Transcript The Arab-Israeli Conflict

The Arab-Israeli Conflict
2000-PRESENT
People/Things to Know
Hamas: A radical Islamist political party and militant group. Currently controls the Gaza Strip. Its
charter calls for the “obliteration” of Israel and the killing of Jews.
Fatah: A secular Palestinian political party. Founded by Yasser Arafat.
Likud: The most powerful political party in Israel. Conservative, nationalist, very pro-military. Its
charter rejects the idea of a Palestinian state.
IDF: Israeli Defense Forces
Mahmoud Abbas: Leader of Fatah, the PLO and current president of the Palestinian Authority.
Benjamin Netanyahu: Leader of Likud and current Prime Minister of Israel.
Iron Dome: An Israeli defense system that knocks down rockets aimed for Israel.
Issues
How will the land be divided between Israel and a future Palestinian state?
Israeli settlements-Israelis are encouraged to move to the West Bank and build homes, on
territory that Palestinians believe is theirs.
Security-Israel is subject to frequent rocket attacks and suicide bombers by Hamas. Hamas
attempts to build underground tunnels to enter Israel for attacks.
Palestinian quality of life-In the name of security, Israel forces Palestinians to go through
checkpoints, blocks off certain roads, and destroys Palestinian homes and farms if they believe
tunnels are below. A barrier separates the West Bank from Israel and Gaza is blockaded by the
Israeli navy.
Proportionality-In most conflicts between Israel and Palestine, many more Palestinians are killed
than Israelis
Issues II
Water-Israel consumes most of the water resources for both countries.
Economics-Israel is a rich, prosperous country, while most Palestinians live in poverty.
Jerusalem-Who will control the city, particularly its holy sites in and around the Temple Mount?
Palestinian refugees-Will Palestinian refugees have the right to return to their former homes?
Emotions-How can decades of anger, resentment, and violence be overcome?
2000-2005 Second Intifada
Israel’s then-Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon,
made a visit to the Temple Mount and claimed
it for Israel forever
Palestinians began rioting, and the conflict
quickly escalated-many terrorist attacks and
attacks by the IDF
About 1000 Israelis and 5000 Palestinians
were killed
Results: Israel decides with withdraw from
Gaza, build a barrier around the West Bank
2006: The Rise of Hamas
In 2005, Israel decided to withdraw all troops
and settlements from Gaza.
The people of Gaza soon elected Hamas to
take Fatah’s place as the ruling party in Gaza
Hamas began launching daily rocket attacks
against Israel
2006 Second Lebanon War
Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, began
launching attacks against Israel.
Israel invaded southern Lebanon to stop the
attacks.
Hezbollah keeps its weapons in civilian areas,
forcing Israel to decide whether or not to
attack those areas-a tactic Hamas uses as well.
2007 Battle of Gaza
Hamas launched attacks against Fatah
throughout Gaza
Fatah members were attacked and
assassinated
Since then, there have been two Palestinian
governments-Hamas in Gaza, Fatah in the
West Bank
2007 Annapolis Conference
Israel, Fatah leaders, and other Middle Eastern
countries attend talks in Annapolis, Maryland
Both sides agree upon a “two state solution”
The majority of Israeli citizens support a two
state solution
2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead, 2012
Operation Pillar of Defense
Israel launches attacks into Gaza to stop the
firing of rockets against Israeli towns and
villages and to destroy Hamas weapons
Hamas launches attacks from densely
populated areas
Results: Many civilians are killed, and Gaza’s
economy and infrastructure is badly damaged
2013-2014 Peace Talks
Peace talks between the sides were led by
Secretary of State John Kerry
Promising developments collapsed when
Hamas and Fatah announced they were would
be working together
Hamas continues to call for the destruction of
Israel
2014 War
3 Israeli teens are kidnapped and murdered,
then a Palestinian teen was kidnapped and
murdered
Hamas launched 117 rockets, Israel launched
80 airstrikes on Gaza
2100 Palestinians killed, 70 Israelis are killed