Topic 3: Attempts at a solution, 1974-95

Question 1

What were some impacts of the Yom Kippur War for Israel?

Answer 1

Israel felt that they only survived because of US support and Egypt and Syria making tactical errors. Golda Meir and Defence Minister Moshe Dayan resigned the following year.

Question 2

Why were superpowers so keen for peace after the Yom Kippur War?

Answer 2

-The US wanted to be able to purchase oil again.
-The USA and the USSR were almost dragged into conflict.

Question 3

What was Kissinger’s ‘shuttle diplomacy’?

Answer 3

Shuttle Diplomacy was the name given to Henry Kissinger’s role as the ‘go between’ to promote peace talks. For months he flew back and forth between Israel, Syria and Egypt. Kissinger was in an excellent position to put pressure on Israel to pull their troops back since Israel was dependent on US aid.

Question 4

Why was Egypt open to peace talks and Syria less so?

Answer 4

Anwar Sadat wished to reopen the Suez Canal which collected around $220 million a year. However, negotiations with Syria were trickier as President Assad did not want to lose Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights.

Question 5

In what way did Shuttle Diplomacy succeed?

Answer 5

In January 1974, Egypt and Israel agreed to back down from the Suez and a UN peacekeeping force was installed in a new DMZ. Both countries also agreed on settling future conflicts by talking rather than fighting. Also in March 1974, OPEC began selling oil to the USA again. In the Golan Heights a DMZ was created between Syria and Israel.

Question 6

How many Egyptian soldiers were needed to clear up the Suez Canal?

Answer 6

It took 1,700 troops 30 months to clear up the canal. All together 96 men died.

Question 7

How many mines were cleared in the reopening of the Suez Canal?

Answer 7

686,000 mines

Question 8

What were some features of the Camp David Accords in 1978?

Answer 8

-Peace agreements between Begin and Anwar Sadat.
-Israel agreed to trade ‘peace for land’, accepting that it would have to give up the Sinai.
-Egypt would allow Israel to use the Suez Canal and Straits of Tiran.
-Palestinians would elect councils to govern themselves within 5 years.

Question 9

What is evidence of superficial peace progress from the Camp David Accords?

Answer 9

-Egypts received $1bn a year for ten years from the USA.
-Israel would receive a $3bn loan from the USA to help pay for the expenses of dismantling its bases in the Sinai.
-Israel didn’t allow the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.
-Palestinians living in the West Bank were ignored with Sadat being more interested in winning back land for Egypt.

Question 10

What were the features of the Treaty of Washington in March 1979?

Answer 10

-Israel and Egypt agreed to recognise each state’s right to live in peace.
-Israel agreed to withdraw from Sinai.
-Egypt agreed to allow Israel to use the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran.

Question 11

What were the outcomes of Yasser Arafat’s ‘olive branch’ speech to the UN in 1974?

Answer 11

-The speech was an offer for peace.
-The speech was given a standing ovation and the PLO was given ‘observer status’ at the UN.
-Arafat gained international prestige and status from the international community apart from Israel and the USA who objected to the speech.

Question 12

What were some positives of the PLOs presence in the Lebanon?

Answer 12

-The arrival of the PLO saw the construction of schools and health clinics. The PLO also repaired roads and provided electricity.
-The arrival of the PLO allowed Palestinians to express pride in their culture.

Question 13

By 1970, what percent of Lebanon’s population were Palestinian?

Answer 13

10%

Question 14

After the arrival of the PLO, what was southern Lebanon known as?

Answer 14

Fatahland

Question 15

How many people died in the Lebanese civil war in the 1975?

Answer 15

70,000 people died

Question 16

What was the Coastal Road Massacre of March 1978?

Answer 16

13 Fatah members hijacked a bus 60 km North of Tel Aviv and shot passing cars as they drove to Tel Aviv. An Israeli police block stopped the bus and a shootout followed. Altogether 38 Israeli civilians died including 13 children. It was the single deadliest attack of Israeli soil and 9 of the PLO militants were killed.

Question 17

What was Israel’s response to the Coastal Road Massacre?

Answer 17

Operation Litani - This saw 26,000 Israeli troops invade Lebanon with the aim to take control of south Lebanon and destroy any PLO bases.

Question 18

What was the pretext for Israel’s full scale invasion of Lebanon?

Answer 18

The attempted assassination of Shlomo Argov in London

Question 19

What was the original aim of Israel’s full scale invasion of Israel?

Answer 19

Originally the Israelis set out that they would only invade 45 km into the south of Lebanon and prevent further attacks by destroying PLO bases and establishing a buffer zone. However they suffered from ‘mission creep’ as they advanced further than the original 45 km and began to advance north, bombing towns a killing 1,200 Lebanese people. Israel eventually surrounded the capital Beirut.

Question 20

When in Beirut what was Israel’s goal?

Answer 20

Israel wished to evict the PLO and install the leader of the Phalange party, Bachir Gemayel, as president of Lebanon. 20,000 innocent Lebanese civilians were killed within the 2 months that Israel surrounded Beirut.

Question 21

What were the Sabra and Shatila Massacres in 1982?

Answer 21

IDF minister, Ariel Sharon, gave the order for Israeli forces to surround two camps, Sabra and Shatila, They prevented anyone from leaving the camps, and then allowed in Christian Phalange forces to find any remaining PLO fighters. These Phalange forces were angry: two days earlier, their leader, the newly elected Lebanese president Bachir Gemayel, had been assassinated. A two day massacre followed in which 3,500 Palestinians died and many were tortured.

