Arab-israeli

conflict
1948-1996
● War and peace, including:
– causes, course and consequences of the 1967 (Six Day) War
– creation, aims, methods and role of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) 1964–1974
– causes, course and consequences of the 1973 (Yom Kippur) War, including the Camp David
Treaty
– role and objectives of the superpowers in relation to events in the Middle East
● The Occupied Territories and Lebanon, including:
– attitudes and policies of the Israeli Labour and Likud parties towards the Occupied Territories
– rise and significance of the Israeli settler movement in the Occupied Territories
– reasons for the Israeli invasions of Lebanon in 1978 and 1982
– the significance of the war for Israel and the Palestinians
● The peace process, including:
– the Intifada 1987–1994: Palestinian resistance and Israeli response
– successes and setbacks in the peace process 1987–1996
– support and opposition for the peace process among Israelis and Palestinians
– significance of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the election of Netanyahu in 1996
Arab Israeli Wars 1950 to 1970
● Despite the Armistice Agreements signed in 1949 an official state of war continued
between Israel and Arab neighbours.
● Full scale war erupted in 1956 and 1967.
● Regional and international factors also contributed to the conflict.
● Inter-Arab state rivalry specially just before the 1967 Arab Israeli war also played a part
in the continuation of the conflict.
● The liberation of Palestine was going to happen through Arab Unity, however the defeat
of the Arabs in the 1967 war left Palestinians worse off as Israel came to occupy the
Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Causes, course and consequences of the 1967 (Six Day) War

Causes:
● By the early 1960s friction between Arab states and Israel was increasing
● The cause of a continual arms race, fedayeen raids into Israel from Jordan and Syria
and Israeli counter attacks.
● Disputes over the water supply to Israel’s Lake Kinneret also called the Sea of Galilee.
● By the mid-1960s Palestinian Federation groups sponsored by Syria increase the
attacks against Israeli civilians
● Syria’s intention was that the raids would bolster its pan-Arab leadership credentials
● From 1965 the Syrian government assisted the fedayeen to carry out raids into Israel
from bases in Lebanon Jordan.
● Israeli and Syrian tensions were high because of the raids
● Egypt and Syria signed a defense agreement in November 1966 under which an attack
on one state would be considered an attack on the other
● So if Syria, because of its support of Palestinian fedayeen terrorists suffered an Israeli
counter attack Egypt would be bound by the treaty to commence hostilities against Israel
● In April 1967 border conflict between Israel and Syria increased when Syria’s Air Force
challenged Israeli fighter planes: 6 Syrian fighter planes were shot down.
● Syria was humiliated, and blamed Egypt and Nasser for not honouring the terms of the
Egyptian-Syrian treaty and challenged Nasser’s leadership of the pan Arab movement
● Saudis and Jordanians also criticised Nasser for being soft on Israel.
● Syria continued to sponsor daily Palestinian raids and attacks on Israeli citizens
● Tensions increased on 13 May when Soviets falsely informed Egypt that Israel had
stationed 30,000 troops and 2,000 heavy artillery on its Syrian border.
Countdown to War
● On 14 May two Egyptian divisions moved into the Sinai Peninsula.
● Israel did not react thinking it was a gesture by Nasser to enhance his reputation in the
Arab world.
 ● Egypt’s build up rapidly increased to about 100,000 soldiers.
● On 17 May Naser demanded that the UN withdraw its UNEF from Sinai. UNEF fully
complied.
● On 22 May Nasser ordered the Navy to blockade the straights cutting of the Gulf of
Aqaba and blockading Eilat.
● This action recreated what occurred before the 1956 war and was an act of aggression
under international law.
● Nasser had planned an air attack against Israel but called it off at the last minute.
The Arab Mutual Defense treaty
● Until May 1967 Nasser constantly denounced King Hussein as a puppet of the British.
● King Hussein thought Nasser was a megalomaniac.
● According to King Hussein Nasser during the mutual defence treaty told him that he
would not be noticed doing this deal.
● So according to King Hussein “if any troop as far as I am concerned came into Jordan
we will shoot them” this was due to the mutual defence treaty signed by King Hussein to
help out against ISRAEL.
● With war looking inevitable Hussein decided to suggest to Nasser the creation of the
Egyptian-Jordanian Mutual Defence Treaty.
● The Treaty called for Jordan’s forces to be placed under the command of Egyptian
General Abdul Moneim Riad.
● Iraq also signed the pact.
Israel’s response
● Israel soon realised that the international community was not going to stop the blockade
and the Israeli war cabinet decided to use military force before the Arab forces could fully
mobilise.
● According General Narkiss Israeli commander says when they had experienced the
Arabs attacking them from all angles “ when people spoke their was a feeling, we are
surrounded, we are surrounded” which means that they were panicking after they were
outnumbered.
● As some attacked from the north which were the Syrian, the Jordanian attacked from the
right side and the Egyptians attacked from the south.
● Israel stayed mobilised for weeks even there supermarkets.
● Israel decided not to go in the war alone.
● The wanted to attack because Israel and America were making deals
● According to General Weizmann head of operations “why don’t you attack you had the
best attack since king David” encouraging them to attack the Arabs because it was there
only choice.
● According to Walt Rostov, the Americans were not planning to make a peace deal with
Egyptians and that they would get help.
● So they weren’t expecting international help as well.
course
● In the morning of June 5 1967 Israel launched air strikes against Egyptian air bases.
● According to General Noufal, “they had noticed the signal” of the Israeli air forces.
 ● This allowed them to attack perfectly as according ran pekor it was a perfect opportunity
to attack.
● This showed it as General Noufal confirms this, according to him the Israel’s were
attacking from all angles of the air forces
● Israel’s ground troops moved west into the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip.
● Syria, Jordan and Iraq launched air attacks against Israeli cities and Jordanian gunners
directed fire at targets on the Israeli side of the Jerusalem border.
● By end of first day Israel had destroyed most of the Egyptian and Jordanian air forces
and two thirds of the Syrian air force.
● After the third day Egyptian forces were defeated and Israel occupied the entire area up
to the Suez Canal.
● By 7 June Jordanian forces were also defeated and Israel had captured all East
Jerusalem, and most of the West bank.
● At least 10,000 Arabs had been killed and thousands more were taken prisoners.
● On June 11 the UN declared a cease fire but Israel had already captured large areas of
Arab territory including the entire Egyptian Sinai, Syria’s Golan Heights and most
significantly what remained of Arab Palestine: the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
and the Gaza Strip.

