Israeli Palestinian Conflict

I have played as both sides

Play as a Palestinian

Play as an Israeli

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Israeli - Palestinian Conflict

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Tradition holds that Abraham, a Sumerian man living in modern day Iraq was the first Monotheistic Person. God spoke to Abraham and let him know there was only one God and ordered hi to take his family an move south, into Palestine.

2000 BC

The Origins of Judaism

During this time, the Jews believe that God reaffirmed his choice of them as his people and his promise of a homeland for them in Palestine.

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The Jewish people end a period of enslavement in Egypt by leaving en masse. This later becomes the basis for the Jewish Passover Holiday.

1250 BC

Origins of Judaism

The modern state of Israel is founded.

1948 AD

Many European Jews begin to move to Palestine.

1917 AD

The Romans destroy the temple and kick the Jews out of Israel.

70 AD

Historical Kingdom of Israel Founded

1030 bc

Israeli Perspective

TIMELINE

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By 1030 BC the historical kingdoms of Israel and Judah have been founded in Palestine. The people are initially ruled by a series of judges.

1030 BC

The ancient kingdom of Israel

You'll join the Rosen family in their home in Jerusalem, in the ancient kingdom of Judah.

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To understand the Jewish Perspective, you will be playing as a member of the Rosen Family. You will get glimpses of this family's fate throughout the story.

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The original kingdoms of Israel and Judah were ruled by a series of Judges, before the area was conquered first by the greeks...

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And eventually by the Romans. While the invading armies changed, our family's faith and culture remained the same...

The modern state of Israel is founded.

1948 AD

Many European Jews begin to move to Palestine.

1917 AD

The Romans destroy the temple and kick the Jews out of Israel.

70 AD

Historical Kingdom of Israel Founded

1030 bc

Israeli Perspective

TIMELINE

Under Roman rule, Jews were allowed to practice their religion, as long as they followed Roman laws and paid additional taxes.

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Leave the City

You are approached by a man you know from Temple. He is asking that the men of the Rosen Family join a rebellion against the Romans. What do you decide?

WE'll Join You

Rome does not take rebellion lightly. The Romans eventually recapture the city, destroy the temple in retribution and force all Jewish families to move out of Judea - including your family.

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Although the Rosen family lost some members in the uprising, the rest of the family now joins the rest of the Jews who have been exiled from Judea by the Romans.

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You want no part of angering the Romans. You and your family leave Judea for other parts of the empire with all of your posessions.

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Later, you hear that the Romans recaptured the city, destroyed the temple in retribution and forced all Jewish families to move out of Judea.

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Click the map to decide what part of the Roman Empire the Rosen Family should move to.

The Jewish Diaspora

Many Jews came to Spain by way of North Africa, particularly after 711, by which time the whole area was part of a new Islamic Empire. Until 1147, the Jews were able to live in relative peace and safety in Muslim Spain / North Africa, at which time a series of Anti-Jewish laws were passed and many Jews fled to Christian held areas of Spain. For the next 300 years, Jewish communities were alternately tolerated and persecuted by their Christian and Muslim countrymen, until 1492, when Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabela banished all non-Catholics from Spain. Jewish residents could either convert, or leave.

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Tolerance and Persecution

Spain & North Africa

You rejoin the Rosen family in the Spanish city of Toledo, in the year 1465. They have a sturdy stone house on a street in the Jewish quarter. The family are middle class craftsmen.

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Jews, Christians and Muslims have lived together in relative peace and harmony in the city for hundreds of years. Lately, though, some Spanish Kings and Queens have started trying to force other religions out of Spain.

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Pretend to Convert

Convert

By 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella forced all Jews in Spain to either leave or convert. This unites all of Spain under one religion: Roman Catholicism. What does the Rosen Family do?

Leave Spain

Eastern Europe

The Rosen Family joins the mass exodus of non-christians from spain. Choose where they re-settle.

Western Europe

Some Jews did convert to Christianity, but were still treated with suspision by their neighbors. Some tried to practice in secret and were sought out, tortured and executed by the Spanish Inquisition.

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By 1500, the Rosen family has lost either their faith or their lives. Click next to see what happens to Jewish families who survived.

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After the destruction of the Temple, many Jews resettled in Western Europe, in areas of France and Germany. Jews were generally treated with suspicion and hostility in Western Europe. Early on, Kings in France and Germany realized that the Catholic Church could help them get and keep power, which means that any NON-Christian religion would automatically be disfavored. Jews were mostly required to live in their own communties and faced social rejection because they were allowed to charge fees for lending money (Christians were not) and people did not like to pay back loans. Finally, any time a disaster or social upheavel occurred in Western Europe, the Jews frequently found themselves blamed for the issues and were attacked accordingly.

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Suspicion and Persecution

Western Europe

You come to in a medieval village. The year is 1349, and you've heard some things about a major outbreak of disease spreading throughout Europe.

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The people in the neighboring village believe a rumor that the plague is started by Jews poisioning the wells. Your village is attacked, people are killed, and homes are burned to the ground.

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See what happens to the survivors

Russia and Eastern Europe received their Jewish populations relatively later than Western Europe or Spain and North Africa. Most Jewish migrants who arrived in Eastern Europe did so after about the year 700, from other parts of the Middle East. Much like their treatment in the rest of the world, Jews were generally required to live in their own separate settlements or neighborhoods, which were usually impoverished. Although the area has one of the largest Jewish populations today, from the late 1700's Jews were only allowed to settle in certain, limited parts of the country. In the late 1800's to the early 1900's, anti Jewish sentiment was expressed through violent, often fatal riots called "pogroms" where Jewish families and neighborhoods were wiped out.

