Arab-Israeli Conflict
The Begin Doctrine
Views about nuclear threat facing Israel "On no account shall we permit an enemy to develop weapons od mass destruction against the people of Israel" -Hinted at preserving nuclear monopoly
Leader of the United Arab Force in 1948
War of Independence/ Al-Nakba; invaded by 5 Arab nations, primarily led by King Abdullah of Jordan and the Arab Legion
Egypt-US relations under strain
-US did not respond in the way Egypt wanted to -Egypt secured arms deal from Eastern bloc -US did not cooperate on funding for the Aswan Dam -Egypt turned once again to Soviet Unions for funds -Nationalization of the Canal
Moses Hess
Founder of Labor Zionism, assimilated German Jew. Hess protested assimilation because it was not protection, being a nation among nations not ideal, move to Palestine for Protection
Lovers of the Zion
Movement of Immigration to Israel, included Moses Hess, Lilienblum and Pinsker. Pinsker wrote about emancipation and being free in their own country
The Lavon Affair
-1954 Defense Ministry operations with goals to undermine the increasingly cordial relations with Egypt -Bombs and fires at various public buildings in Cairo and Alexandria -Goal to create an anti-Egyptian sentiment in US when Nasser's gov was seeking US support for Suez Canal -Goal also to convince Britain their presence still needed in canal region so that Israel could assert influence -The Plot was uncovered and Egypt immediately terminated its contacts with the Jewish State -Immediate repercussions inside Israel -Lavon professed innocence- returned Ben Gurion to a position of leadership (Minister of Defense)
Sinai Suez War
-1956 -Elevated the status of Nasser to a comfortable and confident position to challenge Israel power until 1967 -Responded to tensions with Western countries by nationalizing the Suez Canal Company (French Company- nationalized by Nasser) -Nationalization: 1956 -Source of revenue for new Egyptian government -France, Britain and Israel coordinate efforts -Israel attack first on Sinai- F and GB veto UN resolutions -France and GB move into to control canal -France and GB Controlled the canal by beginning of November -Israel controlled land overlooking Strait of Tiran and Gaza -UN took up resolutions
Palestine Liberation Organization
-Creation of Arab States (1964) -Actually attempted to restrain Guerrillas to prevent guerrillas from drawing Arab states into War -Constitution: General Principles of Fundamental Law -Not important in its first 3 years of existence, but would be later -Passive orientation led to criticism
Armistice Agreements
-Egypt: Egpyt in Gaza, Israel Negev -Jordan: Partition Jerusalem and Israel goes along with annexation plans -Syria: Demilitarized area of bored and withdrawal of syrian forces from forward positions -None of these evolved to permanent peace treaty
Internal Factors Challenging Establishment of Palestinian Identity (19th & 20th century)
-Fragmented Social Structure: Religious/Family/ Social/Rural -Lack of State Mechanism: Education, currency, flag, history, all things that make you feel like you're part of a nation
Critics of Involvement in Lebanon War of 1982
-In late June, Peace Now organized a rally that drew over 100,000 Israelis -Public Opinion had shifted -Critics had two points 1. Costs: Israeli causalities (600 by this time) extensive Lebanese and Palestinians casualties and damage increasing international isolation 2. Goal was not feasible: Large Syrian force would remain, PLO would remain in the north, 400,000 Palestinians would continue living in Palestine
Cultural Zionism
-Leader: Ahad Ha'am -Cultural emphasis on nation building with emphasis on religion -Jewish state, not state for Jews -Advocated for Hebrew
The Hope-Simpson Commission
-No land available for Jewish immigrants and there was a displacement problem as a result of immigration; suggested tighter immigration regulation
The Shaw Commission
-Result of 1929 Violence (Wailing Wall Riots) -Concluded that the Arab attacks were spontaneous attacks based on beliefs of injustice and discontent with landlessness and a desire for statehood
Sadat Visits Jerusalem
-Sadat visited Knesset on 19 of November 1977 -December 25 1977 Begin visited Ismailiyya -But Israel kept building settlements in Sinai
The Yom Kippur War or War of 1973
