The Middle East Conflict “A Troubled Past”. The Middle East Conflict What caused the conflict between the Israelis and the Arabs? Israel was created by

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East Conflict

““A Troubled Past”A Troubled Past”

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictWhat caused the conflict between the Israelis and the Arabs?

Israel was created by a United Nations action in 1947.

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictWhy can’t a lasting peace be reached?

The Palestinian Arabs demand an independent state in Israel.


Middle East Leaders - Egypt

* Overthrew King Farouk

Gamal Nasser Pres. of Egypt

1956-1970

•Modernizes Egypt - Aswan Nile Dam Project Nile River



* Overthrew King Farouk

Gamal Nasser Pres. of Egypt

1956-1970

•Modernizes Egypt - Aswan Nile Dam Project

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictMiddle East Leaders – Egypt

Goal: to get the Sinai Peninsula back

Anwar Sadat President of Egypt

1970-1981

Goal: make peace with Israel, breaks ties with USSR

Assassinated by own countryman for trying to make peace with Israel



Hosni Mubarak Pres. of Egypt

1981-present

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictMiddle East Leaders – Israel

Golda Meir Prime Minister

1969-1974

Menachem Begin Prime Minister

1977-1983

Yitzak Rabin Prime Minister

1974-1977


Middle East Leaders – Israel

Ariel Sharon Prime Minister, 2001-2006

goes into coma in January 2006

Ehud Olmert Prime Minister

since April 14, 2006


Middle East Leaders – P.L.O.

Palestinian Liberation Organization (established 1964)

Yasser Arafat Leader 1964-2004

Goal: Regain the Palestinian State

Method: TERRORISM


Middle East Leaders – P.L.O.

Palestinian Liberation Organization

Mahmoud Abbas Leader

2004-present


What is O.P.E.C.?

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

It controls the production (amount) and price of most of the oil produced in the world.


O.P.E.C. Member Nations

Since the UN Partition Plan was put into place, there have been several major wars and many more intermittent battles.

1st Arab- Israeli WarWhen: 1948-1949

Who: Israel vs. Palestinians, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Causes: UN Partition Plan – creates State of Israel

Results:

1) Israel doubles in size

2) Palestine disappears

3) Divided Jerusalem – Israel/Jordan

4) Palestinian refugees (fled to Gaza & West Bank)


2nd Arab- Israeli WarSuez –Sinai War

When: 1956Who: Israel , Britain, France vs. EgyptCauses: Nasser takes control of the Suez Canal

- had been under control of Britain/FranceResults:1) Egypt gets Suez Canal2) UN troops move into Sinai (along

Egypt/Israel border)3) Straits of Tiran now open to Israeli shipping


3rd Arab- Israeli War (6 Day War)

When: 1967 (June 5 – starts) Who: Israel vs. Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, SyriaCauses: Egypt closes the Straits of Tiran –

Israel attacks Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq Results:1) Israel gets Occupied Territories (Gaza, Sinai,

Golan Heights, West Bank)2) PLO becomes stronger and more prevalent3) Arabs bitter:

NO negotiations, NO recognition, NO peace


4th Arab- Israeli War (October War)(Yom Kippur War – highest of Jewish Holidays)When: 1973 (lasts only 3 weeks)Who: Israel vs. Egypt & SyriaCauses: Egypt and Syria, supported by USSR, attack

Israel to get land backResults:1) Ends in cease-fire2) OPEC oil embargo against U.S.A.3) UN troops to Sinai to watch border4) Egypt showed they could fight and regained half of

Sinai


The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictCamp David Summit

When: September 1978 (finalized in April 1979)Who: Israeli President Begin, Egyptian President

Sadat, U.S. President CarterWhere: Camp David, Maryland (Presidential Retreat)Results: 1) Israel agreed to withdraw its armed forces from the Sinai

2) Evacuate civilians and restore it to Egypt3) normal diplomatic relations between Israel & Egypt 4) Israel gained free passage through the Suez Canal and

other nearby waterways ( Straits of Tiran)5) Egypt gained free passage between Egypt and Jordan

6) Israel also lost the Abu-Rudeis oil fields in western Sinai

their only long term commercially productive wells


Operation “Peace for Galilee”

When: June 1982Who: Israel vs. PLO in LebanonCauses: PLO attacks on Israeli

settlements along borderIsrael launches full-scale invasion of

Lebanon to destroy PLO bases


Operation “Peace for Galilee”Results:1) Israel reaches Beirut (capital) within a

week, by end of June has captured most of southern Lebanon and besieged PLO and Syrian forces

2) US intervenes to end siege in AugustIsrael agrees to withdraw provided PLO and Syrian forces do also

3) Sept. 15 – Lebanese Pres. Gemayel assassinated, Israel re-occupies Beirut and gives orders to “cleanse” Palestian Refugee Camps – hundreds are killed

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictOslo Accords

When: August - September 1993 Who: Israeli President Rabin, PLO Leader

Arafat

Where: Oslo NorwayResults:1) Israel agrees to recognize PLO2) PLO will renounce terrorism3) Agree to a 5-year plan of Israeli withdrawal of Gaza

and West Bank and self-governance by PLO in those areas

4) Creation of Palestinian National Authority (PNA)


What is the current status?

