History of Palestine

Arab-Israeli Conflict (1948-1979) Overview

• This summary focuses on the causes, development, and management of the conflict.
• It considers the roles of historical actors and their motivations behind their actions.
• It explores different categories of causes including colonialism, decolonization, security, sovereignty, nationalism, religion, and economics.
• Important events are assessed for their impact on the conflict's intensity, de-escalation, and duration.
• Conflict management efforts including negotiations, mediations, ceasefires, agreements, and treaties are evaluated for effectiveness.

Key Events Shaping the Conflict

• UN Partition Plan of 1947.
• First Arab-Israeli War/War of Independence in 1948.
• Suez Crisis of 1956.
• Six-Day War of 1967.
• Yom Kippur War of 1973.
• Camp David Accords of 1978.
• Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty of 1979.

Timeline of Key Developments

• Feb 1947: Britain brings the Palestine issue to the UN.
• Nov 29 1947: UNGA adopts the UN Partition Plan.
• May 14 1948: Israel declares independence
• May 15 1948: War of Independence begins
• May 1948: United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) is established
• 1949: Israel signs armistice agreements with Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
• Oct 29 1956: Israel invades Sinai leading to the Suez Crisis.
• Nov 1956: UNSC creates United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I).
• June 1967: Israel attacks Egypt, Jordan, and Syria leading to the Six-Day War.
• Nov 1967: UNSC Resolution 242 is passed (Land-for-Peace formula).
• Oct 6 1973: Yom Kippur War begins with attacks on Israel.
• Oct 21 1973: UNSC Resolution 338 calls for a ceasefire.
• Oct 25 1973: United Nations Emergency Force II (UNEF II) is created
• Jan 18 1974: Israel-Egypt Disengagement Agreement (Sinai I Accord).
• May 1974: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is established.
• Sept 1 1975: Second accord signed between Israel and Egypt (Sinai II Accord).
• Sept 1978: Camp David Accords.
• Mar 1979: Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.

Indicators of Effective Conflict Management

• Long-term resolution is characterized by sustained peace between combatant countries.
• Short-term resolution is indicated by peace agreements, treaties, and regional peace.
• Negotiations aiming for peace are a sign of declining tensions.
• Ceasefires can offer both temporary or long-term relief.

Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Complex Web

• The conflict began with the War of Independence/Al Nakba in 1948 and involved multiple wars between Israel and neighboring Arab states.
• Factors include long-term elements arising from competing Jewish and Arab nationalisms.
• Short-term factors include 1947 UN Partition Plan.
• Local actors include the Jews and the Arabs
• External actors include the British, superpowers, and the UN.

Historical Context: Land and People

• The conflict area, referred to as Palestine or Israel lies between the Mediterranean coast and the River Jordan.
• Today Israel consists of 80% of Palestine and controls much of the rest of the area.
• Jews lived in Palestine alongside other peoples like the Philistines since the 1st century CE.
• Palestine came under Roman rule the 1st century CE The Romans expelled most of the Jews in 135 CE.
• Communities dispersed after the Jewish Diaspora.
• By the 7th century CE most Palestine inhabitants were Christian.
• In 636 CE Arabs conquered the area forming a vast empire.

Ottoman Rule and WWI

• Palestine became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1516 CE lasting 400 years.
• The majority Arabic-speaking Muslim population referred to the land as Filastin or Palestine.
• Small Jewish and Christian populations still lived there.
• The Great War and destruction of the Ottoman Empire altered the regional balance leading to smaller political units.
• These smaller political units later became independent Arab states.
• Britain and France administratively controlled former Ottoman territories.
• Britain was given the Palestine Mandate Authority by the League of Nations (1920-1948).

Conflicting Assurances and the Inevitable Conflict

• Britain struggled to maintain order due to nationalist demands and Arab-Jewish conflict.
• Britain gave contradictory assurances of support to both groups during WWI.
• Mid-1940s, the Arab population opposed increasing Jewish immigration to Palestine.
• This clash eventually exploded into the open conflict in 1948.

Conflicting Nationalisms

• The Arab-Israeli conflict comes down to dueling nationalisms, as Jewish and Arab populations both want political and territorial control.
• Jewish immigrants and their defendants, moved and guided by Zionism, clashed with the Arab population already in Palestine.
• It is important that Palestine was promised to both Arabs and Jews by the British.

Jewish Nationalism (Zionism)

• After dispersal from Palestine post 130 CE, Jewish life eventually centered in Europe.
• Jews faced religious persecution by Christians, resulting in anti-Semitism.
• Anti-Semitism inspired Zionism because Jews began seeing themselves as an alien nation in need of their own territory.
• Theodor Herzl, considered the father figure of Zionism, wanted a territorial resolution to address Jewish problems.
• Herzl stated that because the Jewish people could not intergrate into Europen life, there was a need to unite together in their own state.
• He held the first Zionist Congress in 1897, aiming to create a home for Jews in Palestine.

