Israeli+Palestinian+Conflict


 * Israeli Palestinian Conflict **

12/13/08 Today there are close to 9 million Palestinians in three major population groups: ◆ 3.2 million live under Israeli occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; ◆ 4.6 million live in exile, with 2.2 million in refugee camps ◆ 1.1 million are citizens of Israel. Palestinians comprise 20% of the population, about 1.2 million people. The West Bank and Gaza total only 1,000 sq km (smaller than Delaware). UN Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967 – the legal basis for the Oslo Agreements 8 – calls for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories based on the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war. It is also against international law for an occupying power to transfer its own population into occupied territory. The U.S. has given Israel, one of the richer countries in the world, over $100 billion in financial and military aid, mostly after the Camp David agreement of 1979. ** Core Issues ** // Jerusalem // - Judaism, Christianity, Islam all claim it to be important place in religion. Israel doesn’t want it divided; Palestine believes some parts should be. // Palestinian Refugees: // 4 million refugees fled from Israel when it was created. Palestine wants the refugees and ancestors from 1948-1967 to be able to go back to their homes. Israel says these refugees fled voluntarily. // Israeli Settlements: // During 90’s Israelis resettled on the West Bank, now home to 350,000 Israelis. Some settlements are in Palestinian territory. Palestine wants to remove the Jewish communities; Israel wants to retain some West Bank land to have buffers for future aggression. // Division of Resources and Water: // Palestine doesn’t want to give up any resources to Israel in fear of their economy collapsing. Israelis settled on West Bank consume the majority of the water. Palestine acknowledges legality of Israel using resources and Israel has agreed to provide resources for production. This agreement is temporary.