Transcript Conflict in the Middle East

History of Israel-Palestine Conflict and Promises
West Bank Story
 So silly, so offensive, embraces all stereotypes…lets
watch it!!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osgMaqIBtko

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v868434dFDZBn6K?h
1=west+bank+story
Islam
Basics
Where: Mecca and
Saudi Arabia
When: 570-632
(death of
Muhammad)
Who:
Muhammad,
Koran, Qu’ran
The basics of religion:
Blended elements of Christianity, Judaism and
native religions
2. Initially tolerant of …
3. With the …
4. Really lack of interaction between the west and
the ME—leads to strange relations
1.
Muhammad
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Worked as a merchant’s assistant—when 25
married a wealthy Mecca widow.
Rejects materialism
Religious conversion …
Received revelation from angel Gabrielle—
developed into the Qur’an (literally “reciting”)
Basic message that people must submit to god
Islam means ___________ and Muslim means
_____________
Seen as the _____________therefore the
most relevant and recent
How to be a good Muslim/Path to heaven

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Essentially the 5
pillars:
Declaration of faith
Prayer 5 times daily
Payment of tithes to
less fortunate
Muslims
Observe Ramadan
Pilgrimage to Mecca
and the Ka’ba
What does it offer society?
Structured religion and
social code—…
2. Helps unites the Arab
world…
3. Umma Community focus
but a Ulama (spiritual
leader) leads the
community.
4. Ulama and M are not just
spiritual leaders….
1.
The power of the individual:
Religion is a political
and social code—no
separation.
2. Umma: Community
3. Ulama: Spiritual
leader
4. Explains power of: alSadr
1.
Understanding of “Jihad”
1. Define as “sacred struggle”
2. Can be applied to enemies of Islam. i.e.
Mujahideen in Afghanistan in 1980s against Soviet
forces. (this is the view most often seen in the West)
3. Another definition applies to governments—If
leaders are not spiritual then many believe they should
be replace--Iran
4. Others see this term as meaning spiritual struggle
having nothing to do with violence (west not familiar
with this)
Terms:
Mosque
Umma
Jihad
Ka’ba
Allah
Shi’a
Sunnis
Ramadan—
Judaism (roots) and Christianity
Basics
Christianity begins in
Roman occupied Judea
and is rooted in
Judaism.
2. Jews/Hebrews are
unique in world
religions as they are
Monotheistic
3. Have a long history that
stretches back to
Mesopotamia (@2000
BCE)
4. Eventually settled in
Judea (south) and Israel
(north)
1.
Judaism Basic beliefs: (remember the
similarities)
1.One creator god—Yahweh
2.Prophets help guide the Hebrews
(Moses is the greatest prophet—also
led Jews out of Egypt)
3.The Torah (the first 5 books of the
bible) is the written guide.
4.Includes the 10 Commandments
5.Belief that Messiah (Savior) will
come and put an end to all suffering—
not come yet
6.Synagogue: Jewish place of
Worship
Christianity basics
Where: Judea, Roman Empire and later Europe
When: About 6 BCE to 30 CE (death of Jesus)
Who: Jesus of Nazareth, New Testament
Christianity/Jesus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
This religion would eventually conquer Rome and
become…
Focus is Jesus of Nazareth
Most info comes from the Gospels (4) that are written
after his death (about 40-100 CE)
Note, these are not just attempted histories but also
statements of faith
Preached about social justice, love and charity
Rejected materialism—Hebrew Dogma
Got a large following, local authorities convinced to
execute him as a revolutionary.
The basics of the religion:
1. Stressed inner purity over religious dogma
2. Bible
old testament is the story of creation and the
prophets
B. new testament is the story of Jesus
3. Belief that Jesus is the Messiah
4. Belief in the crucifixion, Resurrection
5. Must be baptized
6. Material world will be destroyed in the 2nd coming
A.
Path to being a good Christian
1.Reading the bible
2.Using the bible as both a
spiritual and social guide
3.Using Christ as the example
to follow
4.Spread the word and help
convert individuals
5.Later: Clergy, Church,
Pope, Catholicism
Why it spread.
1.Spread widely by 3rd century
CE
2.Personal—offers personal
salvation—not impersonal like
the Roman religion
3.Familiar to other religions
(like Judaism)
4.Jesus is a real person to relate
to—more recent
5.Finally, open to all people —
especially poor
Terms:
•Gospels “good news”
•Disciples
•Catholic church
•Orthodox church
•Virgin Mary
•Saints
•Jerusalem
Before we begin…
 The Middle East conflict is one of the most
complicated, confusing and emotionally charged
events covered in Contemporary history. It is often
simplified to a conflict between Israelis and
Palestinians, but is so much more. In order to make
sure I answer all your questions please list specific
questions that you have. (we will do this later as well)
Overview in pictures
 Pro Palestinian view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y58njT2oXfE
 Pro Israeli view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hn-gbFwOM4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZY8m0cm1oY
Promises

The movie Promises attempts to use children to show/expose the “artificial” divisions that exist
between Israelis and Palestinians.