Sinai: part of Egypt since Camp David Summit 1978

Gaza: Israel has withdrawn, but threatens to intervene as Hamas continues to strike Israeli settlements across the border

Golan Heights: still needs to be resolved between Syria/Israel, but Israel considers it to “annexed”

West Bank: agreed to be shared with the PNA governing all Palestinians – Israel began construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier in 2000

Hamas (Arabic: حماس :acronym: Arabic ;حركةاالسالمية المقاومة or Harakat al-Muqawama ,حركة

al-Islamiyya or "Islamic Resistance Movement,"[1]) is a Palestinian Sunni Muslim militant organization


U.S. Involvement

1991 – US puts together a coalition of countries to protect Saudi Arabia from attack by Iraq – they had already invaded Kuwait

“DESERT SHIELD”DESERT SHIELD”

The operation to liberate Kuwait was called

“DESERT STORM”DESERT STORM”

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictU.S. Involvement

2001 – Terrorists attack the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictU.S. Involvement

2001 – Terrorists attack the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon

2003 – US invades Iraq for the second time

Mission: capture Iraqi President Saddam Hussein

Reasons:

1)Iraq supports terrorist activities

2)US govt. believes Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (WMD’s)

WMD’s: nuclear, biological, and chemical

The Middle East ConflictThe Middle East ConflictMideast Today- Iraq

In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq to prevent the continued production of weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. claimed that Iraq was supporting terrorism and that it was important to attack before Hussein got nuclear weapons. Ultimately, they wanted to remove Saddam Hussein from office.

The U.S. involvement with Iraq spans many decades. In 1990 Iraq invaded the neighboring country of Kuwait. They claimed Kuwait was part of their territory. They claimed that Kuwait was cross drilling and stealing their oil. Furthermore, they claimed that Kuwait was exceeding OPEC quotas driving down prices, hurting Iraq’s economy. The U.S. engaged in a military action called Operation Desert Shield to protect Saudi Arabia’s oil. Operation Desert Storm was a coalition of nations that aimed to drive Iraq out of Kuwait under UN direction. The coalition was very successful. Under a cease-fire, Iraq had to destroy all weapons of mass destruction and allow UN weapons inspectors to investigate. They were not to build weapons of mass destruction. They were limited with two no fly zones to protect the Kurds in the North and the Shiites in the South. Finally they were faced with punishments that limited their oil sales and limited their imports and exports to necessities.

Hussein kicked out the UN weapons inspectors in 1998, which prompted the U.S. to take action. In 2003, the U.S. wanted to invade. The U.S. had no major allies because nations were afraid that an invasion would further destabilize the Mideast. The U.S. has sent in over 200,000 troops and experienced over 3000 casualties. The war in Iraq has cost the U.S. between $30-50 billion. Now that the U.S. has ousted Hussein from office, it is unclear who will replace him and what should be done with the imprisoned dictator.

War on Terrorism

The U.S. is currently engaged in a so-called War on Terrorism. Terrorism is the act of violence for a political goal. One of the major terrorist groups in the Mideast is Hamas, which is a radical break off group of the PLO. They are involved in an intifada with the goal of driving Israel out of Gaza and the West Bank. As of 2003, the leader of the PLO was Yassar Arafat and the leader of Israel was Ariel Sharon. Neither of these men remains in office.

On September 11, 2001 terrorists attacked the Pentagon in New York City, the World Trade Center in Washington D.C. and aimed for other targets. Investigation found that Al Quida, led by Osama bin Laden was responsible for the attacks. Bin Laden, is a Saudi whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Al Quida is also responsible for the first attack on the WTC in 1993 and the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen. Since 2001, Al Quida has carried out many other attacks throughout the world.

In 1995, these terrorists called for a jihad or holy war against the U.S. They are against the U.S. because of our support of Israel and our continued presence in the Mideast. Furthermore, they are against the American capitalist system that has yielded our country great wealth. Since 2001, the U.S. has been engaged in a war on terrorism. In response, there has been tighter airport security and the government has tied to better organize itself to protect against terrorism. After the attacks, the President created a new Cabinet position for Homeland Security.


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The Middle East Conflict “A Troubled Past”. The Middle East Conflict What caused the conflict between the Israelis and the Arabs? Israel was created by