Conflicts in the Middle East

A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Zionism (1890s)Causes

• European Jews wanted a homeland

Effects• Jews begin to

move to Palestine to live

(Ancient Home before Diaspora)

Arab Nationalism (1900s) Causes

• Ottoman Empire began to weaken

Effects• Arabs were

anxious to establish their own country

Balfour Declaration (1917) Causes

• Jews want a homeland

• Palestinians feared more Jews

Effects• Britain promises

partition of the country

Holocaust (1940s) Causes

• Nazis attacked and murdered millions of European Jews

Effects• Jews wanted a

homeland to feel protected and form a nation

Creation of Israel (1948) Causes

• UN supported plan to partition Palestine

Effects• Six Arab states

attack the next day- Israel captures land

Second Arab-Israeli War (1956)

Causes• Egypt seizes and

nationalizes the Suez Canal

Effects• World community

pressures Israel to withdraw from Egypt

PLO Founded (1964) Causes

• Arabs believe state of Israel needs to be destroyed

Effects• Promote terrorist

acts against the Jewish state

Six-Day War (1967) Causes

• Egypt closes off Gulf of Aqaba (outlet to the Red Sea)

Effects• Israel captures

Jerusalem, Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, and West Bank

Yom Kippur War (1973) Causes

• Surprise attack by Arabs

Effects• Israel launches

counter-attack to regain lost territory

Camp David Accords (1978-1979)

Causes• Peace for land

Effects• Peace between

Egypt and Israel- Sadat is assassinated

• Israel recognized as state

Warfare in Lebanon (1982-1985)

Causes• Israel drives PLO

out into neighboring Lebanon

Effects• Lebanese

Christian militia fighters kill Palestinian refugees

Intifada (1987) Causes

• Palestinians were frustrated with Israeli rule and actions in the ME

Effects• Boycotts, riots,

demonstrations in Israel by Palestinians