Presentation Transcript

1. Israeli-Palestine Conflict

2. Introduction This is a very complex and highly volatile issue that has persisted for 62 years. Why? People in a small region with various holy sites Site of religious tension Oil in the region Cold War, proxy conflicts Refugee problem
3. Israeli Master Narrative Once the kingdom of Israel (2,000 yrs. Ago) thrived but then it was destroyed and its people sent into exile around the world. Despite contributing to the advancement of many societies they were subject to persecution, pogroms, and ultimately the Holocaust. Needing a state of their own, Jews founded Israel in the 1948 War of Independence and it has remained ever since a beacon of democracy in the Middle East.
4. Hatikvah: The Hope/nat. anthem As long as in our heart of hearts And we faithfully look toward the east, Our eyes will turn to Zion We have not yet lost our hope, The hope of two thousand years, To be a free people in our land – The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
5. Palestinian Master Narrative After centuries of foreign rule, Palestinians were prevented from forming their own nation by Zionist designs on their land, culminating in the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe) that made Palestine a nation of refugees. Despite ongoing loss and dispossession, Palestinians have maintained their identity and continue to insist on their right to return to the homes for which many families still have the 1948 keys.
6. Jerusalem Jerusalem is capital of Israel & holy city to all three major monotheistic religions, each have claims to the city. Islam: 3rd holiest city after Mecca and Medina. Dome of the Rock Shrine- where it’s believed Muhammad rose to heaven Judaism: center of modern and ancient home -Western Wall - The holiest site in Jerusalem for Jews (Wailing Wall) sole remainder of Second Temple (destroyed by Romans in A.D. 70) *Christianity: site of crucifixion, Mount of Olives *Proximity of holy sites as created conflict between Muslims and Jews
7. A History of Unrest Post-WW I, Ottoman Empire falls apart, the British and France receive land as part of a war settlement- France- N; British- S. The British lands were called Palestine 19th Century- a movement called Zionismbegan, with its goal being to create and support a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This began a period of gradual migration, but as it increased during Hitler’s persecution the Arabs/Palestinians resisted and the British halted immigration.
8. Creation of Israel Post WW-II- the holocaust leads to global support for the establishment of a Jewish state. 1947- U.N. developed a plan to divide Palestine into two states (Arab and Jew), but the Arabs rejected the plan. 1948- on May 14, 1948 the nation of Israel was established (under heavy pressure from the U.S.). In response, the surrounding Arab nations (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen) invaded Israel, but the Jewish troops won (1st Arab-Israeli War). This would be the beginning of hostilities that persist to this day.
9. cont. 1950-Jerusalem established as Israel’s capital 1967 War- “6 Day War,” Israel expands into Golan Heights, West Bank, and E. Jerusalem
10. Palestinians The indigenous Palestinians (and a few Christians) were caught in the middle. Over 700,000 Palestinians were immediately displaced with the creation of Israel. They either fled their homes, or were pushed onto U.N. sponsored refugee camps around the region. Or, onto land designated for them in Israeli territory- Gaza Strip or West Bank, “Occupied Territories” PLO- was created in the 1960s to regain land for the Palestinian Arabs. This group has pursed military and political means to regain land.
11. ID Card-Poem Record! I am an Arab And my identity card is number fifty thousand I have eight children And the ninth is coming after a summer Will you be angry? Record! I am an Arab I have a name without a title Patient in a country Where people are enraged . . .
12. Palestinians cont. Territorial Expansion: hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been driven out of their homeland, and their landscape has been dramatically transformed. 1980s- anger and resentment in response to 35 years of occupation and increased Israeli settlement in West Bank and Gaza. Security Wall- along and within the West Bank. The total length will be 430 mi., protection from Palestinian terrorism. Palestinians see this as an illegal annexation of lands
13. Palestinian Experience Institutional, legal, and societal discrimination of non-Jews. Dispossession of lands for Jewish settlement (bulldozed homes), Security/Apartheid Wall, restricted movement (checkpoints, colored license plates, id cards, travel permits), discriminatory legal system, unequal access to water
14. Gaza Strip 25 miles, 1.5 million Palestinians. Concrete barrier surrounds territory, which has been sealed since 2006 blockade in response to solider kidnapping Bombings in 2008 killed 1400, injured 5,000 (35% women and children), thousands of homes destroyed, hundreds of schools etc. Hospital destroyed, lack basic needs (food, water
15. Palestinians today Today there are 58 refugee camps (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, West Bank, and Gaza) with around 5 million Palestinians. High population density, cramped, many inadequacies. The U.S. is Israel’s biggest ally, providing over 3 billion in aid annually, this is a major source of resentment for many Arabs and Islamists.
16. Conflict Resolution Conflict Resolution: students will be formulating and writing their opinion for conflict resolution in one of six current issues effecting the prosed two-state solution: 1. Jerusalem 2. Settlements 3. Security Barrier 4. Movement 5. Security and Terrorism 6. Right of Return
17. Dorothy Thompson “Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict.
18. Current Issue Two State Solution Palestinian and Israeli leaders backed by US and other countries working towards the existence of Israel and of Palestine. But the following issues remain…
19. Current Issue: Jerusalem Israeli Perspective Sees united Jerusalem as its capitol Palestine Sees East Jerusalem as its capitol
20. Current Issue: Settlements Israeli Perspective For religious, political, and security reasons a large number Israeli settlements exist in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. 270,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank Palestinian Perspective Israeli settlements go against the idea of a future Palestinian state. Illegal Annexation of land
21. Current Issue: Security Barrier Israeli Perspective Israel is building a barrier between it and the West Bank. Israel sees this as a way to prevent further suicide bombings. Palestinian Perspective The barrier goes beyond the border between the West Bank and Israel. The barrier route is 449 miles, while the “Green Line”—the “border” between the West Bank and Israel is 199 miles.
22. Current Issue: Movement Israeli Perspective Palestinians need permission to leave West Bank. Israelis see this as needed security to prevent terrorism. Palestinian Perspective The restriction on movement limits jobs, health care, education, etc. contributing to standard of living in West Bank being significantly less than that of Israel.
23. Current Issue: Security and Terrorism Israeli Perspective Terrorist organizations like Hamas (which controls the Gaza Strip) and Hezbollah (based in Lebanon and who was at war with Israel in the summer of 2006) continue to fire rockets into Israel. Individuals also continue to commit other acts of terror. Palestinian Perspective Can’t stereotype all Palestinians as terrorists as the majority are not terrorists. Palestinian government denounced terrorism.
24. Current Issue: Right of Return Israeli Perspective If Palestinians living in Arab nations or in the Occupied Territories return to Israel to reclaim land, it can mean the end of Israel as a Jewish state. Palestinian Perspective As refugees, Palestinians believe they should be able to return to their or their families land in Israel