Introduction
We chose the topic of the Arab-Israeli conflict because this dispute is one of the most complex and
longest-lasting conflicts in modern history. The roots of the current conflict date back to the end of
the 19th century and continue to this day. From a religious point of view, this conflict goes much
deeper into history, back to the period of Arab rule, when the non-Muslim population began to be
persecuted. The current conflict began with the emergence of various national groups that claimed
the territory of historic Palestine as their own. The conflict is of interest to almost all powers, as it is a
geopolitically important region.
The aim of our thesis is to analyze the main causes, course, and consequences of the Israeli-Arab
conflict. We will briefly discuss the history of the conflict up to the present day. We will also look at
the efforts toward peace and diplomacy that both sides have made throughout history.
We consider this topic to be very important, as it affects society even today. It is important to
understand the international and diplomatic relations in this region in order to better understand the
situation that is still unfolding.
The work is divided into several chapters, each devoted to a specific period in the region.
As a practical part of the thesis, we will create a poster of the timeline of Arab-Israeli conflicts and
peace negotiations. Its purpose will be to provide a brief explanation of the issue.
,1 Obsah
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
1. Jews and Arabs before the conflict ................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Zionism .................................................................................................................................... 4
2 British Mandate of Palestine 1920-1948........................................................................................ 5
2.1 Palestine during World War II ................................................................................................ 6
2.2 Palestine after World War II ................................................................................................... 6
2.3 The UN..................................................................................................................................... 6
3 The establishment of Israel ............................................................................................................ 7
4 The 1950s and 1960s....................................................................................................................... 9
4.1 The Suez Crisis of 1956 ......................................................................................................... 10
4.2 The Six-Day War .................................................................................................................... 10
4.3 War of attrition ..................................................................................................................... 11
5 The 1970s and 1980s..................................................................................................................... 12
5.1 The War of Judgment Day (Yom Kippur) ............................................................................. 13
5.2 The Lebanese War ................................................................................................................ 14
5.3 The First Intifada ................................................................................................................... 15
6 The 1990s ...................................................................................................................................... 15
6.1 Desert Storm ......................................................................................................................... 16
6.2 Diplomatic policy .................................................................................................................. 16
6.2.1 The Madrid Conference of 1991 ................................................................................... 16
6.2.2 The Oslo Peace Process ................................................................................................ 17
6.2.3 The right wing back in power ....................................................................................... 18
7 The Second Intifada ...................................................................................................................... 20
7.1 The quest for peace .............................................................................................................. 21
7.2 Palestinian elections ............................................................................................................. 22
7.2.1 Hamas ............................................................................................................................ 22
8 The war against Hamas................................................................................................................. 24
8.1 The current Hamas attack on Israel ..................................................................................... 25
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 26
, 1. Jews and Arabs before the conflict
At the end of the fourth millennium BC, the area of present-day Israel and Palestine was first settled
and given the name Canaan. In the 13th century BC, Jewish tribes arrived in this territory. Later, the
Jewish biblical state of Israel was established in this territory, and its first ruler was Saul. He was
succeeded by David, who managed to occupy Jerusalem, and so this city became the center of Israel.
Later, it was divided into northern Israel and southern Judea. Israel was later invaded by the
Assyrians, who expelled the Israeli nation. They returned only when the Persian Empire took over,
allowing the Jews to return home. Judea suffered a similar fate, and the Jews were forced into exile
in Babylon, from which they eventually returned. After Persia, the Roman Empire seized power, and
during its reign, the Great Jewish Revolt broke out, in which the Jews rebelled against the Romans,
and subsequently the territory of Israel was renamed Syria-Palestine. The Jews wanted to use the
revolt to get rid of Roman rule and restore their independent state. The reasons were high taxes,
which caused famine among the Jews, and the Romans' disrespect for the Jewish religion. After some
time, Rome lost control of this territory, and the Byzantines began to administer it. Emperor
Constantine permitted Christianity here and even converted himself. Jerusalem became the center of
Christianity. The emergence of the new religion of Islam in the early 7th century AD was preceded by
a great Arab expansion throughout the Middle East. The Arabs occupied Jerusalem but granted it
religious freedom and complete authority. In 1099, the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem and
massacred Muslims and Jews. The Crusades finally ended when the Mamluks, who were Muslim
soldiers, conquered the city of Acre. Under their rule, Islam became the majority religion in Palestine.
However, their rule did not last forever, and they were defeated by the Ottoman Empire, which was
weakening, so Jews began to move back to the area. European powers began to take an interest in
this territory. In the mid-19th century, the era of Zionism and Arab nationalism began. Both
movements wanted the area for themselves. The British took advantage of this and conquered
Jerusalem and the Turkish dominion, and Palestine became part of the British Mandate. During this
period, a conflict began that continues to this day.