​Consequences of the six day war 1967

● Israelis called it the Six Day war while Arabs called it the setback
● Egyptians, Jordanians and Syrians were left shocked and humiliated
● According to General fawzi this was a humiliating defeat for the Egyptians they lost many
of there air forces.
● For Palestinians shock turned to despair as those living in the West bank and Gaza now
fell under Israeli military rule.

● The 1967 war marks a major turning point in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and in
the geopolitics of the entire Middle-East. Its consequences have defined the parameters
of negotiations to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict ever since.
● 7 June Israel three days into the battle Israel forces captured the Old City of Jerusalem
from the Jordanians.
● This was significant for the Jews as the Kotel and Temple Mount the holiest site of
Judaism were under the control of the Jewish people after nearly 2000 years
● On 28 June 1967 Israel formally annexed East Jerusalem calling it the undivided capital
of Israel.
● East Jerusalem’s Arab inhabitants about 67,000 people became citizens of Israel.
Israel’s annexation was, until recently not recognised by any other state.
● On June 19 Israel’s government offered to exchange the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan
Heights for permanent peace treaties with Egypt and Syria.
● Arab states met in September 1967 in Khartoum, Sudan and rejected th Israeli proposal
stating
-no peace with Israel
 -no recognition of Israel
-no negotiations with it
● Israel didn’t want to expand into more territories according to president Levi Eshkol they
wanted to develop their state.
● According to General Meir Amit, They turned there attention towards the Golan heights
Israel’s Allon Plan
● Israel responded to Khartoum plan with its own Allon plan
● Israel had two priorities: firstly how to avoid ruling over a large number of Palestinians in
occupied territory and secondly how to maintain a buffer zone along the Jordan river to
protect Israel from attack on the eastern border.

Creation, aims, methods and role of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO)
1964–1974

- The creation of the PLO was that they wanted to represent the palestinan people which
was led by Yasser Arafat. This group was formed in 1970.
- However, on the other side of the political wing the fatah did not support acts of
terrorism. During 1988 they acknowledged the state of Israel.
- However, this political group created other extreme groups like Islamic Jihadist and
Hamas as there tactics included sucide bombings.
Creation:
- The Arab leader Gamal Nasseer formed the PLO to represent the Palestinians.
Aims
- The list of aims are under the Covenant amended in 1968. In the national covenant
which there are 33 articles.
- Main aims included: to not have a judaism religion to not have its own nation and should
live in the lands that belong to the state, Palestinians owned that land which was there, it
recalls the removal of Israel from Palestine.
Methods
- They used Military force to combat Israel by;
- using bombs placed within supermarkets and bus stops around the country.
- Fired rockets to Jewish villages and towns that were in the south and north of Israel.
The role of the PLO
- The original role of the PLO was to “orginise the Palestinian people to enable them to
carry out their role in liberating their homeland and determining their destiny.”
- Their role was to allow the Palestinians to have a homeland.
causes, course and consequences of the 1973 (Yom Kippur) War, including the Camp
David Treaty
- Egypt and Syria planned a surprise attack on Israel in october 1973.
- On October 6th 1973, Egyptian forces crossed the suez canal and captured territory in
the Sinai desert.
- The two countries had made a secret plan to attack on Yom kippur that is why it is called
the Yom Kippur war.
 - They chose that day because many troops were away on that day.
- Arab oil states used oil as a weapon against Israel and it’s Western allies. Arab gulf was
the only one to produce oil. They used it as an economic weapon to defeat Israel.
- Israel lost its air power and was unable to combat the Egyptians in the air.
- This forced them to at least focus on the Syrians first and then push the Egyptians
- This allowed the Israelis to recapture the Golan heights and move troops into the Sinai
peninsula.
- The USA and the USSR and UN each put pressure on the combatants and a ceasefire
was reached on 24th october.
- It was difficult to see who had won.
- This war showed that Israelis were not unbeatable.
- But Israel had at least pushed both the Egyptians and Syrians back to their initial
advances.
- Camp david accords led to Egyptian-Israeli peace 1979
- But several peace plans continued after the 1967 war, and there was no fighting after
the Yom Kippur war and the october.
- This allowed the president Sadat to visit Jerusalem, the historical site.
- It was called a framework for peace in the middle east.
- Under resolution 242, there was hope to resolving the “Palestinian problem” the treaty
between Israel and Egypt would encourage other Arab states to do a treaty as well.
- The second accord was called the framework to resolve the peace treaty between Egypt
and Israel.
- This made Israel withdraw from the Sinai which was a smart move to win the Sinai over
without any war.
- Sadat sacks the anti-American members and expels 15000 soviet military advisors in
order to gain western support.
- Oil raised by 70%, supplies to the USA and Europe stopped.
- Fighting over in 18 days.
- Sadat killed October 6th 1981. This was due to the peace treaty he had signed with
Israel.