Zionist Congress Goals

• Promote the colonization of Palestine through Jewish agricultural and industrial workers.
• Organize and unite Jewish people living in different countries via local and international institutions.
• Strengthen and foster Jewish national sentiment as well as consciousness.
• Take preparatory steps to gain government consent to achieve Zionism's aim.
• Chaim Weizmann Led British Zionists worked to get the British government to support a Jewish homeland during WWI.
• The British were keen to bring the US fully into the war, so in 1917 declared support for a Jewish homeland.
• The British believed that this would persuade American Jews to wield influence to press the US government become involved with vigour.

Balfour Declaration

• The British declaration was made in a letter written by British Foreign Minister Authur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, an important British Jew.
• The letter was known as the Balfour Declaration, made carefully, spoke of "national home" rather than "state"
• It specified that nothing should hurt the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities.
• The Balfour Declaration gave Zionists standing to eventually establish a homeland in Palestine.
• Britain was granted Mandatory authority over Palestine by the League of Nations.
• Britain turned the Balfour Declaration into a legally binding statute in 1922 and backed Jewish immigration.

Rising Jewish Population and the Holocaust

• The Jewish population grew immensely from 164,000 to 370,000 or 25% between 1930 and 1936 to flee Hitler's increasing rise and power.
• The Jewish community greatly impacted by the German Holocaust.
• This resulted in greater determination to establish statehood amongst survivors.
• The motto spread "A land without a people for a people without a land" was spread but Zionist, due the desolation.
• Although the land of "zion", had other increasingly politically conscious people, the Arabs.

Arab Nationalism

• Arab nationalism believes Arabs comprise a single political community which should be allied or united with the same authority.
• Modern Arab nationalism emerged during the Arab renaissance beginning in the 18th century.
• This partly was because of to the needs and calls to modernize.
• Arabs sought European nationalism ideals and freedom.
• Britain then made pledges to Arab Nationalists offering independent Turkish support.

The McMahon Letters

• McMahon wrote to Sherry Hussein bin Ali informing him the British "prepared to recognaize and support independence" of the Arabs.
• After promising Britain support, begun revolt against he Turks in 1916.
• British wanted gained political allies to win, which is contradictory from what was to be given Arab, and resulted in a political mess among the communities.

Exerpt from the McMahon Letter

• Assured their would be British support in return for friendship.
• Would result in lasting alliance and freedom from the Turkish yoke.

Pre-revolution problems

• Before the Arab Revolt Britsh also secured secret Sykes picot, dividing Ottoman Empire and Arab lands, between France.
• Palestine fell under British Control contradicting McMahon letters.

Arab Nationalist movement

• The Arab nationalists struggled with the new political system.
• The Arab nations struggled not only under a united force but also leadership.
• British mandate emerged the Palestinian Nationalism.
• The Arab natives stated Arab was Arab land due to labor over decades and needed full independence.
• They said self-government was fustrated by influx.

Arabs on Self-Determination.

• Arabs stated Palestine was land to be cultivated.
• British stated it was for religious minority .
• That minority could not hold self-determination.

Arab concerns on Jewish settlement.

• That it is against the indigenous.
• Stated Israel was seeking a non-democratic view despite majority and claim democratic rights.

Arab Revolt

• Arabs protested increased immigration over three years.
• Mufti Muslim scholar Hadj Amin al- Husayni led revolts.
• Civil war broke out resulting in Intractable Political contest against the nationalists.

Economic divisions

• Economic divisions emerged between Arab people/Jewish people.
• They fueled their increasing differences .
• After Jewish people settled there occurred land purchases, Economic marginalization / dispossession .
• Lead to difficulty between peoples.
• This happened because of absent land owners in Siria as well as high prices.
• This land purchases where possible through donations to Jew.
• They refused to hire Arabs on the purchased land and only used Jews.
• Resulted in Arab tenant farmers dispossessing Arab laborers
• 30% landless during 1930's .
• Arabs did not have support resulting in Economic disaster from sources and peripheralization and suffering.

Economic exploitation

• Superior capital gives more modern tech/policy of expansion.
• Big concession Companies in there hands .
• Jews will occupy large portion to total cultiva land.
• Land in the most fertility.
• Land inalien for non-Jews .
• Will come large pop increase .
• Will push more the pop to landless.

Competing Religions: Spiritual Battleground

• Spiritual connection to land.
• To Jews, Holy land of Palestine.
• Ties Biblical History.
• Jews find Jerusalem as pilgrimage site.
• Features prominently the Hebrew Bible.
• Patriarchs Abraham sons Issac was almost sacrificed here.
• Was the base of King Solomon.

Temple Mount

Is viewed only of remanent.

• Today jews refer to Hebrew Bible as a land claim
• Muslims revere land .
• Shrine noble sanctuary Al Aqsa.
• Dome of rock.
• Night Journey Mohammed.
• Commanded to Pray.

Relationships and Religion

• Fundamentally conflict is not of religion, said Waxman scholarly .
• Is not about super religion. Jewish Muslim share.
• Accept monotheistic faith.
• Although Islam final, they accept Christian and Jews.
• Muslim more tolerant.

Religion secondary

• Driven by ideology.
• Theologys backing in. Dominant actors come from above.
• Secular aspiration through self determination. Sharia, Halachic created.
• Theodor Clear future state by state.

