now I'm not sure
a. whether it answers the question and
b. what to write now.
Please help me! I started to write another copy that I will type up if you want to read that. Sorry to ask you this.
Christie35
Assess the attempts by the Palestinians, the Arab nations and the Israleli governments to reach a peace agreement between 1979 - 1996
The creation of Israel brought about increased hostility amongst the neighbouring coutries, particularly Egypt. It initiated the failure of neighbouring countries to recognise the right of Israel to exist, and, after their defeat in the 1947/9 war, Arab countries refused to sign any form of a peace treaty with the Jewish state. A further discouragement for the Arabs was the repitive intervention of the super powers, during and after the war. Before 1979, the concept of peace was overshadowed by the belief that the only solution was armed conflict. During the 1947/9 war - or the "Disaster"- the Palestinians lost another large part of their homeland to the Jews. For the Arab peopulation in Israel, their homeland had ceased to exist and thus they were forced to flee, while the Palestinians who remained in Israel lived in settlements under Jewish control.
On the 29th October, 1956, 100 000 Israeli troops attacked Egypt by way of the Sinai Desert, and within days the Israelis had managed to capture the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Penisula. Physically victory was awarded to Israel, who had also captured the West Bank, occupied the Canal Zone on the 5th November, and gained access to the Suez Canal. However, world support was diversified towarts Egypt. This had a dramatic impact on the 1967 war and created a rift between the Arab world, preventing them from achieving common goals. This only intesified the hostility towards the concept of peace.
However, the 1973 'Kom Kippur' war or the 'Ramadan War' changed these attitudes. All fighting sides realised that this conflict was not being resolved through the use of arms - the only way to resolve this ongoing conflict was through peace.
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was one of the first leaders in the Middle East to recognise the need for peace. He could see that terrorist attacks only brought about attacks of retaliation. It was with this in mind, and the knowledge that Sadat would need the support of the United States to regain the Sinai, which he would only recieve if he moved towards peace, that Sadat arranged a peace talk. When he was invited to address the Israeli parliament (the Knesset), Sadat clarified that he wanted a permanent peace agreement, but he also demanded Israel's withdrawal from the Occupied Territories gained in the 1967 war, and for her to recognise the Palestinian's rights to self - determination. Menachem Begin refused, but agreed to continue peace talks.
Jimmy Carter, the Democratic President of the United States, was the initator of the Camp David Accords. Months after Sadat addressed the Knesset, Carter persuaded Sadat and Begin to meet him at the Camp David Retreat. They agreed, and together they drafted what is known as the Camp David Accords. These Accords were made up of two agreements. The first, 'A framework for Peace in the Middle East' called for peact negotiations among Egypt, Jordan, Israel and representatives of the Palestinian people to settle the question of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The second, 'A framework for the conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel' was a draft proposing for the signing of an official peace agreement within the next three months. However, these Accords thoroughly ignored the question of Jeruselem and the future of the Golan Heights.
These Accords were met with opposition on both sides. To begin with, Arabs saw Sadat's actions as the ultimate act of betrayal. As consequence, Egypt was exxpelled from the Arab League, which was ironic, seeing as though President Nassar had been the one to establish the League. However, the main reason for opposition to any form of peace treaty with Israel was because making peace would indicate that the Arabs would have to recognise Israel. Hard line Israelis opposed any conciliation or compromise on any issue with the Arabs. The main opposition arose due to deep concern over Israeli border security.
Opposition by the Arabs led to the destructive assasination of Sadat on 6th October 1981. He was succeded by Hosni Mubarak, who still upholds the treaty today.
However, while conlict appeared to be settled between Egypt and Israel, tensions between Lebanon and Israel grew, made worse by the increasing number of Palestinians entering Lebanon. With the Palestinians came the establishment of many PLO bases and infastructures. In four years, the Israelis invaded Lebanon twice, once in March 1978 in retaliation for a PLO bus hijack, which killed many Israeli civilians. The UN ordered a cease fire in July 1981. However, in June 1982, 172 000 Israeli soldiers invaded once again. This invasion was called the Operation for Peace in Galilee. The Israeli troops aimed to firstly destroy PLO bases, and to secure Israel's 15km wide security zone. They reached Beirut quickly, and launched ariel and artillary bombardment, which continued for 79 days. On the 11th August, Israel agreed to the US brokered ceasefire. This allowed safe passage out of Beirut, Tinisa, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. After this, demonstrators in Israel called for peace.