We chose the topic of the Arab-Israeli conflict because this dispute is one of the most complex and
longest-lasting conflicts in modern history. The roots of the current conflict date back to the end of
the 19th century and continue to this day. From a religious point of view, this conflict goes much
deeper into history, back to the period of Arab rule, when the non-Muslim population began to be
persecuted. The current conflict began with the emergence of various national groups that claimed
the territory of historic Palestine as their own. The conflict is of interest to almost all powers, as it is a
geopolitically important region.
The aim of our thesis is to analyze the main causes, course, and consequences of the Israeli-Arab
conflict. We will briefly discuss the history of the conflict up to the present day. We will also look at
the efforts toward peace and diplomacy that both sides have made throughout history.
We consider this topic to be very important, as it affects society even today. It is important to
understand the international and diplomatic relations in this region in order to better understand the
situation that is still unfolding.
The work is divided into several chapters, each devoted to a specific period in the region.
As a practical part of the thesis, we will create a poster of the timeline of Arab-Israeli conflicts and
peace negotiations. Its purpose will be to provide a brief explanation of the issue.
,1 Obsah
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
1. Jews and Arabs before the conflict ................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Zionism .................................................................................................................................... 4
2 British Mandate of Palestine 1920-1948........................................................................................ 5
2.1 Palestine during World War II ................................................................................................ 6
2.2 Palestine after World War II ................................................................................................... 6
2.3 The UN..................................................................................................................................... 6
3 The establishment of Israel ............................................................................................................ 7
4 The 1950s and 1960s....................................................................................................................... 9
4.1 The Suez Crisis of 1956 ......................................................................................................... 10
4.2 The Six-Day War .................................................................................................................... 10
4.3 War of attrition ..................................................................................................................... 11
5 The 1970s and 1980s..................................................................................................................... 12
5.1 The War of Judgment Day (Yom Kippur) ............................................................................. 13
5.2 The Lebanese War ................................................................................................................ 14
5.3 The First Intifada ................................................................................................................... 15
6 The 1990s ...................................................................................................................................... 15
6.1 Desert Storm ......................................................................................................................... 16
6.2 Diplomatic policy .................................................................................................................. 16
6.2.1 The Madrid Conference of 1991 ................................................................................... 16
6.2.2 The Oslo Peace Process ................................................................................................ 17
6.2.3 The right wing back in power ....................................................................................... 18
7 The Second Intifada ...................................................................................................................... 20
7.1 The quest for peace .............................................................................................................. 21
7.2 Palestinian elections ............................................................................................................. 22
7.2.1 Hamas ............................................................................................................................ 22
8 The war against Hamas................................................................................................................. 24
8.1 The current Hamas attack on Israel ..................................................................................... 25
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 26
, 1. Jews and Arabs before the conflict
At the end of the fourth millennium BC, the area of present-day Israel and Palestine was first settled
and given the name Canaan. In the 13th century BC, Jewish tribes arrived in this territory. Later, the
Jewish biblical state of Israel was established in this territory, and its first ruler was Saul. He was
succeeded by David, who managed to occupy Jerusalem, and so this city became the center of Israel.
Later, it was divided into northern Israel and southern Judea. Israel was later invaded by the
Assyrians, who expelled the Israeli nation. They returned only when the Persian Empire took over,
allowing the Jews to return home. Judea suffered a similar fate, and the Jews were forced into exile
in Babylon, from which they eventually returned. After Persia, the Roman Empire seized power, and
during its reign, the Great Jewish Revolt broke out, in which the Jews rebelled against the Romans,
and subsequently the territory of Israel was renamed Syria-Palestine. The Jews wanted to use the
revolt to get rid of Roman rule and restore their independent state. The reasons were high taxes,
which caused famine among the Jews, and the Romans' disrespect for the Jewish religion. After some
time, Rome lost control of this territory, and the Byzantines began to administer it. Emperor
Constantine permitted Christianity here and even converted himself. Jerusalem became the center of
Christianity. The emergence of the new religion of Islam in the early 7th century AD was preceded by
a great Arab expansion throughout the Middle East. The Arabs occupied Jerusalem but granted it
religious freedom and complete authority. In 1099, the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem and
massacred Muslims and Jews. The Crusades finally ended when the Mamluks, who were Muslim
soldiers, conquered the city of Acre. Under their rule, Islam became the majority religion in Palestine.
However, their rule did not last forever, and they were defeated by the Ottoman Empire, which was
weakening, so Jews began to move back to the area. European powers began to take an interest in
this territory. In the mid-19th century, the era of Zionism and Arab nationalism began. Both
movements wanted the area for themselves. The British took advantage of this and conquered
Jerusalem and the Turkish dominion, and Palestine became part of the British Mandate. During this
period, a conflict began that continues to this day.