-Surprise Attack on Israel by Egypt and Syria -6 October 1973: Both Yom Kippur and Ramadan -Attack staged from Sinai and Golan Heights -Egypt and Syria regained lost territory easily -United Nations Resolution 338 adopted, based on 242 -Two separate disengagement agreements with Egypt and Syria -Political victory for Sadat -Took initiative and acted on this -Regarded as an end to Arab defeatism -Israel politicians were blamed for perceived weakness -First time Israel incurred causality to this level -Sadat's Preparation -Expelled Soviet advisors and soldiers in 1972 -Wanted to break away from Nasser's Policy, gave up Arab Socialism and started disassociating Egypt from USSR -Wanted to gain US support and favor: doesn't work until after -Declared that Syria would accept UN 242 in return for Israeli withdrawal of occupied territory -He did not want to defeat Israel, but rather to convince them that they were not invincible -The oil embargo started at the same time as the war, so the US's hands were tied
Arab Arguments Against Zionism
1. Economic Competition 2.Resentment of Foreign Citizenship instead of Ottoman Subjects 3. Undermine Palestinian Character 4. No attempt of Jews to integrate
Three Reasons for the Rise of Modern Zionism
1. Failure to assimilate 2. Increased Anti-Semitism 3. Increased Nationalism of all of Society
Important Zionist Organizations
1. Haganah, later developed into Israeli Army 2. Histradut: Labor Union and turned into National Trade Fund 3. Education 4. Zionist Organization (1929) similar to congress 5. Jewish Agency
Three Promises Made by British During World War 1
1. Husayan McMahon Agreement (1915): Arab revolt in return for emancipation 2. Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916) with French dividing Middle East into zones of influence 3. Balfour Declaration (1917): Sympathy to Jewish aspirations in Palestine, strengthened political status of Zionist movement
Factors Preventing Zionist from Addressing Arab Question Sooner
1. Institutional Weakness 2. Desire to deny legitimacy 3. Arab problem of secondary importance 4. Superiority Complex: arabs would want to be adsorbed into their society
Factors Limiting Growth of Anti-Zionism
1. Institutional Weakness 2.Praise for Jewish Agricultural Achievements 3. Not always most pressing Issue 4. Notables did not all oppose
Zionist Political Ideologies
1. Labor: Mapai 2. Religious: Mizrahi and Agudate Yisrael 3. Center/Right: General Zionists & Revisionists
Factors Leading to War of 1956
1. Lavon Affair 2. Suez Canal 3. Gaza Strip Palestinian Guerrillas were undertaking attacks inside Israel -Mostly aimed at sabotaging infrastructure in Israel -Not consistent throughout the period- ups and downs -Israel government adopted policy of retaliation to attacks -Disproportionate retaliation -Blockage of Strait of Tiran (1955)
Two Events that Seals Israel's Fate to War
1. Moshe Dayan made minister of Defense 2. National Unity Government
Elements of Palestinian Identity Waning After WWI
1. Ottomanism: obsolete because of defeat of Ottoman empire 2. Religious Affiliation: move towards secularism
Key Issues Following the War of 1948
1. Refugees: Israel claims that Arabs started war so they are not responsible to UN rules of compensated refugees 2. Borders
Factors Contributing to Establishment of Palestinian Identity
1. Religious Attachment 2. Ottoman Administrative Boundaries 3. Ambitions and Aspirations of European Powers -All of these proceeded Zionism, identity not merely a reaction to zionism
Significance of Young Turk Rebellion
1908 Seen as the beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict Explicit Anti-Zionism began in 1908-1914
British Mandate for Palestine
1923: Britain control of legislation, foreign policy and essentially a colony. Based on balfour declaration. Severed Jordan and Palestine permanently
Peel Commission
1936-1937 British inquiry into the the unrest (Great Arab Revolt) following the British Mandate in Palestine Put together by the British -Palestinian grievances were genuine -Recommended Partition -Small Jewish state next to larger Palestinian State -Based on population -Suggested union with Jordan -Palestinians rejected, Zionists accepted -This commission didn't go anywhere
Great Arab Revolt
1936-1939 In response to British Mandate In Palestine First organization against the British, produced no tangible results
Bat Galim
1954-Jerusalem tested Egyptians intentions in Suez Canal by sending the ship -Seized by the Egyptian authorities -Pushed Egypt and Israel further along the road toward confrontation
Events Leading Up to 1967 War
1966 IDF invaded West Bank after Syria-Egyptian mutual defense pact -April 7 1967 Israel shot down Syrian MIG aircrafts -Soviet Union Informed Egypt and Syria of confirmed Israeli presence on borders -UNEF withdrawal form Sinai by Nasser -Nasser Closed off Strait of Tiran -Egypt and Jordan Mutual Defense Pact
What is "land for peace"?
