Israel Flashcards
What event do Palestinians refer to as the Nakba?
The 1948 War that led to the establishment of Israel.
Why do Palestinians call the 1948 War the Nakba?
It resulted in the loss of their land, displacement, and exile.
Which countries took over Palestinian territories after 1948?
- Israel: Took land designated for a Palestinian state.
- Jordan: Took over the West Bank.
- Egypt: Took control of Gaza.
What major questions arose regarding Palestinian identity after 1948?
- Should Palestinians identify primarily as Muslims?
- Should their struggle be part of a broader Arab revolution?
- Should Arab nationalism be the primary focus?
What is Fatah, and who founded it?
Fatah: Palestinian National Liberation Movement.
Founder: Yasser Arafat (late 1950s).
What was Fatah’s approach to Palestinian liberation?
Palestinians should liberate themselves, rather than relying on Arab armies or political movements.
What was the outcome of the 1967 War?
AKA The Six Day War
Israel won decisively, with far fewer casualties than the Arab side.
Arab armies were humiliated and lost credibility as liberators of Palestine.
How did the 1967 War change territorial control?
AKA The Six Day War
Israel took over the West Bank (from Jordan) and Gaza Strip (from Egypt).
Why did Fatah gain prominence after 1967?
AKA The Six Day War
Arab armies proved ineffective, and Palestinians saw self-liberation as the only viable option.
Which countries fought in the 1967 War?
AKA The Six Day War
Israel vs. Egypt, Jordan, and Syria (backed by Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and others).
What were the key causes of the 1967 War?
AKA The Six Day War
- Rising Arab-Israeli tensions after the 1948 and 1956 conflicts.
- Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran (blocking Israel’s access to the Red Sea).
- Arab military build-up along Israel’s borders.
- Israel’s preemptive strike against Egypt’s air force.
What was Israel’s strategy in the war?
*Six day war
Preemptive airstrikes on June 5 destroyed most of Egypt’s air force.
Rapid ground offensives in Sinai, West Bank, and Golan Heights.
What was Fatah’s first strategy for Palestinian liberation?
Which historical conflict inspired Fatah’s strategy?
- Guerrilla warfare and an uprising in the West Bank and Gaza.
- The Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962) against French colonial rule.
Why did Fatah’s attempt at an uprising fail?
- Lack of operational security – Israeli intelligence quickly infiltrated and disrupted their networks.
- Geographical disadvantage – Unlike Algeria, the West Bank lacked mountains for guerrillas to hide in.
- Flawed assumptions about Israeli society – Fatah mistakenly believed Israeli Jews would flee under pressure.
Why was Algeria’s resistance model ineffective in Palestine?
- Algeria: French settlers had a homeland (France) to return to.
- Israel: Jewish Israelis saw Israel as their only home due to anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.
Why did Fatah assume Israeli Jews would leave?
They incorrectly viewed them as European colonists rather than people with deep historical and ideological ties to Israel.
What was the second Palestinian strategy after the failed uprising?
Cross-border raids from Jordan and Lebanon into Israel.
How frequent were Palestinian raids in 1968?
Around 1,500 raids on Israel.
What were the military results of the Battle of Karameh?
- 30 Israeli casualties, 150 Palestinian deaths, and Jordanian losses.
- Israel won militarily but suffered losses that made it seem like a defeat.
Why was Karameh a political victory for Fatah?
- Palestinians fought back – Unlike the 1967 Arab armies, they showed resilience.
- Symbolic win – Israel withdrew, which Palestinians saw as surrender.
- Captured Israeli equipment – Boosted morale and legitimacy.
What key political shift happened after Karameh?
Strengthened Palestinian national identity, making it harder for Israel to deny their existence.
What organization did Hamas emerge from?
Hamas emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization founded in Egypt.
Why was the Muslim Brotherhood suppressed in Gaza before 1967?
Egypt controlled Gaza from 1948 to 1967 and suppressed the Brotherhood, seeing it as a political threat.
How did the 1967 war impact the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas?
It discredited Pan-Arabism, boosted the Brotherhood’s argument that Muslims needed to renew their faith, and led to Israeli control of Gaza, allowing more Islamist political participation.
Why did Israel initially tolerate the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza?
Israel saw Arab nationalism (e.g., Fatah) as a greater threat and viewed the Brotherhood as a counterweight.
