1973-83 (peacekeeping and violence)

Arafat’s speech to the UN 1974

* November Arafat invited to address UN despite the Israel and the US’s strong objections.
* “I come bearing an Olive branch” - suggests the PLO was a reasonable organisation - willing to negotiate
* The PLO given observer status at the UN - couldn’t vote but could take part in discussions - Palestinian voice

Camp David accords

* signed in september 1978
* Framework for peace meant Israel accepted ‘legitimate rights’ of Palestinians - didn’t define what this meant
* it didn’t mention refugee camps outside of the West Bank and Gaza, it didn’t mention Jerusalem and the occupation of Golan heights
* Begin and Sadat Nobel peace prize 1978
* UN rejected framework for peace as not consulted
* Egypt thrown out of Arab league

The Treaty of Washington

* March 1979
* Both agreed to recognise each state’s right to live in peace
* Israel agreed to withdraw from Sinai
* Egypt agreed to allow Israeli ships to use the Suez Canal of Tiran
* condemned by arab states and Palestinians as Palestinian issue left unaddressed

PLO’s arrival in Lebanon

* PLO injected a new sense of hope in Lebanese refugee camps (funded by arab donations: set up schools, set up health clinics, repaired roads, provided electricity and taught Palestinian songs/poetry)
* Lebanon’s population 1970s was 55% Muslim, 40% Christian and 5% druze - parliament/gov/power shared by all religion
* Lebanon’s Christians set up their own paramilitary forces to destroy PLO intruders
* Lebanese Muslims and Druze joined forces with the PLO
* 1975 civil war - 70,000 people died and much of Beirut destroyed
* North of Lebanon occupied by Syrian troops in 1976 after invading and boosting Christian militias

the coastal road massacre 1978

* PLO militants decided to seize a hotel in Tel Aviv holding tourists hostage in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
* Police stopped the bus they had took control of and there was a shootout
* 38 Israeli civilians dead and 71 wounded

operation Litani March 1978

* Israeli response to Coastal road massacre
* 26,000 IDF troops invaded Lebanon
* aim to destroy PLO bases
* 1,100 died - mostly civilians

Israeli invasion of lebanon 1982

* 70,000 Israeli troops invaded Lebanon
* aim to destroy PLO bases and establish a buffer zone
* bombed town - 300,000 Lebanese lost their homes and 12,000 killed
* 20,000 innocent lebanese killed
* USA, France and Italy evacuated Palestinian fighters - PLO headquarters relocated to Tunis

Sabra and Shatila massacre 1982

* Israeli forces allowed Christian Phalange forces to enter camps in order to find remaining PLO members
* 3,500 civilians tortured and then killed

impact of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon

* Israeli Defence Prime Minister forced to resign after a commission set up to investigate Sabra and Shatila massacre
* brutal methods hugely damaging to publicity - use of weapons such as white phosphorus
* Lebanon - organisation called Hezbollah formed - guerilla war continued