United Nations Resolution 242 idea proposed by Lord Caradon. The resolution was based on this framework and the idea of "conservative ambiguity"
Six Days War
1967 June 5-11 -Major Changes in Territorial Status Quo 1. Israel captured Sinai Peninsula entirely and Suez Canal 2. Israel captured Strait of Tiran 3. Gaza Strip entirely controlled and West Bank -Significant Palestinian refugees incorporated into Israeli occupation 4. East Jerusalem controlled by Israel -Jerusalem reunified 5. Golan Heights- -Mountains, critical advantage to dominant lowlands in Israel, previously made it easy for Syria to challenge Israel from the North
Define "creating facts"
1977 Major Event that was Likud's policy of irreversibility by creating a vast network of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. This was a deliberate transformation of demographic reality in the territories
Camp David Accords
1978 -Discussion lasted 12 days and two agreements were reached 1. Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty Between Egypt and Israel -Peace treaty within three months -Withdrawal from Sinai within three years -Formal peace treaty was signed March 26 1979 -Early 1980 Ambassador exchange -Egypt insisted that the second agreement be tied to the first, but Israel successfully avoided that 2. Framework for Peace in the Middle East -Broad guidelines, deferred decisions, room for interpretations, everything was open-ended -No mention of East Jerusalem -Sadat was charged with abandoning Palestinian cause for Sinai -Full autonomy for West Bank and Gaza -5 year transition period -Self-governing authority -Israel argued that it was not bound by this and increased settlement
Operation Babylon
1981 IAF attack on the Iraqi nuclear plant at Osirak -The attacked lasted two minutes -Helped Likud win generate election against heavy odds three weeks later -Came under criticism -Menachem Begin: Nuclear weapons in hands of Iraq, drew parallels to Holocaust and the destruction of the State of Israel -All ministers agreed that Iraq should not have nuclear weapons, but disagreed on the means to achieve that -Debate going on while dealing with Egypt negotiations -Begin said they had to choose between two evils: bomb Iraq and risk hostile relations with Egypt and rest of Arab world, or sit and allow Iraq to have weapons -Inaction risks outweighed that of action according to Begin -Action would deter other Arab countries with nuclear ambitions
Habib Agreement
1981 Negotiated Peace to allow PLO to evacuate besiege Beirut and guaranteed US protection
Kahan Commission
1982 -Established to inquire into Israel's role in the massacre -Determined that Israeli officials had no direct involvement -Several were indirectly involved -Complicity: they allowed the Phalangists to enter the camps and did not take preventative measure when they could have -International Commissions: declared that Israel failed to uphold its obligations as an occupying power, per the Geneva Conventions
Operation Peace for Galilee
1982 Invade Lebanon 3 days after assassination attempt on Shlomo Argov blaming PLO
In what year was the Second Temple in Jerusalem destroyed?
