Israel and its Neighbors

Objective 1: Explain the political boundaries of the countries in this area.Objective 2: Describe the roots of the conflict between Israel and its neighbors.Objective 3: Debate the human rights situation in the region

Political Boundaries

Physical Geography

Physical Features and Climate

• Part of the Fertile Cresent (good conditions for growing crops, part of Mesopotamia)

• Rain shadow (dry area that forms behind the highland) – creates semiarid and arid

conditions

Where do people live?

Religious Differences• Two major ethnic groups: Jews and Arabs• Arabs are a majority group everywhere except

Israel. What major languages are spoken in this area?

• Jews• Some have lived in Israel for thousands of years• Some have recently migrated to Israel, bringing new

customs and cultures.

• Arabs• Druze – follow religion that combines Islam with other

teachings• Alawites – follow a form of Islam similar to Shia.

Roots of Conflict

• After WW1 – mandated territory to European powers. Following the fall of which empire?– Palestine mandated to the U.K.

• Anti-Semitism (discrimination against Jews)• Zionism – create a Jewish state in Palestine,

due to historic connections to the region.• 1947 – UN partitioned Palestine into two

separate states. Rejected by Arabs. Israel declared independence in 1948.

Conflict• Arab-Israeli War 1948, causes Israel to gain

more territory.– Arabs gained control of West Bank and Gaza Strip

• Israel – Egypt war 1956• 1967 – Israel defeats Syria, Jordan, and Egypt

in the Six Day War. Israel gains control of West Bank, Sinai Peninsula, and Gaza Strip.– Israel returns Sinai to Egypt in 1979 Peace Accord

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict• Israelis and Palestinians see the

region as their homeland• Both claim Jerusalem as their

capital • Israeli settlements on the West

Bank and Gaza Strip have caused tension.– Increased terror attacks against Israel

• Intifada – campaign of violent resistance against Israeli control

Intifida

Early Peace?

• 1994 – Israel agreed to peace with the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization -Yasser Arafat)– Palestinian Authority to rule parts of West Bank

and Gaza Strip– Israel agreed to remove settlers from Gaza Strip

• PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist and renounced terrorism

• Second Intifada (2000 – 2005)

Further Conflict and Hope for Peace

• Israel built barriers to separate Arab and Jewish sectors. – Aided in security but made it more difficult for

Palestinians to access farmland.• 2006 – Hamas gains control of Palestinian

parliament. Goal of Hamas?– Began rocket attacks and Israeli reprisals – Violence is seen as an obstacle to peace