Zionist movement

• Zionist used religion support and mobilized popular support.
• Used services of Nationalism.
• Secular goals but nationalist goals.
• Emigration Aliya.
• National history of bible.
• Palestinian also use religion.
• Cleric Hajj Amin-Husseini Religious preacher.
• Izz Aldi Al quansum, first struggle.

British Decolonization

• Betrayal Zionizm.
• Jews become confrontation.
• Holocaust and not in mood patients
• The ergan stern radical attacks the British .
• King David hotel.
• Exhausted for the people after WWI the British left.
• 100000 Troops /police to contain, vacuum for parties to follow.

Un role

• General assembly made committee to find conflict.
• United nations Scopp
• Scopp August Report mandate ended.
• Separate Jewish and Arab territories and Jueuselme under international control, land of fertal high pop and no sea.
• brought by British
• The Assembly United Nations .

Jewish Arabs and Responds

• Higher committee rejecting
• Jewish large areas with population
• Zionist Accept is first first
• Arab Higher Committe, Inter commual is what start

Brits Response

• Jews defensive
• They hold till Mench
• Enforce Partition
• British cited and wanted as for justicicatin
• The world was in it too and the support formation came

Soviet Motivation

• Socialist labor and potential .
• Serve Britain pawns and Monachs
• Break Western powers down.

America Motiv

• Re active
• Conflicting advise. state .
• Depart feared Arabs threaten supply , under mind and to Soviet side , but Clifford saw could benefit

Truman support

• Truman supported a strong Israel state despite domestic needs and after declaration on May 48 support
• First contact
• Soviet Direction, Czech , 2000 rifles ,000 , rounds - aircraft.

War for independence

• After declared State
• May 15, 1984, support. The Arab stated, Eqy, Jordan.

###Arab coalitions Reasons. Ostensibly in the support Palestine Little with getting the Arab states to cooperate They were divided as result

Arab states Rival camps

• Arab states Rival camps.
• Jordan /Irag on one
• Eqy / Suria on this
• Leaders of those states aspired.

war of independece

• Israily sucess
• Arab failed due to internal conflicts and weaknesses
• Jordan best but never touched what Arab was supossed to hold

Victory for Israel

• Israel territory gains with with more and 40000
• Arabs high price of freedom
• This was to big for Arab, they have to disappear from the land.

UN intervention

• UN responded.
• Unite the Arabs to super vice to unite the Arabs.
• Bernadotte manage to the conflict for peace but was assasinated

Agreement for peace

Then Bunche was the attempt through July for agreements .

• Close, 100000 observer
• Fail agreements
• Observers remained, 600 observers
• Set demotized , borders in the region through cooperation.
• Prevent violated the right
• Restoring all stability in the region.
• UNTSO was limited in what did

Agreements made then

• Gaza Eqyption and the 89
• Eastern Jerusalem to what called West.
• To Abate there

US Support for Egypt.

• To maintain stability.
• This led to tripartite
• Guarantee status .
• Relterated , their influence.

Suez Crisis impact

Arabs Israeli conflict, as a clash happened

Suez state

• Important.
• Maritime route.

Crises context.

Tension between Israel/ Egypt. Arab Nationalists,

The end of British Rule?

• Imperial control begins in 1883 then British as a "protectorate"
• Guards operations.
• Directly Linked.
• Reduces Journey.
• Became main supply after
• Continues with Military and troop zone, but becomes intolerable

War between Egypt and Israel

• 4800 the troops accused Egypt.
• These feelings the new state. "The Free officers"
• Egypt and the new states is a powerful.
• Pan arab nationalism
• The country became power through that.
• Center states a power
• Non aligned, a power, the strong western influence.

Israel's View of Nasser

Sustained tension . Some for harvests.

• In 1955 one one one Egyptian soldier , wound, Chain with both.
• Block trade : the refused ships, the canals. Tension between Egypt and Israel.

Israel concerned about Egypt

• Leader support as subversive.
• Attack US property and blame was Egyptians.
• Tension for those agents trials .

Fedayeen

• Gaza
• Narrow area.
• Military control.
• Brought harsh and reprisals .

Def force

• Attack on Egypt power .
• They killed and said a message. Ruin leadership damage . Also increased desire.
• Aid they couldn't get.
• Armament Czech. No aligning countries.

End or West in middle of Cold World

• A core aspect of the time. France vs China, but France lost because China.
• Western USSR, leads Egyptian leader suspends loan
• Western leader, led suspend Loans

War continued and the world is agains

The result was 1986 July:

• Loan Cancel and then the state.
• Revenges, sought .

Israel's view and alliance to west.

1956 alliance

• The secret.
• The France Israel then joint forces to canal to Israel fast . Then forces protect .
• The then called to protect to step in . Egyptian reject , steps strikes, intervention. Expand territory .

Israel's perspective

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During 54 Control

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Explore Palestine's rich history. From predominant religions before the Arab conquest to the impact of the British Mandate and the ongoing conflict between Zionism and Palestinian nationalism. Understand the key events and factors shaping the region.