Conflicts in the Middle East aka the Holy Land

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Conflicts in the Middle Eastaka the Holy Land

• Former territory of Ottoman Empire, becomes
  British Mandate of Palestine after Versailles
  Treaty of WWI, Mandate given to United Nations at
  the end of WWII
• 1947, UN recommends partition of Palestine into a
  Palestinian state and a Jewish state, with
  Jerusalem becoming an international city owned by
  neither side
• More detailed background information?!?
• http//www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/palestine.h
  tm

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Balfour Declaration1917

• In classic Imperialism double-speak fashion,
  the British seem to make promises to both
  sides....

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Israel becomes a stateMay 14, 1948

• May 15, all surrounding Arab states attack Israel
• After a year of fighting, cease-fire declared
• Palestinian state proposed by UN never comes into
  being, Israel seized half of this land during the
  year of fighting
• Approx. 700,000 Palestinian refugees were
  expelled or fled newly-created country during
  conflict over statehood
• UN accepts Israel as a member nation in 1949

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Six-Day War1967

• A swift and decisive victory for Israel over
  Egypt, Jordan, Syria
• Israel took control of Gaza Strip and Sinai
  Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank and East
  Jerusalem from Jordan, and Golan Heights from
  Syria
• The capture of these territories and on-going
  refugee problems from this war are central
  concerns in current conflict

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Camp David Accords1979

• First signed agreement between Israel and an Arab
  country, ended 30 years of hostility between
  Israel and Egypt
• Egypt recognized Israels right to exist, which
  at that time was the first Arab country to do so
• Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt

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Palestinians demand Independence

• Unwilling to give up territories seized for
  security, Israelis began to build settlements on
  the West Bank and Gaza Strip
• Resenting Israeli rule, Palestinians living in
  Israel increasingly looked towards the PLO
  (Palestinian Liberation Organization) for
  political representation
• PLO is currently split into 2 factions HAMAS
  FATAH
• 1. HAMAS is the right-wing, militant/extreme
  PLO that is designated as a terrorist by the
  USA....currently controls Gaza Strip
• 2. FATAH is left-wing, popular-based PLO that
  is not designated as a terrorist organization by
  the USA....currently controls West Bank

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Current Events in the Middle East2011

• Israels Wall (security fence/separation barrier)
  in the West Bank
• On-going construction by the State of Israel for
  security reasons
• Severely restricts, controls movement of
  Palestinians in West Bank and Israel
• UN and nation-states demand that Israel stop and
  reverse this construction project
• Project breaks international laws and moves
  Israeli control further into Occupied Palestinian
  Territories
• CONTROVERSY Is this WALL a form of APARTHEID?!?
• http//www.btselem.org/Download/Separation_Barrier
  _Map_Eng.pdf

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Current Events in the Middle East2011

• Israeli settlements in the West Bank built on
  land that was captured by Israel during the 1967
  Six-Day War
• considered occupied territory by the
  international community
• Criticized by Human Rights organizations
• Viewed as a major obstacle to the Peace Process
• CONTROVERSY Are these settlements legal?!?

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Current Events in the Middle East2011

• President Obama has recently declared current
  situation is unsustainable in regards to
  Israels permanent occupation of West Bank.
• Urges creation of Palestinian State based on 1967
  borders before the six-day war
• CONTROVERSY Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs,
  Zionists, Jews, Muslims, etc......Where do we go
  from here?!?