Question 22

What event triggered the Palestinian Intifada?

Answer 22

In December 1987, an Israeli market trader was stabbed to death in Gaza and the following day an IDF truck collided with two vans carrying Palestinians home from work. 4 of them died. Rumours began to spread that the collision was an act of revenge and demonstrations followed at the victim’s funerals with one Israeli guard post being stoned to death. Three days later, another Palestinian was shot to death which triggered mass protests and rioting in the streets.

Question 23

How long did the first Intifada last?

Answer 23

Over 5 years - 1987-93

Question 24

What are some examples of active resistance from the Palestinians during the Intifada?

Answer 24

-Burning cars
-Refusing to buy or sell Israeli goods
-Refusing to pay taxes
-Refusing to work in Israel
-Throwing stones and petrol bombs at IDF troops

Question 25

How did Israel cope with the Intifada?

Answer 25

‘Iron Fist’ tactics:
-Reservists were called up and security was increased
-Schools were closed, and curfews and censorship was imposed
-Thousands were arrested, whilst ringleaders were detained and their homes were destroyed
-The arms and fingers of child stone throwers were broken
-Crowds were dispersed with tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition

These tactics caused widespread sympathy for ordinary Palestinians

Question 26

What was the impact of the first Intifada on Palestinians?

Answer 26

-1,200 Palestinians died at Israeli hands (25% of them under 16)
-Schools were closed for long periods of time and water use was restricted
-Trade fell by 80% and unemployment rose to 50%

Question 27

What was the impact of the first Intifada on Israelis?

Answer 27

-160 Israelis died
-Israel’s economy suffered due to high security costs and border closures
-Tourism collapsed
-There was a divide in Israeli society as many wanted stronger measures to stop disorder whilst others were shocked at the brutality of the IDF

Question 28

In November 1988, what was the significant change in the PLO policy?

Answer 28

The PLO now recognised the existence of Israel and had adopted a two-state solution; one state for an independent Israel and one state for an independent Palestine.

Question 29

Why did Iraq invade Kuwait?

Answer 29

Iraq was in debt after an 8 year war with Iran thus Saddam Hussein saw Kuwait’s oil as the solution.

Question 30

What countries were involved in Operation Desert Storm?

Answer 30

The operation included a coalition with 34 countries including USA, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Morocco. It was the first time that so many Arab states had cooperated with the USA.

Question 31

How did Israel’s reputation improve after the 1991 Gulf War?

Answer 31

During the war, Saddam Hussein fired scud missiles on Israel with the hope that Israel would retaliate and split the US-led coalition. Although scud missiles destroyed over 4,000 Israeli homes, Israel did not retaliate.

Question 32

How was Yasser Arafat’s reputation damaged after the Gulf War?

Answer 32

Arafat made the error of supporting Saddam Hussein as he had always backed the PLO. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were furious and they withdrew financial support. 200,000 Palestinians were expelled from Kuwait. By the summer of 1991, the PLO was discredited and bankrupt which greatly weakened Arafat’s bargaining position with Israel.

Question 33

Why was the collapse of the USSR significant to the PLO and Palestinians?

Answer 33

-The PLO lost its main source of finance and arms (the USSR) which weakened Arafat’s bargaining position.
-The collapse of the USSR resulted in 200,000 soviet Jews migrating to Israel.
-Palestinians living in Gaza were also no longer needed for jobs in Israel

Question 34

How was the collapse of the USSR significant to Israel?

Answer 34

The USA no longer needed Israel as an ally in the Middle East which meant the US could now withhold financial aid and put pressure on Israel to negotiate with the PLO. Because Israel needed financial aid more than ever to fund the influx of new immigrants from the USSR, it had to do what the USA wished.

Question 35

How did the Oslo 1 Accords (1993) benefit Israel?

Answer 35

The PLO renounced violence and accepted Israel’s right to exist. This would give increase the peace of mind for Israelis as there would be much less terrorist attacks.

Question 36

How did Palestinians benefit from the Oslo 1 Accords?

Answer 36

-Israel accepted the PLO as the representative of the Palestinians and Arafat could return from Tunis.
-The PNA would be formed which would allow Palestinians to elect leaders.
-Over the next 5 years, Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from the West Bank and transfer responsibility to the PNA.
-Overall the Palestinians would get land and an opportunity to rebuild their economy.

Question 37

Why did King Hussein of Jordan agree to the Israel-Jordan peace treaty in 1994?

Answer 37

Jordan had large debts and large numbers of Palestinian refugees which meant that Jordan could not afford to continue to struggle against Israel. Also the US promised to ignore Jordan’s dets if Jordan recognised Israel’s right to exist in peace.

Question 38

What was the main feature of the Oslo 2 Accords (1995)?

Answer 38

The splitting of the West Bank into 3 areas.
-Area A made up 3% of the West Bank and was controlled by the PNA.
-Area B made up 25% of the West Bank and was jointly controlled by Israel and the PNA. Israeli forces would gradually move out of Area B once security issues had been resolved.
-Area C made up 72% of the West Bank and was controlled by Israel. There was about 110,000 Jewish settlers in this area and parts of the area would be gradually transferred to Palestinian control.