Although the movie is a lot more complicated than the simple thesis here, the general thesis is
different Israeli and Palestinian kids will see beyond the history, religion, ethnicity, etc baggage of the
conflict and connect with the “universal kid” that exists in all children. Therefore…

Make sure you take detailed notes on the kids:
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BZ The producer
Daniel and Yarko
Mahmoud
Schlomo
Sanabel
Faraj
Moish
Where is the Middle East & Israel?
Background
claims
Jewish claim on Israel: Israel = Biblical “Promised Land”
A.
Occupied by Moses and Hebrews around 1000 B.C.
2. Arab claim: Invaded and occupied by Philistines
A.
Greeks and Romans call it “Land of Philistines”, which
becomes Palestine.
3. Christian roots: Region of Jesus Christ’s birth, ministry, and
death.
4. Islamic roots: Muslims capture in 640
A.
Built Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in 691
B.
Spot where Mohammed stopped on his way to heaven.
5. Judaism roots: Home of the 1st and 2nd Temple
A.
Wailing Wall holiest shrine to Jews—the foundation of the
Temple
B.
Want it rebuilt.
1.
http://www.theguardian.com/flash/0,,688752,00.html
How did it all start: Well with the Brits of
course… The Balfour Declaration in 1917
This area belonged to the Brits
2. During WWI, British Foreign Secretary Balfour
supported the idea of a “national home” for the
Jews.
1.
A.
Balfour Declaration endorses this homeland
as well leaving the Palestinians alone… “it
being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which
may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing nonJewish communities in Palestine.”
B.
C.
Both Palestinians and Jews think they can create a state.
Point: it is the “foundation” of the Jewish state
Before and After WWII
In 1920s--90k Jewish people
live in the area
2. In the 1930s—the Rise of Nazism
brings a flood of new Jewish
settlers to Palestine from Europe
3. 1930s & 40s—Palestinians and
Jews begin arming themselves
and conducting terrorist attacks
against their counterparts.
4. In 1947—The UN votes to divide
Palestine into Jewish and Arab
states, giving the Jews 55% of the
land west of the Jordan River and
designating Jerusalem as an
international enclave.
1.
Arab-Israeli War of 1948
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
May 1948: Israel becomes an
independent state.
Egypt, Syria, Jordon, Lebanon, and Iraq
invade on May. (important in that
aggression leads to…)
Fighting continues until Jan 1949.
Israel prevails and gains territory and
Jerusalem is divided between Israel
and Jordan.
700k Palestinian refugees flee land
and fate left undecided—
A.
B.
These people end up in refugee camps—
there are over 2.5 million living in refugee
camps in the Middle east today and
The terrible living conditions produce
guerillas
 Video Tragedy in our time: 20-26.
Israel/Arab Wars
1. Nearly a dozen formal/informal conflicts
but we will look at 3.
2. 1967 6 Days War—Israel launches pre-emptive
strike and wins: Tragedy in our time: 34:00
3. 1973 Yom Kippur War Arab states attack,
Israel wins.
4. 1982 Lebanon War: Messy war involving
Lebanon, a group called the PLO and Israel.
Israel withdraws in 2002
PLO/Fatah, Hamas and
Hezbollah
1.
Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1964.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Charter calls for elimination of state of Israel.
Works as a terrorist organization
Changes name to Fatah
“Controls” the West Bank
2. Hezbollah, (the party of God).
A.
Created in 1980s. A military and ‘social community’ organization
funded by Iran and located in Lebanon.
B.
Launched a series of rocket attacks against Israel in 2006. Israel
responded in kind.
3. Hamas: Created in 1987 (aim to drive Israel out of occupied
territories and creation of Islamic state).
A.
B.
More popular with Palestinians—due to social programs.
Championed suicide bombers.
Controls the Gaza Strip
Intifada “Shaking Off”
1.
2.
1980s Israelis keep hard line—both 
diplomatically and with increased
settlements
1987 1st Intifada in West Bank and

Gaza—ended in1993.
C.
Kids with stones
Hamas created—sole purpose to destroy
Israel
Low level attacks
D.
Killing of informers (about 1000), etc.
A.
B.
Result1,162 Palestinians (241
children) and 160 Israelis (5
children) had died
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=EYsd_2pr7t
k
Tragedy in our Time:
45:21
2nd Intifada 2000--2006
1.
How started (disputed)
does it matter?
A. Israel responds to
riots with force.
A.
Guns beat rocks…
Seemed to be new
level of brutality
(suicide attacks, etc)
2. 4,000 Palestinian
killed and 1,000
Israelis (most civilians)
3. Where to now???
B.
 http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=uLig0i3RqQ
4
 103:50
Major Players
1.Mahmoud Abbas (President
of the Palestinian Authority and
leader of Fatah)
2. Hamas: Militant
Islamist group,
controls
the Gaza Strip
3. Benjamin Netanyahu
(Israeli PM)
4. Israeli Settlers
5. The US
Current Issues: a few but there are so many
1. Palestinians want a “real” State—nobody wants them to have it.
1.
2.
3.
Two state solution
One state solution
http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbc-news/white-house-critical-of-netanyahus-lack-of-commitment-on-two-state-solution415917123602
2. Peace talks have a bad history—atmosphere is too bitter…but US
pushing for restart of peace-talks. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11103745
3. Israel wants an end to all violence and to be recognized by all
Arab countries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XcA9lGkRa8 (In new talks Israel has
demanded that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state)
4. Palestinians want a return to the 1967 borders
Current Issues Continued
5. Palestinians want an end
to illegal Israeli
settlement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sib5HbdEV4
6. Fight over water control
(controlled by
Israel…etc.,).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rep7GCWXatY
7. Both sides want stability
and peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAV-3-AqP9M
8. And do not even start
with religion:
March 2013 Obama Speech to Israeli Students
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih8KPgklWKY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZEpvmRrz8A