3.2 - The Palestinian issue Flashcards
Why did Soviet support of Egypt weaken drastically after 1972 ?
Sadat’s expulsion of Soviet military advisors in hopes to please the USA (Cold War) and pressure Israel to negotiate for the return of Sinai
Give a timeline of events from 1970-1993 relating to (tensions between) Israel, Palestine and Lebanon (no details necessary)
1970-71
[] PLO moved from Jordan to (south) Lebanon
[] south Lebanon known as Fatah land
[] harsh Israeli reprisals for PLO attacks
November 1974
[] Arafat’s speech to the UN
[] PLO given UN observer status
1975-76
[] Lebanese civil war between Maronite Christian militants and PLO + Lebanese Muslims + Druze
[] Syrian invasion of northern Lebanon
11 March 1978
[] Coastal Road Massacre by PLO/Fatah militants
15 March 1978
[] ‘Operation Litani’ launched in response to Coastal Road Massacre
1979-81
[] PLO bought Soviet long-range weapons
[] Israeli-PLO attacks and reprisals so frequent and large-scale that were effectively at war
[] mid-1981 UN truce
2 June 1982-
[] Palestinians (NOT PLO) attempt on Israeli ambassador’s life in London
6 June 1982-
[] ‘Operation Peace for Galilee’ (invasion of Lebanon)
late August 1982
[] USA, France + Italy supervised evacuation of 11 000 PLO to Tunisia including Arafat
[] 2 weeks after PLO’s expulsion from Lebanon, Israeli Defence Minister Ariel Sharon announced (unfounded) 2000 PLO still in Lebanon.
[] Sabra + Shatila Massacres
[] Ariel forced to resig
[] Hezbollah (Lebanese terrorists) formed w/Iranian funds
December 1987-
[] Israeli in Gaza stabbed to death
[] IDF van collided w/truck carrying Palestinians, killing four (suspected revenge for the Israeli the previous day)
[] Palestinian killed for stoning of Israeli guard - rioting - start of Palestinian Intifada
1993
[] Intifada ends
Describe the impact of the PLO’s arrival to Lebanon (1970-71) for the Lebanese government
-upset the careful political-religious balance of the government, as most Palestinians were Sunni Muslims
[] made non-Sunnis, especially Maronite Christians, feel threatened
-government saw PLO as bully, corrupt, arrogant
[] acted as if it owned the south of Lebanon( named fatah-land) ; threat to Lebanese political power in their own country.
[] decreased Lebanese support for Palestine in part
-PLO activity in south undermined Lebanese efforts to stay out of Arab-Israeli conflict
[] harsh Israeli reprisals on Lebanese soil, anger of Lebanese people being affected
Describe the significance + reactions to the PLO gaining observer status and invited to explain to UN Palestinian demands -1974
-Palestinians finally given a voice in decisions about their own future
-gave legitimacy to the PLO and established Arafat as the spokesperson of Palestinians.
-USA + Israel rejected UN friendliness towards Palestinians in this way entirely
[] viewed as violent terrorists
[] PLO raids on Israel very damaging; if PLO given more power would be catastrophic
[] many PLO didn’t agree with anything less than destruction of Israel; threat to Israel.
-Arabs rejoiced; Palestinian demands finally taken seriously and work towards peace + justice for Palestinians growing.
-Arafat’s speech to the UN was extremely powerful-
[] given standing ovation; respect for Palestinians grew
[] positive press for the Palestinians
[] Arafat’s emphasis on wanting peace but resorting to violence only in self-defence made Palestinians like the PLO etc. seem at least slightly more moderate than before, meaning more openness globally to work with and support them
Describe the impact of the PLO’s arrival (1970-71) for Palestinian refugee camps in the south
-injected hope + purpose into the camps
organised aid and community for the Palestinian refugees.
[] set up youth clubs
[] taught Palestinian songs, history and stories
[] flew Palestinian flags (pride in Palestinian identity)
[] set up health clinics and schools using money donated by other Arab states
[] repaired roads + provided electricity (improved camp conditions)
established military recruitment and training bases in the refugee camps.
[] gave Palestinian refugees a way to fight for their rights and getting their country back - hope + purpose given
[] HOWEVER elicited harsh Israeli reprisals whenever attacked
Explain how the Lebanese government functioned prior to the arrival of the PLO
society divided by religion (40% population = Maronite Christians, 55% = Muslim (half Shi’ite and half Sunni), 5% = Druze)
had Maronite President, Druze head of army, Shi’ite speaker of Parliament and Sunni Prime Minister
Describe the events of the Coastal Road Massacre, 11 March 1978
-13 PLO/Fatah militants decided to seize a hotel in Tel Aviv (would’ve threatened Israel severely)
[] wanted to take hostages to force return of Palestinian prisoners of Israel.
