Conflict in the Middle East. Flashcards
What was Palestine part of from 1516?
The Ottoman Empire.
What happened during the First World War?
The Ottomans sided with Germany and Palestine was occupied by Britain. The Ottomans were defeated. Britain attracted the Arabs by agreeing they should be an independent arab state. However, the Balfour Declaration in Nov 1917 gave support for a Jewish state.
What did the League of Nations give Britain in 1923?
A mandate to rule Palestine. Arabs were furious as Britain went back on their promise. Terms of the mandate were:
-Protect the rights of Arabs.
-Establish a state for Jews.
-Prepare to leave the country for its independence.
What was the Haganah?
A Jewish defence force to protect themselves as tensions between Arabs and Jews increased.
What was an Irgun?
A Jewish terrorist organisation was formed in 1931 to create a Jewish state by force.
When was the Arab revolt?
1936-39. Ended by the British troops and so was the Hagnah.
What happened during the Second World War?
The British needed oil from Arabs so they drastically limited Jewish immigration. This created the stern group-Most extremist Jewish group.
What is Zionism?
A movement to create a Jewish state in Palestine.
Jewish insurgency (violent uprising) 1945-47.
-Irgun and Stern gang bombed British offices, police stations, bases etc. Bombing of the King David Hotel on 22nd July 1946 was the deadliest act of terror.
-Hagnah brought ships and smuggled Jews in illegally.
-Communication lines were targeted to make it expensive/difficult to rule.
What was the US reaction towards the Jewish insurgency?
Increased its support after 1945 because of pressure and its large Jewish population. Welcomed Holocaust refugees, criticised Britain for immigration restrictions and applied economic pressure on Britain.
What did the UN set up in May 1947?
Set up a special committee for Palestine (UNSCOP) to find a solution.
What did the UN resolution 181 recommend?
To partition the into Jewish and Arab states. This would lead to the creation of the state of Israel.
What was the significance of the UN resolution 181?
-Toured Palestine in 1947 but they received little input from Arabs as they were seen as pro-zionists.
- USA/USSR voted in favour of the resolution. Wanted others to do the same.
-British gov against the resolution as it would lead to civil war. It drew on 15th May 1948.
-Most Jews agreed with it but Arabs didn’t.
-Arab liberation Amry set up to fight Jews.
-14th May 1948-State of Israel was founded.
The civil war, December 1947-May 1948.
-Arabs attacked Jews throughout Palestine.
-Organised by higher Arab committee.
-Jews led by the Hagnah fought back.
-100,000 Arabs fled to other countries.
-Palestinians removed in Israeli land (ethnic cleansing).
Deir Yassin.
1)Feb 1948, Arabs prevented supplies reaching the 100,000 Jews in Jerusalem.
2) Deir Yassin-small arab village. Had chosen not to fight with Jews.
3) On 9th April Irgun reached there and killed 100 Arabs inc women/children
4)Widely reported to encourage others to fight. 250,000 Palestinians fled.
The start of the Arab-Israeli war.
-14 May 1948 the new state of Isreal was declared. Biritsh mandate left on 15th May and the Arab countries attacked Israel.
-650,000 Jews.
-40 million Arabs. (combined from different nations).
Arab-Israeli war-key events.(1948-49)
-Arabs invaded Israel in May-June 1948.Few advances made into Jewish state.
-Months ceasefire-11th June by UN. Isreal- arms from Czechoslovakia. More Israeli soldiers as less Arabs were sent. separate leaders-failed to coordinate attacks. They struggled to buy weapons.
-Jewish expansion-suprise attack by Idf which broke ceasefire on 8th July. 2nd ceasefire was broken by the Idf. Galilee and Negev desert was taken driving Egyptians into Sinai.
-Battle for Jerusalem-Arabs blocked the city. April 1948-Irgun broke it and resupplied Jews.
-Each Arab nation negotiated its own ceasefire. Final one with Syria began on 20th July 1949.
What was the al-Nakba?
It was ‘the catastrophe’ in 1948 for Palestinians. More than 700,000 Palestinian refugees due to territorial changes.
What was the consequence of the Al-Nakba war? 1948-49.
-Many Palestinians migrated to Middle east or USA
-Some settled in one of the 55 tented camps.
-Emergency relief given by UNRWA-International organisation.
-Arab league denied citizenship to Palestinians to avoid war.
-Only Jordan ignored this.
The creation of the israeli defence forces.
1) David Ben-Gurion created the IDF on 28th May 1948 It received the greatest portion of the Israeli government budget.
2)Former members of the Hagnah. Later Irgun/stern gang members joined.
3) Well led and organised.
4)Conscription of all Israeli citizens, Males served for 30 months and women 18 months from 18.
5) Huge reserve force.
The law of return 1950.
-Jews came from arab countries where anti-Semitism was growing. Jewish immigration was supported. July 1950- Law of return-any Jews the right to Israeli citizenship. Palestinians forbidden to return.
US aid to Israel.
-300 million to support new Jewish immigration to Isreal
-Us did not send arms to Israel.
-Many donated huge amounts of money to help.
Clashes between Egypt and Israel.
1) Many Palestinian refugees made raids into Israel to get their belongings, take crops or attack Israelis.