When did Hamas officially emerge?
Hamas emerged in 1987 during the First Intifada.
Why did Hamas become involved in the First Intifada?
It feared losing relevance among Palestinian youth and felt compelled to take a direct role in the uprising.
How does Hamas’s identity differ from Fatah’s?
Hamas promotes an Islamic Palestinian identity, while Fatah focuses on a secular Palestinian identity.
How did Fatah’s approach change in the early 1990s?
Fatah shifted from a terrorist group to a negotiating partner of Israel.
Why did Hamas oppose peace talks with Israel?
Hamas ideologically opposed peace with Israel and feared that a peace deal would strengthen Fatah’s political position.
How did Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad disrupt peace talks in the 1990s?
They used suicide bombings, including five in 1994 that killed around 40 Israelis.
What dilemma did Hamas’s attacks create for Arafat and Israeli negotiators?
If Arafat could stop the attacks, he was complicit in murder; if he couldn’t, he appeared too weak to negotiate.
What was Hamas’s strategy during the Second Intifada?
It escalated violence, using frequent suicide bombings to discredit peace talks and promote resistance.
How many suicide bombings occurred in 2002 during the Second Intifada?
Roughly 50 suicide bombings, averaging about one per week.
How did Hamas politically benefit from the Second Intifada?
Despite heavy losses, it gained credibility as Fatah’s negotiations failed, making Hamas’s resistance strategy more appealing.
Why did Israel withdraw from Gaza in 2005?
Due to constant Palestinian violence, especially from Hamas, Israel concluded that Gaza was not worth holding on to.
What happened in the 2006 Palestinian elections?
Hamas won the elections, partly due to Fatah’s corruption and loss of credibility.
How did Hamas take control of Gaza in 2007?
After winning the 2006 elections, Hamas forcibly took control of Gaza in 2007.
What transformation did Hamas undergo from 1987 to 2007?
It evolved from a small militant group into the governing authority of Gaza.
Who was Salah Shehadeh?
Salah Shehadeh was the founder of Hamas’ military wing and was blamed by Israel for the deaths of dozens of Israelis.
Why did Israel decide to assassinate Salah Shehadeh instead of conducting a raid?
Israel believed a raid would fail due to the risk of Shehadeh being tipped off and Palestinian resistance leading to Israeli casualties.
How did Israeli intelligence reportedly find Salah Shehadeh’s location?
They allegedly posed as Canadian researchers and blackmailed a relative of Shehadeh who was homosexual.
What was the result of the Israeli airstrike on Shehadeh?
The airstrike killed Shehadeh, his wife, and 14 others, including 10 children, due to the large bomb used.
How did Hamas respond to the killing of Shehadeh?
Hamas carried out a retaliatory attack at Hebrew University, killing seven people, including five Americans.
What was the international reaction to Shehadeh’s assassination?
There was worldwide condemnation, including from the U.S., which criticized the attack as heavy-handed.
What are some advantages of targeted killings?
They deter potential terrorists, weaken terrorist leadership, and reassure the public that their government is fighting back.
How do targeted killings disrupt terrorist groups?
They eliminate skilled leaders, force terrorists into hiding, and hinder communication and coordination.
What are the moral and political costs of targeted killings?
They can result in innocent casualties, damage a state’s legitimacy, and harm its international reputation.
How can targeted killings lead to more violence?
They may provoke retaliation from terrorist groups, escalating the cycle of violence.
What is deterrence in the context of Israel’s fight against terrorism?
Deterrence is Israel’s strategy of pressuring governments or groups controlling territory to police their own people, discouraging attacks by making the cost of aggression too high.
How did Israel use deterrence against Jordan in 1970?
Israel pressured Jordan to stop Palestinian cross-border raids, forcing the Jordanian government to take action against militants.
How has Israel applied deterrence against Hamas in Gaza since 2007?
Israel has sought to pressure and punish Hamas to discourage rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel.
What was the primary trigger for Operation Cast Lead in 2008?
Persistent rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli territory, which increased in frequency and range.
What was the Israeli response in Operation Cast Lead?
A large-scale military operation including extensive bombing and ground operations in Gaza.
What was the casualty disparity in Operation Cast Lead?
13 Israelis died, while almost 100 times as many Palestinians were killed.
How did the world react to Israel’s actions during Operation Cast Lead?
