Arab–Israeli conflict — 1948 war and escalation
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Flip to reveal answersWhat event most directly increased world sympathy for a Jewish state before 1948?
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Question
What event most directly increased world sympathy for a Jewish state before 1948?
Answer
The Holocaust — the Nazi genocide of six million Jews during WWII, which left many survivors as refugees with nowhere to go.
Question
UN Resolution 181 (November 1947)
Answer
The UN General Assembly vote to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international control. Jews accepted; Arabs rejected.
Question
David Ben-Gurion
Answer
Leader of the Jewish Agency who declared the creation of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948 and became its first prime minister.
Question
What was the Arab League's role in 1948?
Answer
A coalition of Arab states (formed 1945) that coordinated the invasion of the new State of Israel by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq the day after independence was declared.
Question
Nakba
Answer
Arabic for 'catastrophe' — the displacement of around 700,000 Palestinian Arabs who fled or were expelled during the 1948 war.
Question
Compare: territory Israel controlled after 1948 vs after 1967
Answer
1948: about 78% of Mandate Palestine (more than the UN plan gave it). 1967: added Sinai, Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights after the Six-Day War.
Question
Suez Crisis (1956) — what happened and what did it show?
Answer
Egypt's Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal; Israel invaded Sinai with Britain and France, but US/Soviet pressure forced withdrawal. Nasser emerged as an Arab hero, showing old colonial powers no longer controlled the region.
Question
Six-Day War (1967) — outcome in one line
Answer
A devastating, rapid Arab defeat: Israel captured Sinai and Gaza (Egypt), the West Bank and East Jerusalem (Jordan), and the Golan Heights (Syria).
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Yom Kippur / October War (1973) — why did it matter even though Israel won militarily?
Answer
Egypt and Syria's surprise attack restored Arab pride after 1967's humiliation and helped push both sides towards later peace negotiations.
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PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)
Answer
Founded 1964 to represent Palestinian nationalism; led by Yasser Arafat from 1969, it combined guerrilla action with a diplomatic search for international support.
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Process: from occupation to organised Palestinian resistance
Answer
1967 occupation of Gaza/West Bank → PLO's armed and diplomatic campaign → First Intifada (1987) mass uprising → rise of Hamas (1987) → Second Intifada (2000–2005).
Question
What is a settlement in this context, and why is it controversial?
Answer
A Jewish community built on land Israel occupied after 1967 (e.g. West Bank). Palestinians and most of the international community view settlements as illegal and an obstacle to a Palestinian state.
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Topic 10.9 hub
Conflict and instability in the Middle East (1896–2020)
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