Assess the effectiveness of the Arab and Israeli peace initiatives from the 1970s to the 1990s.

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Assess the effectiveness of the Arab and Israeli peace initiatives from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Piggott, L & Rutland, S. (1998) "One Land: Two Peoples" Australia: Science Press

Bickerton, I & Pearson, M.N. (1990) THE ARAB ISRAELI CONFLICT Australia: Longman Cheshire Pty Ltd.

CONTESTED SPACES

Chapter 7 – The Peace Process 1973-1979

Key Historiographical Issues

  • the meaning of the Camp David Accords
  • impact of Likud and the settler movement on the peace process
  • impact of Palestinian terrorist activity on the peace process

In 1973 the Arabs’ approach to Israel followed the principles set out in Sept. 1967 Khartoum declaration.

No peace with Israel; no recognition of Israel; no negotiations with Israel.

Major concerns of Israelis (since 1948):

  • security of the state
  • refusal of the Arab states to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist

There were significant developments between 1973 and 1979. Following the 1973 war, Israel realised it urgently needed to explore ways of achieving peace with its neighbours as the balance of power in the Middle East had shifted in the direction of the Arabs.

The Arab-Israeli resolution has become important for international communities e.g. USA, Soviet Union. The Persian Gulf, oil region is critically important to the world economy – Europe imports 85% of its oil needs from the Persian Gulf states and Japan 90%. 1960s – 1970s SU attempted to extend and supplement its influence in the Gulf region.

LIKUD

December 1973 – national elections

Labour Party, led by Golda Meir and Moshe Dayan

The main opponent was the newly formed party Likud, led by Menachem Begin – opposed the returning of any territory to Egypt, won 30% of votes.

WEST BANK ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the 6-day War.

1 million Arabs fell under Israel control.

ISSUES SURROUNDING THE WEST BANK AND GAZA, 1967-1977 (following 1967 war)

Israeli Perspective

  • Under Jordanian control (1948-1967) the Palestinians had been kept politically and socially divided in an effort to limit the growth of Palestinian nationalism.
  • After 1967 the West Bank economy and labour force were incorporated into the Israeli economy.

Palestinian Perspective

  • Argue Israel continued a policy aimed at preventing growth of a collective Palestinian identity.
  • Assert that Israel soon set out on the path of deliberately establishing Jewish military settlements in the Gaza Strip, Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights
  • Initially the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza benefited economically but becoming part of the Israeli economy  high level of employment 98%

ESTABLISHMENT OF JEWISH MILITARY SETTLEMENTS

Established settlements outside the Arab population centres in the Gaza Strip, policy was pursued by the ruling Labour Party and National Religious Party. 1874 – Gush Emunim evoked religious and historical sentiments and called for the absorption of the West Bank as it was part of Eretz Yisrael, biblical Promised Land.

Chapter 9 – The Intifada, the impact of the Gulf War and Madrid

Key Historiographical Issues

  • causes and consequences of the Intifada
  • disagreement over the Palestinian Declaration of Independence
  • impact of the Gulf War

Violence between Israel and the Palestinians escalated during the 1980s. In response to the demands of the ultra-nationalist and religious parties, Israel increased the number and size of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. By 1988 more than half the West Bank and a third of the Gaza Strip had been transferred to Jewish control. Almost 100 000 Jews now lived in about fifteen metropolitan satellites around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israeli Arabs were alienated and West Bank and Gaza Palestinians disillusioned.

By the late 1980s, a whole generation of Palestinians (of whom 70% were under 25yrs old) had grown up under Israeli occupation. Their political future was uncertain, their civil rights limited and they lived in poverty – especially those in the refugee camps. In the West Bank 10% of the residents lived in camps while the percentage in camps in the Gaza Strip was around 25%.

PLO attacks against Israeli settlers in the West Bank increased, but the settlements continued. Israel closed West Bank universities, imposed curfews and deported those they believed responsible for the unrest. Palestinians realise that the Arab states could or would not help them, the PLO was ineffectual and they would have to rely on their own efforts if they were to ‘shake off’ Israeli rule.

In December 1987, large-scale riots and demonstrations broke out in the Gaza Strip following an incident in which an Israeli truck killed four Palestinians and injured seven others. These riots known as Intifada lasted for the next five years. Within the first year more than 150 Palestinians were killed and around 1 500 were wounded. Education institutions were closed, curfews imposed, hundreds arrested and houses demolished.  By 1990 the International Red Cross estimated that more than 800 had been killed by Israeli security forces and 16 000 imprisoned. In addition, some hundreds of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel had been killed by their compatriots. Over 300 Arab homes in the West Bank and in Gaza had been demolished or sealed up. By contrast, fewer than fifty Israelis had been killed. In November 1989, the Israeli Defence Ministry revealed that the intifada had cost Israel Defence Forces $500 million.

1900 PALESTINIAN DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

In mid-October 1988 Arafat, to satisfy American and Israeli objections, modified his position on an independent Palestinian state, stating the PLO would accept a federation with Jordan. A week later, on 22 October he met King Hussein and President Mubarak at Aqaba to work out the possibilities. On 3 November the United Nations General Assembly condemned Israeli oppression in the occupied territories and the violations of Palestinian human rights.

The PLO Deceleration of Independence attracted immediate worldwide attention. Within three days at least twenty-seven nations, mostly Arab ad Muslim, extended recognition to the government in exile. On 18th November, the Soviet Union recognised the proclamation of the Palestinian state, and on 21 November so did Egypt. Israel denounced the declaration, dismissing it as irrelevant, and the US rejected it. By the mid-1990s, more states recognised the PLO declaration than recognised Israel.

THE STOCKHOLM DECLARATION

In December 1988, Arafat and the Swedish foreign minister issued a joint statement—quickly dubbed the ‘Stockholm Declaration’—that the Palestine National Council recognised Israel as a state in the region and condemned and rejected terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism.

Arafat addressed a special meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in Geneva on 13 December 1988. He outlined his own peace plan. He proposed an international conference held under United Nations auspices, with representatives from Israel, Palestine and their neighbours, followed by Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza, with the forces to be replaces by a temporary UN peacekeeping force.

Under American pressure, Prime Minister Shamir presented his own four-point plan as a response to Aragat’s November 1988 diplomatic bombshell. Rejecting the notion of direct Israeli negotiations with the PLO, Shamir proposed that elections be held in territories under Israeli supervision to determine who should negotiate with Israel for the Palestinians over the future of the occupied territories. Shamir’s plan was similar to the formula for Palestinian autonomy agreed to at Camp David. President George Bush senior, supported the proposal, and King Hussein, after a meeting with Secretary of State James Baker, expressed his qualified support. Shamir stated unequivocally that the result would be, at best, Palestinian autonomy.

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THE MADRID CONFERENCE, 1991

Following the Gulf War, President Bush Senior was determined to take advantage of America’s pre-eminent position in the world and impose a peace on the Middle East. This was due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and its inability to counter the US.

A peace conference at Madrid in late October 1991, little came of the conference. Subsequent negotiations stalled as Israel went to the polls in June 1992 and the US in November. Following the Israeli election, Labour leader Yitzhak Rabin took over as prime minister.

Chapter 10 – ...

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