Israel and the Israel and the Middle EastMiddle East

World HistoryWorld History

Where is the Middle Where is the Middle East?East?

The Middle East is a The Middle East is a region just to the region just to the East of Africa and to East of Africa and to the South East of the South East of Europe.Europe.

It includes the It includes the “Cradle of “Cradle of Civilization” Civilization” including the ancient including the ancient civilizations of Sumer civilizations of Sumer and Mesopotamia.and Mesopotamia.

What Is So Special About What Is So Special About the Middle East?the Middle East?

The Middle East The Middle East contains vast oil contains vast oil resources commands resources commands strategic waterways strategic waterways including the Red Sea including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.and the Persian Gulf.

The Middle East is The Middle East is also home to the holy also home to the holy sites of three of the sites of three of the world’s five major world’s five major religions.religions.

The Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire Starting around 1300, the region was dominated Starting around 1300, the region was dominated

by an empire called the Ottoman Empire.by an empire called the Ottoman Empire. The Empire started to decline around 1600 or so The Empire started to decline around 1600 or so

and collapsed completely after World War I.and collapsed completely after World War I.

What Happened to the What Happened to the Middle East After World Middle East After World

War I?War I? Turkey became a free Turkey became a free

country after the war country after the war and modernized under and modernized under Mustapha Kemal, who Mustapha Kemal, who took the name Ataturk, took the name Ataturk, or father of the Turks.or father of the Turks.

The British and the The British and the French were given French were given mandates throughout mandates throughout the Middle East. the Middle East. These were areas that These were areas that they controlled.they controlled.

The Mandate of PalestineThe Mandate of Palestine Palestine was a very Palestine was a very

small piece of land, small piece of land, but it contained but it contained many of the holiest many of the holiest sites for three major sites for three major religions.religions.

Arabs who wanted Arabs who wanted their own country their own country and Zionists, or Jews and Zionists, or Jews who wanted a Jewish who wanted a Jewish homeland, homeland, increasingly clashed increasingly clashed in this area.in this area.

What is Zionism?What is Zionism? Beginning around Beginning around

1900, many Jews 1900, many Jews began to call for a began to call for a Jewish state. Jewish state. Theodor Herzl is Theodor Herzl is often called the often called the father of this father of this movement.movement.

For a thousand years, For a thousand years, there had been small there had been small Jewish settlements in Jewish settlements in Palestine.Palestine.

Zionism GrowsZionism Grows During the early During the early

1900’s, violent anti-1900’s, violent anti-Semitism against Semitism against Jews caused many to Jews caused many to leave their homes and leave their homes and move to Palestine.move to Palestine.

Millions of Jews fled Millions of Jews fled pogroms, or violent pogroms, or violent attacks against Jewish attacks against Jewish communities, in communities, in Russia.Russia.

The Balfour DeclarationThe Balfour Declaration During World War I, During World War I,

two conflicting sets of two conflicting sets of promises were made.promises were made.

The British created The British created the Balfour the Balfour Declaration which Declaration which supported a “national supported a “national home for the Jewish home for the Jewish people.”people.”

They also promised to They also promised to protect the non-Jewish protect the non-Jewish communities in communities in Palestine.Palestine.

The Jewish Population The Jewish Population GrowsGrows

In 1919, there were In 1919, there were 60,000 Jews in 60,000 Jews in Palestine.Palestine.

By 1936, this number By 1936, this number was 400,000.was 400,000.

Jewish organizations Jewish organizations began to purchase began to purchase considerable amounts of considerable amounts of land and some land and some Palestinians tried to stop Palestinians tried to stop this.this.

Violence and tensions Violence and tensions ensued.ensued.

The Response to the The Response to the HolocaustHolocaust

As we have discussed, As we have discussed, Jews had suffered Jews had suffered horrifically during the horrifically during the Holocaust.Holocaust.

Partly in response to Partly in response to this, the United Nations this, the United Nations created a Partition Plan.created a Partition Plan.

This created two states.This created two states. The Palestinians viewed The Palestinians viewed

this plan as illegitimate this plan as illegitimate and the surrounding and the surrounding Arab countries invaded Arab countries invaded Israel.Israel.

Wars Against IsraelWars Against Israel Surrounding Arab Surrounding Arab

Countries will attack Countries will attack Israel in 1947, 1956, Israel in 1947, 1956, 1967, and 1973.1967, and 1973.

Israel will win all of Israel will win all of these major conflicts.these major conflicts.

The first country to The first country to officially make peace officially make peace with Israel was Egypt with Israel was Egypt in 1979. Jordan in 1979. Jordan followed in 1994. followed in 1994.

Other Violence Against Other Violence Against IsraelIsrael

Beginning in the 1960’s, Beginning in the 1960’s, the Palestinian Liberation the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Organization (PLO) advocated the advocated the destruction of Israel.destruction of Israel.

They practiced terrorism They practiced terrorism against Israel, most against Israel, most famously killing all eleven famously killing all eleven of the Israeli athletes at of the Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in the Munich Olympics in 1972. 1972.

Israel responded Israel responded forcefully to these forcefully to these attacks, killing many attacks, killing many Palestinians.Palestinians.

Palestinian RefugeesPalestinian Refugees Hundreds of thousands Hundreds of thousands

of Palestinians still live of Palestinians still live in refugee camps inside in refugee camps inside and outside of Israel.and outside of Israel.

They have no homes They have no homes and hope to win a and hope to win a “right of return” to “right of return” to return to land that they return to land that they believe they are believe they are entitled to.entitled to.

This picture is Jenin This picture is Jenin refugee camp, which refugee camp, which was partially leveled by was partially leveled by Israel in 2002.Israel in 2002.

Violence TodayViolence Today The PLO became a political The PLO became a political

organization in 1993 and organization in 1993 and acknowledged Israel’s right acknowledged Israel’s right to exist.to exist.

Israel still faces violence Israel still faces violence from terrorist organizations from terrorist organizations like Hamas in Israel.like Hamas in Israel.

There are still a number of There are still a number of stumbling blocks to peace.stumbling blocks to peace.

If you have the solution to If you have the solution to these complex problems these complex problems including religion, politics, including religion, politics, land, economics, hard land, economics, hard feelings, war, and refugees, feelings, war, and refugees, you just might win the you just might win the Nobel Peace Prize.Nobel Peace Prize.