Crash Course World History: Israel and Palestine

Introduction

• Host: John Green
• Topic: Israel and Palestine conflict
• Aim: Discuss without inciting a flame war; focus on the historical and nationalistic aspects rather than religious.

Background

• Conflict often mischaracterized as ancient and religious; actually, more about land and nationalism.
• Important historians: James Gelvin, focus on competing nationalisms.

Late 19th Century

• Ottoman Empire controlled Palestine.
• Population: 87% Muslim, 10% Christian, 3% Jewish.
• Jerusalem had religious parity.
• Example of coexistence: Wasif Jawhariyyeh, a Christian Arab musician, lived peacefully with Jewish and Muslim neighbors.

Rise of Nationalism

• Late 19th-century Europe, rise of nationalism.
• Theodor Herzl and Zionism: Jewish nationalism, secular Jews wanting a state for Jews.

Balfour Declaration and British Promises

• 1917: British support for a Jewish national home in Palestine.
• Competing promises:
  • Balfour Declaration (1917): Jewish national home.
  • Secret agreements with French and Sharif Hussein of Mecca (1915): conflicting promises.

British Mandate in Palestine

• Post-WWI, British colonial rule established.
• Separate institutions for different religions, "divide and rule" strategy.
• Jewish immigration encouraged under Balfour Declaration.
• Land purchases by Jews led to rising tensions.
• Palestinian nationalism began to form.

Arab Revolt and British White Paper

• 1936: Palestinian revolt against British rule.
• British suppression with Jewish militia aid.
• British White Paper limited Jewish immigration and proposed a joint state in 10 years.

UN Partition Plan and Arab-Israeli War

• 1947: UN Partition Plan proposed separate Jewish and Palestinian states.
• 1948 Arab-Israeli War following partition; Israel expanded territory.
• Aftermath: 700,000 Palestinians became refugees (nakba).

1967 Six-Day War

• Israel vs. Arab states; Israel gained more territories.
• UN Resolution 242: called for Israeli withdrawal and mutual recognition.

Evolution of the Conflict

• Shift from Israeli-Arab to Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• Formation of PLO led by Yasser Arafat.
• Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

Intifadas and Oslo Accords

• First Intifada (1980s): nonviolent protests, eventual violence.
• Oslo Accords began peace talks.
• Complex issues: settlements, refugee rights, water rights.

Clinton Talks and Second Intifada

• Late 1990s: Clinton's peace talks; ultimately unsuccessful.
• Second Intifada sparked by Ariel Sharon's 2000 visit to Temple Mount.

Recent Developments

• 2002: Israeli barrier construction around West Bank.
• 2005: Death of Arafat; Hamas electoral victory.
• Ongoing conflict with periodic escalations.

Concluding Thoughts

• Both Israeli and Palestinian narratives have legitimacy.
• Understanding the conflict as non-religious and modern may help in resolving it.

Acknowledgments

• Filmed in Indianapolis, funded by Subbable subscribers.
• Additional resources: Thought Café video series on Israel and Palestine.