Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Worksheet
Ch 1: Timeline
Watch the video overview and write a 2-paragraph (or more) summary. What is
happening? Why is it happening?
The Israelis and Palestinians are clashing over a piece of land in the Middle East that
both believe should be theirs. The Israelis point to the horrors of the Holocaust as
the reason why the Jews need their own independent state while the Palestinians
protest it is not right for the Palestinians to pay for a sin they did nothing to commit.
This internal affair is complicated by the fact that the external Arab countries have
universally adopted an anti-Israel stance leading to any attempts at peace to have to
solve both internal and external factors.
Ch. 2: The territorial puzzle
What does each party believe?
The Zionist groups believe that the Israel belongs solely to them, while Hamas wants
the claims of the native Palestinians to be recognized.
What land is in dispute?
The land of Israel.
Use the table to put important information about each piece of the puzzle.
Remember the who, what, when, where and why.
Israel
West Bank
Capital, Jerusalem, is under dispute.

Gaza Strip

Golan Heights

Former Syrian territory, taken by Israel.

Ch. 3: Diplomatic Efforts- Fill in a summary (1-3 sentences) about the diplomatic
efforts that have taken place over the past 20 years.
1991: The Oslo accords, which sought to trade Palestinian autonomy for Israeli
security guarantees, where debated. However, it was never implemented.
1993: Israel and Syria negotiate over the status of Golan Heights.

1994: Jordan signs peace treaty with Israel.

2000: Leaders of both Israel and Palestine meet in Camp David with President Bill
Clinton to discuss land ownership in Israel.

2003: George Bush became first US president to endorse the creation of a

Palestinian state.

2007: George Bush arranges a new talks in Annapolis, Maryland.

2010: President Barack Obama names George Mitchell as envoy to the Middle East.
Chapter 4: Parties to the conflict
Fill in the chart describing the role of each party to this conflict.
Diplomatic Actors
Non-state Actors
United States

Refugees

Closest ally to Israel, lost some standing

with Arab nations but still feared as
world power.

The people who have lost their land,

their demands of justice are a point of
contention for all sides in the struggle.

European Union

Fatah

Seeks to coordinate European response

to Israel and supports two state solution.

Largest Palestinian political faction, and

secular. Driven out by Hamas.

United Nations

Hezboliah

Seen as a neutral platform, and

resolutions critical to peace in the area.

Lebanese radical Shiite terror group.

Arab League

Hamas

Still somewhat hostile to Israel, but the

mostly Sunni Arab leaders of the League
are starting to warm to Israel against
Shia Iran.

Terrorist organization that has one

elections amongst the Palestiniams.