Presented by:
Dr. Joseph G. Njoroge
History of the Holy Land
n
Begins around 2000 BC. When GOD makes a promise to Abraham ( King of the
Jews).
n
Promise was to make Abraham and his people into a great nation.
n
The Jews led by Joseph, conquered the land of Israel through God’s
direction.
Zionism
n
Jews were exiled from their homeland about 2,500 years ago and have been
trying to return since
n
The concept of the Jewish return to their homeland is known as “Zionism”
Zionism cont...
n
The idea of Zionism is rooted in the emotion of the Jewish people and their
desire to return to their original homeland
n
The term “Zionism” comes from the biblical word “Zion” which translates to
“the land of Israel”
Birth of the Israeli State
n
Following WW1, Palestine became a British province and Jewish immigration
steadily increased
n
Violence erupts between the Arab people and the Jewish people
n
Zionist Massacre led by Begin expelled 700,000 Palestinians from their
homes.
n
UN intervenes and established two states, one Arab and one Jewish, on
November 29, 1947 (Resolution 181)
Birth of the Israeli State cont.
n
UN Partition was rejected by the Arabs and accepted by the Jews.
n
On May 14, 1948 the UN acted in accordance with Resolution 181 and
established the State of Israel.
n
Israeli’s Declaration of Independence was publicly read that same evening.
Israel’s Declaration
Defense of the Israeli State..
n
May, 1948: Armies of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt attacked
Israel.
n
Israel defeats the 5 Arab armies.
Heavyweight Fight
n
Arab League of
Nations
VS.
n
Israel
Matches include...
n
1949- Israel’s War of Independence- ended with agreements between
Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria which resulted in a 50% increase
in Israeli territory.
n
1956- Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal. French, Israeli, and British forces
engage Egypt in response. Israel withdrew in 1957 due to UNEF.
Matches cont’d…
n
1967- Egypt ordered withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Sinai Peninsula.
Israel retaliates by striking Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
n
1973- Syria and Egypt launch and attack against Israel on the Jewish holiday
of Yom Kippur. Israel repelled invading armies pass the ‘67 cease-fire line.
1978 Camp David Accords
Peace Processes
n
In 1977, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat visited Jerusalem which opened the
door for the 1978 Israeli-Egyptian peace summit at Camp David.
n
The Camp David Accords led to the signing of a treaty in 1979, in which
Israel would withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula by 1982.
Camp David Accords cont’d…
n
Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat (President of Arab Republic of Egypt) and Menachem
Begin (Prime Minister of Israel) met with Jimmy Carter (P.O.T.U.S.) at Camp
David on Sept. 5-17, 1978.
n
In 1979 they agreed on a framework for peace in the Middle East, in which
Israel withdrew from the Sinai in 1982.
1982 in Israel
n
1982- An assassination attempt on the Israeli Ambassador to the U.K. failed.
n
Terrorist attacks are targeted toward Israel.
n
In response Israel invades Lebanon to fight the PLO. Israel withdrew most of
its forces in 1985.
n
Begin resigns as Israeli P.M.
U.S.-Israel Relations
n
U.S. has and is the strongest supporter of Israel. (1st to
recognize Israel as a state.)
n
The budget allocated toward Israel is the most untouchable budget in
Congress.
n
1/6th of total U.S. Foreign Aid goes to Israel.
U.S.-Israel
Relations II
n
Israel is the U.S.’s strongest ally in the Middle East.
n
This partnership strengthens an already weak American policy for the Middle
East.
Devil’s Advocates
n
Leader of Palestine
n
Israeli P.M.
Israel and Today’s World
n
Today the U.S. and Israel still have very close ties. (Israel receives $1.8
Billion in military aid and $½ Billion in R&D.)
n
This connection causes severe problems between the Arab world and the U.S.
Israel and Today’s World II…
n
Because of the strong ties between the U.S. and Israel, many U.S.
institutions are targeted for terrorist attacks. (i.e. U.S.S. Cole, US
Embassies, and the World Trade Center in New York on 9-11-01).
World Trade
Center
U.S.S. Cole