A.D 70 NOT SURE
Labor Zionism
Aaron David Gordon, Ben-Gurion -Jewish commitment to labor on their own land -"We must do all the work from the least strenuous, clear nest and most sophisticated, to the dirtiest and most difficult, only then will we have a culture of our own" -Socialist: Ben-Gurion
Who established Cultural Zionism?
Ahad Ha'am also known as Asher Ginsberg.
Deir Yassin
April 6 1948 Massacre by Irgun and Stern Gangs. 254 civilians killed despite the fact that a non-aggression pact was signed. Israel claimed to have warned the town before and justified their actions by saying that PLO militants were hiding in the village. Origin of the Palestinian Refugee problem
What is Arab Government of All of Palestine?
Arab League established in 1948, in 1959 merged to United Arab Republic
Lord Moyne
Assassinated in 1944 by Stern Group (run by Begin) in Cairo -Contributed to deteriorating relations with GB
A national Jewish Homelands was first recognized internationally by which document?
Balfour Declaration
Who is Bashir Gemayel?
Bashir Gemayel was the chosen president (by Ariel Sharon) of the new political order in Lebanon following the civil war and Israeli invasion in the 1980's He was later assassinated
Levi Eshkol
Became Prime Minister when Ben-Gurion resigned in 1961. Moderate, restrained and contrasted Ben-Gurion. People concerned about ability to lead during war
*Palestinian Autonomy Plan
Begin 1977
Patria
Blown up in1940 as a result of British interception of Jewish immigrant ship, Hagana blew up to keep immigrants but ended up killing
the Yishuv
Body of Jewish residents in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel. Used 1880-1948
UN Resolution 338
Ceasefire of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Proposed by US and Soviet, calls parties to implement UN Resolution 242
Practical Zionism
Chaim Weizmann -Socialist Ideas -Immediate Jewish Settlement with recognition of importance of European backing
first prime minister of Israel
David Ben-Gurion
Haganah
Developed from the Socialist Wing of Zionism to later be the Israeli Army
Fedayeen
Egyptian organized commando groups who attack Israel from the Gaza Strip
UN Partition Plan of 1947
Ended British Mandate, made two states, unified by economic union and international guidance of Jerusalem. 43% of land allocated to Arabs (big change from PEEL commission) and 57% allocated to Jews
What was the primary responsibility of the Jewish Agency in the interwar period?
Establish in 1929 during Palestine Mandate and was primarily responsible for immigration and the "aliyah" and absorption of Jews into Israel. Responsible for settlements and foundation of State of Israel
Plan D
Established by Hagan as a more offensive route following the defeat of guerillas. It had goals of meeting and exceeding allocated territory as well as clearing the interior of country from Palestinian hostiles and capturing the religious cities
Palestinian peasants called
Fallaheen
Theodor Herzl
Father of Modern Political Zionism. He was an assimilated Jew who converted to Zionism as a result of the Dreyfus Affair. He elevated the status of Jewish plight to a main issue in Europe and articulated problems and solutions well
Theodor Herzl
Father of Modern Zionism: Political Zionism -Assimilation never works -Didnt recognize Arabs as a state -Contributions: Elevated status of Jewish plight to main issue in europe, and articulated problems and solutions well
Moshe Sharett
Foreign and Prime Minister Criticized for being too moderate
UN Resolution to Suez Sinai War
France GB and Israel to remove forces -Placement of UN forces in Suez Canal region, Nasser accepted -Israel refused to remove its forces out of the areas it occupied in 1956, 1957 it moved out of Sinai Peninsula, accept for small piece of territory and land in Gaza -UN suggested that although they may have legitimate concerns, their actions were uncalled for and disproportionate to Israeli concerns: Israel perceived as an aggressor -Israel still unwilling to comply- US pressure broke the Israel insistence. -Unofficial memo to Israel by US exerting pressure -Israel should also have access to passage through Strait of Tiran, there was no mention of the Suez Canal, this means implicit recognition of Egyptian nationalization of the canal
Who is the officer to lead Egypt to complete independence in 1954?
