Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The

Historical Context
 Our Focus Question

Who has a better claim

to the land?
 Why should Americans study the
Israel/Palestine conflict?

Many injuries and

deaths have resulted
from this conflict over
land & religion over
the past 60 years, and
the violence continues
today.
Why should Americans study the
Israel/Palestine conflict?

Until this problem is

solved, terrorist groups
continue to use it as a
“rallying cry” against
the West (including the
United States).
Where is Israel/Palestine?
In Southwest
Asia, also
known as the
“Middle East”
 Palestinian and Israeli propaganda maps

Israeli map lumping together Arab states;

depicting tiny defenseless Israel

Palestinian Map
without Israel
 Israelis Palestinians
Israel (West Bank and Gaza Strip)

Israelis are multiethnic Arab (ethnic) territoriality

European, Middle Eastern,
Newer Russian, Ethiopian Palestinians are multi-religious
immigrants Muslims and Christians

Arab Israeli minority Ethnic nationalist movement

 Why is this land the center of controversy?
• There are currently two national groups who claim
“rightful ownership” of this territory (Israelis and
Palestinians)

Most Israelis are Jews

– Most Palestinians are Muslims

 Why is this land the center of controversy?
• Many Jews have long claimed a connection to this “Holy
Land,” believing that it was promised to the Ancient
Hebrews (Jews) by God.
• These Jews believe that despite the fact that they suffered a diaspora
(scattering around the world due to invasions), the land of Palestine is
ultimately theirs.
Why is this land the center of controversy?
Despite these historical
Jewish claims, many
Muslim Palestinians argue
that this land belongs to
them, as the region has
been predominantly
Muslim for over 1000 years
since the Jewish diaspora.
 Why did Jews expect that they would
receive a homeland?
• The Balfour Declaration (1917)
– Statement by the British government that advocated for
the creation of Israel
– "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in
Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use
their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this
object…”
Why did Jews feel that they needed a
homeland?
• Anti-Semitism extremely common in virtually all Jewish
diaspora destinations
– Anti-Jewish violence and discrimination have occurred
throughout world history
• 70 C.E.--Roman Empire destroys Jerusalem temple
• 1348 C.E.--900 Jews burned to death as suspects in causing/spreading the
Bubonic Plague in Strasbourg
• 1543 C.E.--Martin Luther writes On the Jews and Their Lies, a fiercely
Anti-Semitic work
 Why did Jews feel that they needed a
• The Holocaust homeland?
(1930s-40s)
– Many Jews
finally see once
and for all that
there is no
home for them
in the world.
 In response to these
historical connections and
events, the United Nations
decides to create a Jewish
homeland.
 So this is what really started the controversy?

• In 1947, Great Britain

(which controlled the
region, then known as
“British Palestine”)
turned the land over to
the United Nations, which
decided to allow these
groups to divide the land
between them.
Why did the UN decide to “partition”
this land in 1947?
• A movement called “Zionism” became active in
Europe in the late 1800s.
– Zionism--the desire to create a Jewish homeland called
Israel in “British Palestine”
 What was the
UN Partition Plan?
• Divide British Palestine into 2
“states” (countries)
– 1 would be Arab (Palestine)
– 1 would be Jewish (Israel)
– Jerusalem would “belong to the
world”
*
 What were the immediate effects of
the Partition of 1947?
Israel declares independence as a new
country in 1948 & is immediately
attacked by its Arab neighbors.
Palestinians do not recognize Israel,
and therefore do not declare an Arab
country called “Palestine”
 What were the consequences of the
1948-49 Arab-Israeli War?
• Israel successfully
defends itself &seizes
more territory.
• Only two disconnected
regions (The West Bank
and The Gaza Strip)
remain unoccupied as a
future “Palestine.”

Before After
What were the long-term consequences
of the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli War?
• Palestinian refugees lose homes and land.
• Palestinian extremists become furious at Israeli occupation of
what was supposed to be the Arab country of “Palestine.”

• Israelis know that they must defend themselves with military

force--they will NOT wait to be attacked again.
• Israel asserts its claims over the city of Jerusalem.
• Israeli extremists are easily able to use the war as evidence for the
“rightness” of the Israeli cause.
 What were the long-term
consequences of the 1948-49 Arab-
Israeli War?
• 1967, Israel’s Arab neighbors plan to annihilate
the Jewish state, but Israel strikes 1st, easily
defeating the Arab nations; they then occupy the
West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula and
Golan Heights.
– known as The Six-Day War
• Israel maintains control over 2 of these controversial
regions (W. Bank, Golan Heights)
Jerusalem: Holy City to Jews, Muslims, and Christians
Jerusalem

West (Israeli);
East (Arab)
with Israeli settlements
 Israeli Settlements
and Palestinian
towns in the
West Bank, 2000

Israeli settlers see as

historic Jewish homeland

Palestinians compare
illegal settlements to
Apartheid
 Palestinian
Autonomy, 2000

Gradual turnover of Israeli-

Occupied areas to Palestinians
for “Two-State Solution”

Plan collapsing as
killings increase

Israeli Defense Force reoccupies

West Bank and Gaza
 Main Issues
Palestinian
Israeli
• Land
• Land
• Right of Return
• Security
• End to Settlements
• Access to
• Water Rights Jerusalem
• Economics • Right to exist
• Self-determination
• End of Occupation
• Access to Jerusalem
 Demographic Data
Palestinian
• Pop: 3,500,000
• Migration: 2.1/1000
• Infant mortality: 26/1000
• Fertility rate: 6.55
• Life expectancy: 70.8
• GDP per capita: $625
• GDP growth rate: - 35%
• Religions: Muslim (predominantly
Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish
0.6%
Israeli
• Pop: 6,000,000
• Migration: 1/1000
• Infant Mortality: 6.55/1000
• Fertility rate: 2.54
• Life Expectancy: 78.8
• GDP per capita: $19,000
• GDP growth rate: -1%
• Religions: Jewish 80.1%, Muslim
14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim),
Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)