role and objectives of the superpowers in relation to events in the Middle East
- According to the Robert McNamara the defence secretary at the time after the 6 day
war. The soviet planned the Israelis to turn back into war and to help supply the Arabs to
destroy the Israelis.
- The Americans objected to that idea of a new war after the war had finished
- It was the reason why Americans did not help Israel to not be involved in the war.
- According to General Reshetniokv Soviet bomber commander he was waiting for an
order for the soviets to attack.
- The soviets were serious about this as they planned to bomb Israel.
- Also according to General Reshetnikov they even painted there air forces as Egyptians
colours to continue the fighting between Israelis and Arabs.
 - According to the president Israel wife, Miriam Eshkol had received a call and the
Americans wanted Israel to end the war.
- This was due to the pressure the United Nations were facing.

The Occupied Territories and Lebanon

attitudes and policies of the Israeli Labour and Likud parties towards the Occupied
Territories

Likud party
- The Likud party was led by Menachem Begin.
- They’ve won the election in May 1977inaugurating the first non-Labour-led government
in Israel’s history
- Their attitudes towards the occupied territories was that non-Jews will be treated as
second class citizens in Israel
- They will not have the same rights as Jews
reasons for the Israeli invasions of Lebanon in 1978 and 1982
- Lebanon is a small republic situated to the north of Israel, divided on religious or
sectarian grounds.
- In the 1970s the PLO used Lebanon as a base from which to attack Israel.
- Israeli leaders wanted to attack the PLO which were in the Lebanon.
- The PLO threatens Israel northern settlements.
- The Israelis invaded Lebanon so that they may destroy the PLO
- Force Syria and it’s ally, the Soviet Union, out of Lebanon.
- Establish a security zone in south Lebanon to protect Israeli settlement In the Galilee.
- According to W.Laqueur and B.Robin Israelis invaded the Lebanon to massacre for a
long history of hatred against the Palestinians.
- Israelis allowed for Phalangist to enter into Sabra and Shatila refugee so that they may
be massacred
- According to an eyewitness account Swee Chai Ang, they cruelty snatched the women
and children killing them and also smashing houses down. A soldier raged at Swee Chai
Ang for simply being a Christian.
- This shows us that it was a nationalistic attack rather than taking away threats.
The peace process

the Intifada 1987–1994: Palestinian resistance and Israeli response

Reasons for the Intifida

- Growth of the Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.
- Decline of the Palestinian economy under Israel
- Influence of the Islamic extremist groups
- Total frustration and despair of the Palestinians
- The brutality of Israelis occupation.
Palestinians resistance
- Palestinians anger led to the intifada or uprising in 1987.
- The intifada United the Palestinian communities to go against the Israeli Defence force.
- The Palestinian women opposed the Israel’s harsh policies.
- The intifida highlighted the need for a peaceful solution to the Palestine-Israel problem.
- According to Mariam Mari a Palestinian woman, in her dialogue with Naomi Chazan he
says “it really seems to be a psychological issue rooted in the psyche of the Jews” she
reject the Israeli occupation rather she praises their national security as they help other
People.
- However according to her “all matters which have to do with the Palestinian minority, has
been affected” This shows that the Israelis have failed to provide security to the
Palestinians.
Israeli responses
- the Jewish women opposed Israel’s harsh policies
- Them with Palestinian women protested for peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli
issue.
- They didn’t agree with what the IDF did to the Palestinian women and men
- According to Naomi Chazan a Jewish women she says “ Israel needs peace so much”
which shows that she advocated for peace with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
- She also advocates for Israel to maintain their security for the Palestinian “security is
number one”