history
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Even though Israel has only been a state for 66 years its history has been categorized by a constant tug-a-war between Arabs and Israelis. On May 14, 1948 the head of the Jewish Agency proclaimed Israel’s establishment, and U.S. President Truman recognized Israel as a state. Almost immediately after the announcement the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 started. The UN’s partition resolution stated that Great Britain’s former mandate over Palestine would be divided into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem being under international control by the UN. Arabs felt that this agreement favored the Jews, and they also felt it was unfair to the Arabs who would remain in Jewish territory under the partition. As a result they refused to recognize the resolution which sparked conflict between the two groups. The Arabs’ goal was to block the partition and prevent the establishment of a Jewish state, while the goal of the Jews was to gain control over the territory allotted to them. Eventually armistice agreements were created in February 1949. Although there was a ceasefire, tensions were still high. In 1956 Israel drew up a secret agreement with Britain and France to invade Egypt and remove the Egyptian blockade on their Eilat port while gaining control of the Suez Canal. However, pressure from the US and the Soviet Union forced France and Britain to back out, so Israel had to pull back as well. Although this Sinai Campaign backfired on the Israelis, it showed that Israel’s army was strong, and that they weren’t afraid to resort to military tactics. The Sinai Campaign only increased tensions, and Israel spent the next ten years building up its air force. In 1967 Egypt asked UN forces to leave Sinai, he sent his own forces into the region, blockaded port Eilat again, and called for Arab action against Israel. Israel launched its now formidable air force and in six days had taken control of Sinai, Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and Jerusalem. This led to the settlement of these territories despite the Security Council’s resolution that called for Israel to withdraw from these newly acquired territories. After the Six-Day war conflict was bubbling and in 1973 it boiled over once again. Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated attack Yom Kippur, which happens to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar (the Day of Atonement). Egypt attacked across the Suez Canal, but Israeli forces were able to cross to the west of the canal and a ceasefire was agreed upon. At the same time the Syrians attacked Golan Heights, but they were forced back by the Israelis. Israel was caught by surprise with these attacks, but they were still able to hold their acquired territory, and following this October War Egypt and Israel decided they had a basis for making peace. Following the Egyptian President’s visit to Jerusalem talks began between Israel and Egypt of peace. They culminated in a treaty in 1979 which gave Sinai back to Egypt, and Egypt in turn agreed to recognize Israel. While it seems like a small feat, Israel had now secured at least one of its borders, even if the peace was an uneasy one. With this one border settled the focus could turn to the West Bank and Gaza where there was still unrest as a result of the Six-Day War. Open revolt broke out in 1987 which was known as the First Intifada. Unarmed Palestinians threw stones and rocks at Israeli troops. This Intifada brought back a quote by Israel’s first Prime Minister, who in 1938 said “A people which fights against the usurpation of its land will not tire so easily” (1987: First Intifada, 2008). These events rallied the Palestinian people, but in in 1993 the Palestinian National Council agreed to stop terrorism and start an agreement with Israel. They called for Israel to withdraw from the territory captured in the 6-Day War. This led to the Oslo Agreement, which was a declaration of principles that stated that there would be a five year transitional period in which Israeli forces would withdraw from occupied territories and a Palestinian Authority would be set up. Israeli withdrawals began, but the agreement was denounced by many Israelis and Palestinians, which in turn caused the agreement not to take hold. Hamas, an Islamic militant group led the Palestinians’ opposition with suicide bombers that killed dozens of Israelis. Israel’s counter-attacks in turn killed dozens of Palestinians. By 2000 the Second Intifada was in full swing and Israel reoccupied the West Bank. Due to this escalating violence, the new Prime Minister of Israel decided to leave the Gaza strip, and built a wall and fence to defend Israel against suicide bombers. While this did separate the two regions it led to a power struggle between the secular Palestinian Authority and Hamas, in which Hamas won. The aftermath of Hamas’ victory over the Palestinian Authority has led to increased violence in the Middle East that is still a problem today.
Citations
History Citations:
Image Citations:
Good, F. (2012, August 22). Israel's History- A Picture A Day. Retrieved August 29, 2014, from http://www.think-israel.org/jul12pix/hebron.titlepage.jpg
History Citations:
- 1948: The State of Israel is founded. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7381315.stm
- 1956: The Sinai campaign. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7377716.stm
- 1967: The Six-Day War. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7381322.stm
- 1973: October War. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7381358.stm
- 1977-1979: Egyptian-Israeli peace. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7381362.stm
- 1987: First Intifada. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7381369.stm
- 1993 Oslo agreement. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7385301.stm
- 2000: Second intifada. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7381378.stm
- 2005: Gaza withdrawal. (2008, June 5). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7381383.stm
Image Citations:
Good, F. (2012, August 22). Israel's History- A Picture A Day. Retrieved August 29, 2014, from http://www.think-israel.org/jul12pix/hebron.titlepage.jpg