as reprisal Israel sent 26,000 troops into Lebanon in Operation Litani, UN peacekeepers sent in but came under attack from rejectionists, USSR armed PLO with long-range rockets, used to attack Galilee.

Operation ‘Peace for Galilee’: UN ceasefire organised in 1981 but the IDF used this to plan an invasion as they were unhappy that PLO had long-range weapons, Jun 1982 three Palestinians tried to assassinate Israeli ambassador in London, they weren’t PLO (in fact they were rejectionists) but Israel using this as a basis to launch an operation to establish a 45km buffer zone.

Narrative account analysing the events of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon (1982)

Israeli successes: Israeli forces quickly drove further than 45km into Lebanon and went further north, 300,000 Lebanese lost their homes and 12,000 were killed, Israeli forces laid siege to Beirut, aim was probably to evict PLO and install Phalange leader as Lebanese president, siege lasted 2 months.

Removal of PLO: This was the only way to end the siege and war, in late August, a multinational force from USA, France and Italy supervised the evacuation of 11,000 Palestinian fighters from Beirut to Tunis.

Sabra and Shatila Massacres: However, Israeli Defence Minister Ariel Sharon said 2,000 PLO fighters remained behind in refugee camps, Israeli forces surrounded Sabra and Shatila and allowed Phalange forces to find them, for 2 days between 800-3500 Palestinians in the camps were murdered.

Consequences/Importance of the invasion of Lebanon

Israel felt safer: Farms and towns in galilee were now free from PLO raids and missiles. Arafat and the PLO were now 2400km away in the Tunis.

International criticism of Israel: Towns and cities in Lebanon were destroyed, Israel were accused of using white phosphorus shells, the massacres at Sabra and Shatila.

Caused divisions and criticisms within Israel: 300,000 Israelis protested, Israeli government set up a commission to find out more, Ariel Sharon was forced to resign.

Hezbollah: Islamist organisation set up in Lebanon by Iran, aimed at forcing Israel to leave Southern Lebanon and later aimed at the destruction of Israel as a state and attacks against Jews worldwide.