[] also wanted to slow or even wreck the Egyptian-Israeli peace talks going on at Camp David so maintained Egyptian support in destroying Israel.
hijacked bus on main road
[] shot at passing cars on way to Tel Aviv
[] shootout w/Israeli police resulting in 38 Israeli and 9 PLO deaths
Who were the Phalange in Lebanon ?
-Maronite militants
[] heavily armed
[] 10 000 troops
[] much aggression towards Palestinians in Lebanon and Sunnis due to feeling threatened by the upset in religious balance by arrival of mostly Sunni PLO
List the key impacts of the Lebanese civil war
-70 000 deaths
-100 000s lost homes
-a lot of Beirut (capital) destroyed
Israel funded Maronite Phalange to kill Palestinians
[] Israel shows signs of wanting ethnic cleansing of Palestinians so was less of a threat to its borders; less extreme view = just to scare PLO into submission.
-Syrian invasion of northern Lebanon in support of the Phalange (40 000 troops)
[] turned tide AGAINST PLO
[] Syria viewed as traitor by Muslim and Arab world
Why did Syria support the Israeli-backed Maronite Christians in the Lebanese civil war ?
-concern about religious conflict spilling over into Syria
[] had own Christian-Muslim tensions and wanted to avoid unnecessary war
-Assad believed he could manipulate the Maronite Christians if they were in charge.
[] Syria had seen Lebanon as part of Greater Syria for ages due to Lebanon originally being part of Syria
[] by politically controlling the Lebanese government, could essentially act as if it owned Lebanon again, giving greater stability and economic prosperity to Syria.
-may have wanted to prevent the PLO from getting too strong so it didn’t destabilise Syria as it had done with Jordan and now Lebanon
Describe the key events of ‘Operation Litani’
-26 000 Israeli troops sent into Lebanon
[] aim was to take control of southern Lebanon (where PLO was based) then destroy PLO bases and create a buffer zone to protect the Israeli-Lebanese border
1100 Palestinian and Lebanese deaths
[] 75 civilians killed by Israeli airstrike during a service in a mosque - BAD PUBLICITY FOR ISRAEL
Describe Hezbollah’s aims
-force Israel to leave Lebanon
-post 1985, still waged guerrilla war on Israel because still occupied a strip of Lebanon
Describe the key events and outcomes of “Operation Peace for Galilee” in June-August 1982
-2 June, Palestinian rejectionists attempted to assassinate the Israeli ambassador in London.
[] Israel used this as an excuse to launch its invasion into Lebanon and blamed the PLO despite the rejectionists being unaffiliated with the PLO.
-6 June, 70 000 troops invaded to continue destruction of PLO bases and setting up of buffer zone from Operation Litani - its aim was to ‘TO STOP FURTHER ATTACKS’
[] Israeli forces drove north - bombing towns as
they went 12,00 killed , 40,000 injured- became clear that the Israelis also wanted to evict the PLO entirely and install a pro-Israeli Maronite as the Lebanese president to manipulate into giving Israel support in future conflicts, as well as clamp down on Palestinian resistance to keep Israeli border safe.
[] for two moths Beirut was bombarded - food, water and electricity supply was cut of -20 000 Lebanese killed - bad look for Israel publicly and lost worldwide sympathy ESPECIALLY WHEN BRUTAL WEAPONS LIKE WHITE PHOSPHORUS SHELLS WERE USED ON
CIVILIANS.
-late August, PLO evicted (overseen by USA, Italy and France) to Tunisia. - only way to stop the horror
[] far away from Israel and the Middle East, meaning Arafat had less influence and power over Palestinian guerrillas as well as having less ability to directly damage Israel via raids and use of long-range Soviet weapons bought in 1979.
Sabra and Shatila massacres also in late August
[] Israeli forces surrounded Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, preventing people from leaving them
[] allowed Phalange militants in to find 2000 PLO supposedly hiding out there (unfounded claim from Defence Minister Ariel Sharon)
[] Israel KNEW the Phalange were angry at Palestinians for the assassination of their leader two days prior, and knew they would take advantage to kill many Palestinians.
[] killed 3500 (innocent) Palestinians and brutally tortured many.
-international condemnation of Israeli brutality
[] turned even moderate Israelis against the war - many protests in Israel including one with 300 000 protesters
[] Israeli gov. set up commission to investigate Sabra and Shatila massacres, concluding that Sharon ( defence minister - was guilty indirectly for the deaths; forced to resign.