Gamul Abdul Nasser emerged as dominant leader during the period of 1952-1954 when the "Free Officers" governed Egypt after the Coup of Egyptian Independence. Nasser was the first native Egyptian to exercised sustained uncontested leadership in 2000 years
Jewish Enlightenment
HASKALAH Jewish Enlightenment - intellectual + cultural development -Moses Mendelsohn -Assimilation + Integration -Began in Germany in late 18th -Assimilation- info (long quote on page 27) -Reform Judaism: Haskalah Movement -Remove contradictions between science and religion -Muskilim: Plural noun for people following Haskalah
Discuss Legitimacy of Israel as a State and the two arguments from the Arab side
Israel is created illegally and therefore illegitimate to Arabs -Cited the Balfour Declaration calls for protection from infringements upon the rights of the inhabitants at the time and actions since 1948 have violated this -UN Partition Plan: United Nations exceeded its authority in making this plan -Self-determination -International Law suggests that a conqueror state does not in any way acquire sovereign rights in the area, but exercises only a temporary authority on a trustee basis -Israel cannot annex them and cannot make them part of their territory- comes to light later when Jews annex Jerusalem
Who is al-Hajj Amin al-Husayni?
Muslim leader in Mandatory Palestine "Mufti" of Jerusalem 1921-1937 Opposed Jewish Immigration and pushed for establishment of pan-arab federation or state. Aligned with Axis powers
What is Operation Peace for Galilee?
June 6 Invasion of Lebanon on behalf of the Maronite Christians to stomp out the PLO and move in 40 kilometers. Claimed there was no plan to clash with Syria, but they did. Cut off the Beirut Damascus Highway and eventually progressed towards Beirut. Original public support, followed by immense protest. The casus belli was the attempted assassination of Shlomo Argov, followed by an inaccurate accusation of the PLO. Ariel Sharon played a large aggressive role in this Operation
Who was King Abdullah? What role did he play in the conflict and who did he collaborate with?
King of Jordan, worked with Golda Meir and headed the Arab legion during the War of Independence/Al Nakba. Collaborated for annexation in return for lack of opposition to Israel. Abdullah did not officially agree to this but his unofficial loyalty was instrumental in the success of Israel at this time and the Armistice agreements were parallel to the original agreements with Meir
Israeli parliament
Knesset established in 1921 with power to levy taxes
Allon Plan
Labor Party Policy based on Allon Plan: focused on temporary holdings of land. Occupations seen as necessary for border security but no long term interested in these territories because of the demographic problem they would bring (large population of arabs would need equal citizenship) This plan contrasted the Likud's Party Policy int he Coming Years
Yasir Arafat
Leader of Fatah which was a native Palestinian organization that was militant and increased tensions in 1967 through raids on Israel through Jordan
Why did the Arabs refer to May 14, 1948 as Al Naqba, the catastrophe?
