Middle East Time Lineà Class Notes
1947 UN Partition Plan à Israel is created
· WHO: UN, Israel, Palestine
· WHY: European guilt over the Holocaust
· WHAT: Creates an independent Palestine and an independent Israel
May 14, 1948: Birth of Israel: Israel officially becomes a nation
May 15, 1948: War of Independence
· WHO: Israel vs. Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
· WHY: Arab resentment that the Jews were only 34% of the population but they received 55% of the land
· WHAT: Israel won and took over 18% more of the land that was set aside for a Palestinian nation
1956 Suez Canal Crisis
· WHO: Egypt and Israel
· WHY: US & Soviet Union agree to condemn Israel, Israel withdraws due to international pressure.
· WHAT: Israel is pressured to return control of the canal to Egypt by both the U.S. and Soviet Unition
1967 Six Day War
· WHO: Israel vs. Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Syria
· WHY: Arab countries received tanks & aircraft from the Soviet Union; they felt strong enough to invade.
· WHAT: Israel launches a pre-emptive strike and destroys the Arab airforce. Israel quickly wins the ground war. Israel occupies the old city of Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Palestinans were left without a nation and under Israeli occupation.
1973 Yom Kippur War
§ WHO: Egypt and the Arab nations launch a surprise attack on Israel. Yom Kippur is an important holiday in Judaism.
§ WHY: re-claim land that was lost during the 1967 6 Day War
§ WHAT: Arabs regained some territory that was lost in 1967. HOWEVER Israel launched a counterattack & regained lost territory. NOTHING really gained or lost except lives.
1978 Camp David Accords
§ WHO: between Egypt & Israel
§ Sadat from Egypt and Begin from Israel
§ WHY: create a lasting peace
§ WHAT: Egypt recognizes Israel as a nation AND Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula. A lasting peace. Seen as a success!!!
§ Anwar Sadat is assassinated by his own people.
1993 Oslo Peace Agreement
§ WHO: PLO leader-Yasir Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister-Yitzak Rabin, Israeli Foregin Minister-Shimon Peres
§ WHAT: Palestinians are to gain self-rule of Gaza Strip & West Bank
§ WHY: Terrorism continues & agreement fails. Rabin is also assassinated by his own people.
2003-2005 Road Map
§ WHO: created by President George Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and head of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmoud Abbas
§ WHAT: Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip during summer of 2005. Israel does not withdraw its settlements from the West Bank.
§ WHY: Palestinians stop terrorism
TODAY: Violence still exists in the West Bank where there are many Jewish settlements. As of March, 2011 violence is again on the rise between the Israeli’s and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Recent bombings and attacks have led to continued violence. Jerusalem just experienced its first bombing since 2004 on March 23, 2011.
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