-in 1982 Israeli brutality created new Lebanese enemy; Hezbollah (funded by Iran) -main aim was to force Israel to leave Lebanon - after 1985 continued to wage guerrilla war on Israel and they still occupied a strip of Lebanon.
ended PLO attacks on Israel due to eviction to Tunisia, so success in terms of Israeli national border security and less damage done to Israeli soil (economic recovery)
Describe conditions for Palestinians in the occupied territories (West Bank and Gaza in particular) and how they contributed to long term causes of the Palestinian Intifada
-crowded
-unhygienic (1988 Jabalya camp overflowed with raw sewage)
-Palestinians working in Israel forced to do unskilled labour even if educated.
-had to pay Israeli taxes despite not being treated with respect and having no voters’ rights
-under military occupation
[] PLO suspects were intimidated
[] beatings and random detentions w/o trial for suspected “threats” common
[] sudden house searches and land confiscation
-Palestinian fear that Israel wanted to completely evict them to make space for Jewish settlers
Describe the key events and features of the Palestinian Intifada (1987-93)
-Gaza, rioting at the funerals of Palestinians killed by a collision with an IDF truck
[] rioting increased when another Palestinian was killed 3 days later and spread to the West Bank
the beginning of the Intifada:
[] leaderless
[] spontaneous riots
[] violently rebellious- burning tyres, petrol bombs ,anti Israeli graffiti.
later in the Intifada:
[] UNLU (United National Leadership of the Uprising) formed to give structure to the Intifada.
-refusing to pay taxes or buy and sell Israeli goods..
- UNPOPULAR WITH ARAFAT AS TOOK SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM HIM AND THE PLO IN TERMS OF POWER AS PALESTINIAN SPOKESPERSON
[] boycotts and strikes organised by UNLU
[] UNLU set up medical care, food, schools and so on for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza
[] allowed the Palestinians to feel united
Israel introduced the “Iron Fist” policy in response to the Intifada’s development
[] reservist IDF troops called up and security via military increased (made Israel seem more militant and brutal in media)
[] many schools closed down
[] curfews + media censorship imposed
[] thousands arrested and suspected ringleaders detained w/houses destroyed
[] arms and fingers of child stone throwers broken
[] hostile crowds dispersed with tear gas, rubber bullets and sometimes live ammunition.
-Iron Fist policy made worldwide sympathy go to Palestinians, as images of the IDF attacking child protesters portrayed Israel’s over-brutality and cruelty in oppressing Palestinians in the occupied territories; made people opposed to Israel military occupation
Describe the impacts of the Intifada for Palestinians
-1,200 Palestinians killed - quarter under 16 and a further 120,000 wounded.
-further 882 Palestinians killed by other Palestinians- accuse of working with Israelis.
-ordinary life became a struggle- schools were closed for periods of time, water usage restricted, curfews imposed - houses demolished.
-economies of occupied territories severely damaged - businesses collapsed because of curfews and strikes -agriculture collapsed when olive groves were destroyed.
- trade fell by 80% and unemployment rose by 50%
-many ordinary Palestinians felt empowerment - they were united in a purpose and sense of direction.
Describe the impacts of the Intifada for Israelis
-160 Israelis died (100 were civilians)
-Israels economy suffered-security costs soared - boarder closures - Palestinian boycotts damaged business. tourism collapsed.
- society became divided
- some wanted to use stronger measures to stop disorder and to protect Jewish settlers.
-and others shocked at brutality of the IDF and wanted to negotiate peace.
Describe the consequences and significance of the Intifada regarding international opinion
-Increased Sympathy for Palestinians
-Widespread images of young Palestinians throwing stones against heavily armed Israeli soldiers created sympathy, especially in Western media.
-Reports of Israeli military crackdowns, human rights abuses, and house demolitions led to criticism of Israel’s occupation policies.
Diplomatic Pressure on Israel-
The U.S. and other Western countries pressured Israel to engage in peace talks, leading to the Oslo Accords (1993), which granted Palestinians limited self-rule.
-The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), previously seen as a terrorist group, gained legitimacy and became recognized as the representative of the Palestinian people.
-European and Arab World Support
The European Community (now the EU) began advocating for a two-state solution more strongly.
Arab countries increased diplomatic and financial support for Palestinians, though some, like Jordan, distanced themselves from direct conflict.
-First Intifada caused the world to step up their attempts to stop the conflict and save innocent civilians from being harmed
