Topic 3: Attempts at a solution, 1974-95 Flashcards
What were some impacts of the Yom Kippur War for Israel?
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.
Why were superpowers so keen for peace after the Yom Kippur War?
-The US wanted to be able to purchase oil again.
-The USA and the USSR were almost dragged into conflict.
What was Kissinger’s ‘shuttle diplomacy’?
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.
Why was Egypt open to peace talks and Syria less so?
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.
In what way did Shuttle Diplomacy succeed?
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.
How many Egyptian soldiers were needed to clear up the Suez Canal?
It took 1,700 troops 30 months to clear up the canal. All together 96 men died.
How many mines were cleared in the reopening of the Suez Canal?
686,000 mines
What were some features of the Camp David Accords in 1978?
-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.
What is evidence of superficial peace progress from the Camp David Accords?
-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.
What were the features of the Treaty of Washington in March 1979?
-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.
What were the outcomes of Yasser Arafat’s ‘olive branch’ speech to the UN in 1974?
-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.
What were some positives of the PLOs presence in the Lebanon?
-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.
By 1970, what percent of Lebanon’s population were Palestinian?
10%
After the arrival of the PLO, what was southern Lebanon known as?
Fatahland
How many people died in the Lebanese civil war in the 1975?
70,000 people died
What was the Coastal Road Massacre of March 1978?
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.
What was Israel’s response to the Coastal Road Massacre?
Operation Litani - This saw 26,000 Israeli troops invade Lebanon with the aim to take control of south Lebanon and destroy any PLO bases.
What was the pretext for Israel’s full scale invasion of Lebanon?
The attempted assassination of Shlomo Argov in London
What was the original aim of Israel’s full scale invasion of Israel?
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.
When in Beirut what was Israel’s goal?
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.
What were the Sabra and Shatila Massacres in 1982?
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.
What event triggered the Palestinian Intifada?
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.
How long did the first Intifada last?
Over 5 years - 1987-93
What are some examples of active resistance from the Palestinians during the Intifada?
-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