May 14 1948 was the day that Israel declared independence, the following day 5 Arab nations declared war on Israel and Israel proceeded from 55-79%
Syria and Egypt Relations
Mutual Defense Pact in 1967 -Nasser's motivations were to contain the behavior of Syria -Opinions in Jerusalem: Fear and Concerns -Agreement would encourage, rather than temper Syria -Also caused Israel to think twice before retaliating against Syrian provocations -*Gave the more aggressive and irresponsible the ability to determine the behavior of the other military stronger partner
Tanzimat Reforms
Nationalist movement of reform in the Ottoman empire leading up to 1876. Included reforms to legal system, education and infrastructure of society. It strengthened Ottoman central authority and the scope of government
United Nations Resolution 242
November 1967 in the aftermath of the Six Days war. Sponsored by Lord Caradon. Land for peace framework, conservative ambiguity -Lord Caradon: "Conservative Ambiguity" -Achieved nothing and had no legal power -Didn't set a timeline, ambiguous -Didn't set out a way to fulfill goals of resolution -Dramatically different interpretations -Israel was strongly opposed to specifications of land to withdraw from -Arabs were forced to accept the resolution, because alternative was no resolution at all -ARTICLES -Inadmissibility to acquire territory by war -Need for just and lasting peace -Withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied in recent conflict -Respect for sovereignty, territorial authority and political independence -Guaranteed freedom of navigation through international waterways -Just settlement to refugee problem -Guarantee of territorial inviolability and political independence -Two Issues left unaddressed 1. Extent of Israeli withdrawal was vague and unclear 2. Palestinian issue was totally missing from UN 242 with the exception of the refugee issue -No mention of Palestinian Political Rights -Palestinians still not primary actor in Arab conflict at this time -Territories of Arab countries were at stake now and they were becoming integral part of the Arab-Israeli conflict: changes the dynamic for the future
Origins of Palestinian Refugee Problem
PLAN D and Deir Yassin, some Arabs even say that this was a deliberate campaign of intimidation and terror on behalf of the state of Israel
What is the name of the organization established in 1964 by the Arab League to represent the Palestinian cause?
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
What is the Phalange Party?
Party supported by Maronite Christians in Lebanon and played a major role in Lebanese Civil War. Close relationship and collaboration with Israel and participated in the Sabra and Shatila Massacres on September 18 1982
Mapai
Political Organization that favors Labor Zionism. Led by David Ben-Gurion and committed to labor rights
Who is Menachem Begin?
Prime Minister of Likud Party elected in 1977. Policies aimed at permanent retention of of territories and more aggressive with Arab neighbors. Begin participated in peace talks with Egypt (Sadat) and the Camp David Accords. He also declared the "Begin Doctrine" against Nuclear prolificaiton in the Middle East and participated in operations in Lebanon, annexation of Golan Heights,
Arab League Summit at Khartorum
Response to Six-Day War. "3-No's" No peace, no recognition, no negotiation with Israel
Ze'ev Jabotinsky
Revisionist Zionism: socialist ideas of immediate settlement in Jewish Palestine and does not acknowledge Arab sovereignty. Territorial Maximalists calling for immediate Jewish Independence, statehood and majority.
Summit at Ismailia
Sadat + Begin 1977 (Begin in Egypt) Nothing accomplished
Sabra and Shatila
September 18th 1982 Phalangist Party massacred civilians in refugee camps
What major event helped raise popularity of Nasser in Arab world?
Suez Sinai War
Ba'ath party
Syrian Arab Socialist Party that unified with Nasser's Egypt due to similarities to form the United Arab Republic in 1958. The Ba'ath party was increasingly anti-Semitic and ended up dissolving the UAR after a coup in 1961 which was a result of Syrian frustration with the overall support of Nasser in the Arab world
Fatah
The Palestinian National Movement: Guerrillas -Fully crystalized in 1962 -Played stronger role leading up to 1967 than PLO -Stimulus from the dissolution of the UAR which lead them to conclude that the Arab states were unprepared to contribute meaningfully -Early operations scope and effectiveness was limited -*Did not believe it would inflict major damage on Arab state, but did hope to provoke retaliatory strikes to which the Arab governments would in turn be forced to respond -Headquarters in Syria, launched attacks at Syrian Border -By themselves the attacks had limited impact on Israel, but reinforced occasionally by Syria and steady barrage of propaganda from Damascus contributed to continued attitude of uncertainty in the Jewish State
Which international document represents the UN's official stance on the 1967 War?
United Nations Resolution 242
Revisionist Zionism
Ze'ev Jabotinsky Important Features: Opposed divided states, called for immediate political sovereignty -Iron Wall: Jewish State will be secure behind a a wall of Jewish Military might -Did not see Arabs as another state -"The bride is beautiful, but she's married to another man"
Zionism. Define
Zionism is the political movement to re-establish a Jewish homeland in Israel by creating a majority and achieving independence and statehood. It is was started in 1897 by Theodor Herzl