Israel was widely condemned for its disproportionate response and perceived brutality.
Why was Operation Cast Lead considered effective?
While it did not completely stop rocket attacks, it significantly reduced their frequency by making Hamas fear another devastating Israeli response.
What is a major challenge of using deterrence against terrorist groups?
Terrorist groups are often less sensitive to casualties than governments, making deterrence difficult.
How does deterrence conflict with Israel’s self-image as a just democracy?
Deterrence relies on disproportionate responses, which challenge the principle of proportionality in ‘just war theory’.
How does modern media impact Israel’s use of deterrence?
The global and domestic media broadcast the consequences of Israel’s military actions, impacting public perception and legitimacy.
Why does Hamas continue attacks despite Israeli deterrence efforts?
Hamas fears losing support to more radical groups if it halts attacks, as rival groups may criticize it for inaction.
What was the Battle of Karameh, and how does it relate to deterrence?
In 1968, Fatah suffered higher casualties than Israel, but still considered it a victory because Israel suffered losses, showing that deterrence isn’t always effective.
Why do terrorist groups often reject non-violent alternatives?
They may feel they have no peaceful means to achieve their goals, making violence their only perceived option.
How does group competition affect deterrence efforts?
Rival militant groups may push for continued attacks, forcing groups like Hamas to maintain hostilities to retain followers and funding.
What method has Israel used in addition to targeting suspected terrorist leaders to fight terrorism?
Occupying territory, particularly during the Second Intifada.
Why did Israel withdraw from large parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the 1990s?
As part of peace negotiations, these areas were placed under Palestinian control.
What event in 2002 changed Israel’s view on retaking Palestinian-controlled territory?
The bombing at the Park Hotel in Netanya, where 30 people were killed during a Passover Seder.
Why was the Park Hotel bombing particularly significant for Israel?
Many victims were elderly and Holocaust survivors, and the bomber was someone Israel had asked the Palestinians to arrest but was not detained.
What was Israel’s military response to the Park Hotel bombing?
Operation Defensive Shield, a large-scale military operation to retake major West Bank cities.
Why was Jenin a difficult environment for Israeli military operations?
It was an unplanned mini-city with narrow alleyways, haphazard construction, and thousands of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
What innovative tactic did Israeli forces use to avoid triggering explosives?
Instead of entering through doorways, they blew holes through walls to move between buildings.
How did the destruction in Jenin contribute to propaganda against Israel?
The images of destroyed buildings and devastation allowed Palestinians to claim that a massacre had occurred.
What was one major intelligence gain for Israel from Operation Defensive Shield and operations like Jenin?
Israel was able to use day-to-day control of territory to gain intelligence, controlling movement and using leverage over business, education, and healthcare to gather information.
How does Israel control Palestinian movement post-Operation Defensive Shield?
Through checkpoints, a security barrier, and intelligence control over business, university access, and medical needs.
What is the function of the security barrier in the West Bank?
It helps control movement, allows Israel to conduct searches, and provides extra time to intercept potential threats like suicide bombers.
What impact does Israeli military presence have on Palestinian society?
It disrupts normal economic and social life, makes travel difficult, and discredits moderate Palestinian leaders.
How did Israel justify the ongoing presence in the West Bank despite high costs?
From an Israeli perspective, it significantly reduced suicide bombings, making the security trade-off worthwhile.
In 2002, there were about 50 bombings; in 2003, it dropped to 26, and by 2008, there was only one.
What were some operational challenges for Palestinian militant groups after Israeli control?
Leaders faced arrest or assassination, they had to navigate checkpoints, and they required more coordination, increasing intelligence vulnerabilities.
What was one intelligence officer’s perspective on disrupting Palestinian militant operations?
‘In intelligence, one plus one is 11,’ meaning the more people involved in an operation, the easier it is to disrupt.
What happened to Palestinian militant activity following Israeli security measures?
Some Palestinian groups sued for peace as operational difficulties increased.
What international consequence did Israel face due to its operations in the West Bank?
It faced increased criticism and was seen as an occupying power violating Palestinian rights.
What was the long-term outcome of Israeli operations in the West Bank post-2002?
Despite initial expectations of a temporary presence, Israeli military and intelligence operations in the West Bank have continued indefinitely.