2) These were known as Fedayeen (freedom fighters)
3) Idf carried out reprisal raids-killing Palestinians.
4) Jordan tightened up borders. Egypt did little to stop the Fedayeen.
Who became king in Egypt after King Farouk was taken down?
Colonel Gamal Abdel Nassar.
What were the new policies under Nasser?
Independence from Britain-80,000 troops occupied the Suez Canal zone. He persuaded them to leave and they withdrew and would only return if another country attacked the canal.
Internal reforms-Fetile land from the wealthy given to the poor. Built schools/hospitals.
The Aswan Dam project- Dam across the river Nile. Control flooding and provide water to irrigate land. A large amount of hydro-electric power but eygpt had no money to build it.
The nationalism of the Suez Canal, 1956.
-Mostly owned by British and French shareholders.
-Nasser nationalised it - he took over ownership so it was under state control.
-Britain/France feared loss of control and their position in the Middle East.
The significance of Israeli attacks on Gaza
-Increased tensions
-Increased Israel’s confidence to take further action.
-Led to Egypt burying weapons and becoming a soviet ally.
-Nasser blocked the Gulf Of Aqaba.
What plan did Britain and France make with Israel?
Met in secret with the head of the IDF. Agreed to work together.
-Israel would invade Gaza and Sinai.
–Britain/France would ask Eygpt to stop fighting and when that failed invade Egypt and take control of the canal.
-Israel would have improved security and trade.
-Nasser would be thrown over.
What did Nasser want for the Arab world?
-He wanted a strong arab nation and independence from other countries. He stood up against Israel and the Western powers.
Who was the UAR between?
Between Egypt and Syria. Ended as Syria withdrew in 1961-didn’t like being a lesser partner.
What was the significance of the Suez Crisis?
-Ensured the canal remained under Egypt’s control.
-Britain and France-humiliated. Lost influence.
-USSR paid for the building of the Aswan Dam.
-USA was now the most important Western power in the Middle East.
-Isreal’s security and ability to trade increased.
The significance of the Cairo conference, 1964.
-showed the Arab states were prepared to work against Israel. Arabs were anti-Isreal without going to war.
-Confirmed that Nasser was the leader of the Arab world.
-Nasser showed Israels plan to divert the River Jordan as threat to all. Arabs would prepare for war if they diverted the water. Israel wasn’t afraid as it had a bigger force and had USA/France on its side.
What was the Headwater diversion plan? (Cairo conference)
Syria/Lebanon would divert 2 of the 3 sources of the River Jordan away from the Sea of Galilee so Israel would not be able to use it for new settlements/farms.
-Israel became worried as Syria began to build a canal in 1965.
Why was the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) set up?
It was created for Palestinians to unite behind and to be responsible for Palestininas welfare.
What did the PLO also set up?
They also set up the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA)-an armed force to fight for liberation. Israel didn’t fear it as it only had 12,000 soldiers.
When was the Fatah founded and by whom?
Founded in 1959 by Yasser Arafat who wanted to create a Palestinian state.
What did the Fatah do?
They believed in violence to destroy Israel.
-70 raids from 1965-67. (attacking military, railways etc).
-Had bases in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
-Israel retaliated causing great damage but increased publicity for the Palestinians and Arafat.
Support for the Fatah.
-Syria provided support for Fatah in the form of weapons/money and training camps.
-Syria accused Nasser of not helping. Led to Egyptian-Syrian pact of November 1966 where each country agreed to help the other if attacked.
-Jordan was a good US ally and wanted a good relationship with Israel. Didnt support Fatah but didn’t stop the raids.
Israel’s raid on Samu (13th November 1966).
11th Nov-Landmine explosion on the Israeli-Jordan border killed 3 Israeli policemen and injured 6. Fatah suspected of doing the attack but no group claimed responsibility.
13th Nov-Isreali PM Eshkol sent 600 troops to the village of Samu as a reprisal. Buildings were dynamited.
100 Jordan soldiers fought back leaving 15 Jordainas, 1 Isreali and 3 villagers dead.
What were the consequences of Isreal raid on Samu?
-Internaitonal condemnation for Eshkol and Isreal’s actions.
-Destroyed the king of Jordan’s (King Hussein) hope of a relationship with Israel.
-Hussein pressured Nasser to act against Israel.
What further deteriorated Israel’s and Syria’s relationship?
7th April 1967.
-Syrian guns fired at an Israeli tractor in the demilitarised zone.
-Israeli air force then attacked the gun positions and some villages so the Syrian air forces took to the skies
-Six Syrian planes were lost and the rest went back to Damascus.
What were the events that led to the six-day war? (1967)
13th May-USSR tells Nasser the Israelis are preparing for an attack.
15th May-Egyptian troops move to Sinai (Nasser order).
16th May-Peackeeprs told to leave Egypt.
18th May-Un troops leave and Egyptian troops mass on the border.
22nd May-Straits of Tiran closed. Israeli trade/oil blocked.
29th May-Nasser threatened Israel with 2 demands: Allow Palestinians to return and to return the land from 1948-49 war. Eskhol prepared for war.
30th May- Egypt/Jordan defence treaty.
31st May-Usa to support any action taken by Israel to open the straits.
1st June-Moshe Dayan is appointed as IDF leader.
4th June-Isreal decided to attack first (in secret).
