Arab-Israel Conflict

proposed dividing British Mandate Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states with an international Jerusalem, aiming for peace but ultimately triggering conflict. It was formally recommending a Jewish state, accepted by Zionists but rejected by Palestinian Arabs, leading directly to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and shaping the region's future, establishing Israel while creating ongoing refugee and territorial disputes

The UN Partition Plan (Resolution 181) of 1947

signifies the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, leading to the creation of Israel, a foundational trauma shaping Palestinian identity, culture, and ongoing struggle for return and justice, marked annually on May 15th as a symbol of enduring loss, fragmented families, and refugee status for millions. From an Israeli point of view, this war signified a great day of resilience and celebration.

Nakba - The Nakba (Arabic for "catastrophe")

Where would they go? To other Arab states?

Refugee question -

is central to the Arab-Israeli conflict, signifying Palestinians' demand to return to homes lost in 1948 (the Nakba), 1967, and their descendants, a right backed by UN resolutions (like Res 194) as a fundamental human right, while Israel rejects it, viewing mass return as a demographic threat to its Jewish character, making ROR a core Palestinian demand for justice, self-determination, and a key obstacle to peace.

“Rights of Return” - The "Right of Return" (ROR)

Served as the immediate trigger for the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, transforming the ongoing civil conflict into a war involving neighboring Arab states. It also established the core principles of the new state, which have shaped the conflict's political and legal dimensions ever since.

Declaration of Independence -

The speech encapsulated a stark, pragmatic worldview of perpetual vigilance and self-reliance, arguing that Israel's existence depended on military strength rather than the hope for immediate conciliation. He validated Arab grievances, acknowledging their hatred. at the funeral of Roi Rothberg, a young security coordinator from Kibbutz Nahal Oz who had been murdered and mutilated by fedayeen infiltrators from Gaza.

Dayan Eulogy -

also known as the Suez Crisis,, was a pivotal conflict in the Arab-Israeli conflict and global Cold War politics. Its significance lies in its demonstration of diminished British and French global power, the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser as a hero of Arab nationalism, and increased U.S. and Soviet involvement in the Middle East.

1956 War -

" was a pivotal and transformative event in the Arab-Israeli conflict, primarily because it fundamentally redrew the map of the Middle East, established the "land for peace" formula for future negotiations, and created the core issues of the modern conflict, including the status of the occupied territories and the rise of a distinct Palestinian nationalism.

1967 War -

were central to the Arab-Israeli conflict, defining Palestinian national aspirations (unity, self-determination) and initially demanding Israel's destruction via armed struggle, which brought international attention (UN observer status) but also isolation (US refusal to deal with them). The original charter, denied Israel's right to exist, fueling conflict, but later shifts, especially after Oslo Accords, saw the PLO renounce violence, recognize Israel, and commit to peace, marking a major turning point but facing stalled implementation

PLO and PLO Charter - The PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)

was a central, transformative figure in the Arab-Israeli conflict, largely through his promotion of pan-Arab nationalism and his direct military and political confrontations with Israel during the Suez Crisis and the Six-Day War. Became the new idol of the Arab world.

Gamal Nasser -

The foundational document for Arab-Israeli peace, establishing the "land for peace" principle: Israeli withdrawal from territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War in exchange for Arab recognition and secure borders for all states, forming the basis for major treaties like those with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) and influencing Palestinian negotiations. Intentionally ambiguous, leaving room for vast interpretations

U.N. Resolution 242 -

highly significant as a pivotal turning point in the Arab-Israeli conflict and Cold War dynamics, leading to major political shifts, a global energy crisis, and the eventual peace process between Israel and its Arab neighbors. To Israelis, this attack come as a shock, to Arabs it was a way to show that Egypt still had power and was a force to be reckon with. Although Israel ultimately prevailed on the battlefield, the initial Egyptian and Syrian surprise attack and early successes helped restore Arab psychological confidence and honor after their humiliating defeat in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Yom Kippur War -

a central and highly contentious issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict because they are considered a major obstacle to the two-state solution and have profound humanitarian, legal, and security impacts. Their presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, has created irreversible "facts on the ground" that shape the conflict. Whether the land is Israel’s or Palestines, is a controversial debate.

Settlements -

significance in the Arab-Israeli conflict lies in his groundbreaking initiative to pursue peace directly with Israel, leading to the landmark Camp David Accords and the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. This made Egypt the first Arab nation to formally recognize Israel and established a lasting peace between the two countries, though it also caused a temporary rupture with the rest of the Arab world.

Anwar Sadat -

were hugely significant as they led to the first Arab-Israeli peace treaty (Egypt-Israel, 1979), ending decades of war, returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and establishing full relations, but they also isolated Egypt in the Arab world and highlighted the unresolved Palestinian issue, ultimately failing to spark broader Arab-Israeli peace immediately, though they set a precedent for future deals. Land for peace principle between Israel and Egypt.

Camp David Accord - The Camp David Accords (1978)

significantly shapes the Arab-Israeli conflict by championing Greater Israel ideology (rejecting Palestinian statehood, supporting settlements in Judea & Samaria/West Bank) while also overseeing major peace moves (Camp David, Gaza withdrawal), reflecting its internal tension between hardline nationalism and pragmatic security needs, with leaders like Begin, Sharon, and Netanyahu driving policies that often stall two-state solutions but sometimes engage in talks, emphasizing Israeli sovereignty and security above territorial concessions.

Likud Party - The Likud Party

a watershed moment in the Arab-Israeli conflict because it shifted the focus of the Palestinian struggle from external Arab states and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leadership abroad to a grassroots, internal movement and ultimately created the conditions for the Oslo Peace Process.

Intifada -

were a landmark attempt to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing a framework for mutual recognition and gradual Palestinian self-rule, creating the Palestinian Authority (PA) and initiating talks on final status issues like borders, refugees, and Jerusalem. Their significance lies in the initial breakthrough of the PLO recognizing Israel and Israel recognizing the PLO, fostering hope for a two-state solution, but ultimately disillusioning many Palestinians as settlement expansion continued, self-rule remained limited, and the final peace treaty never materialized, leaving an unresolved, often more complex, conflict.

Oslo Accords - The Oslo Accords (1993, 1995)

Comes to power after Rabin is killed. Member of the likud party who promises to continue working the peace process.

Netanyahu -

a proposed approach to resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, by creating two states on the territory of the former Mandatory Palestine.

Two State Solution -