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Segregation and Pogroms

Eastern Europe

You find the Rosen family living in a shtetl, or small Jewish village in Russia. The year is 1881. Due to laws against Jews farming or owning land, the Rosen Family cannot move from their village and are too poor to support themselves.

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Try to Leave

The Czar is killed and some newspapers are suggesting the Jews are behind it. What does the Rosen Family do?

Stay in the Shtetl

Because of the laws in place to keep the Jews separate and poor, the Rosen family cannot afford to leave. The New Czar hates the Jews, because he believes the rumors that they killed his father. A new series of brutal pogroms takes place, killing thousands of Russian Jews.

What happens to the survivors?

The modern state of Israel is founded.

1948 AD

Many European Jews begin to move to Palestine.

1917 AD

The Romans destroy the temple and kick the Jews out of Israel.

70 AD

Historical Kingdom of Israel Founded

1030 bc

Israeli Perspective

TIMELINE

Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1917, and the Ottomans generally discuouraged Jews emigrating back to Palestine. The Ottomans were on the losing side of WW1, however, and Britain got control of the area in 1918, and announced they supported creating a Jewish country there, which increased immigration from Europe to Palestine.

No Jewish Settlement

Before WW1

EGYPT

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1517-1917

The Ottoman Empire

During WW1, the British got control of Palestine and, with the French, created colonies in the area. Click each button below to learn about British actions in their colonies.

The British Mandate

WW1 and Beyond

EGYPT

What WAS THE sYKES pICOT aGREEMENT

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What wAS THE bALFOUR dECLARATION

1918-1948

British Mandate

Become a Farmer

The Rosen Family has finally relocated from Europe back to Palestine. As their ship approaches the port, they need to decide how they will support themselves...

Work a specialized job

The Rosen Family has decided to try to farm the land, like many other Jewish migrants. However, life in Palestine is not as easy as they had hoped.

What Happened?

Their Arab neighbors resent the Jewish migrants coming in and taking what they view as their land. Also, farming in Palestine requires different skills than farming in Europe, and many migrants struggle.

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The Rosen Family has decided to stay in the cities and look for skilled labor jobs as craftsmen, teachers, bankers, etc. But things are far from peaceful...

What Happens?

The addition of new highly trained and educated skilled Jews from Europe causes unemployment among the Arabs already living in the area. This leads to increasing conflict and violent episodes between the two groups.

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The modern state of Israel is founded.

1948 AD

Many European Jews begin to move to Palestine.

1917 AD

The Romans destroy the temple and kick the Jews out of Israel.

70 AD

Historical Kingdom of Israel Founded

1030 bc

Israeli Perspective

TIMELINE

The tension and periodic violence between Jews and Muslims continued in Palestine between WW1 and WW2. When WW2 ended and the world learned the full extent of the Holocaust, it had a large effect on the conflict.

Jewish survivors flee europe

6 million dead

EGYPT

How did it affect the conflict?

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What wAS THE Holocaust?

1933-1945

World War 2 & the holocaust

The increased immigration to Palestine only increases the conflict between Muslims and Jews, and by 1948 they were looking for a way OUT of their colony in Palestine. They went to the UN, which passed Resolution 181, creating two separate countries, one for the Muslims and another for the Jews, with Jerusalem as a shared international zone. The British departed and conflict ensued immediately.

Partition and conflict

Resolution 181

EGYPT

How does the Rosen Family do?

1948

Creation of Israel

After centuries of oppression and the horrors of the Holocaust, the Jewish people were thrilled to have a country of their own, in a land that they believe was promised to them by God. But the celebration wouldn't last long...

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Israel was attacked by neighboring arab countries immediately. In the decades since its' founding, Isreal has been attacked frequently and has gained or lost land as a result of those attacks. Young Israelis are now required to serve in the military; including the Rosen Family...

Where are they now?

On the map, choose where you would like the Rosen Family to live now.

The apartments are nice, and since they are protected by the Israeli military they are pretty secutre...

The Rosen family is smaller these days, since over the last decades some members have died during military service. You find them living in a nice, Jewish-only, apartment block called a settlement in an area of North Israel called the Golan Heights.

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But local arabs are not happy with the presence of the settlers and night time attacks are common. While Israel is not the paradise the Rosen family hoped for, they are still relieved to have their own country and have no plans to leave.

Finish

The Rosen family is smaller these days, since over the last decades some members have died during military service. You find them living in the Jewish quarter of Old City Jerusalem. Life is generally good...

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But periodic outbursts of violence, including knife attacks, happen frequently in the city. The Israeli military responds by setting up security checkpoints throughout the city.

Finish

The Rosen family is smaller these days, since over the last decades some members have died during military service. You find them living on a kibbutz, or farm, in south-west Israel. The farm is isolated but pretty peaceful.

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But even an isolated farm is not safe from terrorist attacks in the region.

Finish

Creation of Modern Israel

1948 AD

Fall of the Ottoman Empire

1917 AD

Crusader Conquest of Jerusalem

1099 AD

Origins of Islam

610 AD

Palestinian Perspective

TIMELINE

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Muslims believe that, Mohammed, a merchant living in the Arabian Peninsula was meditating on a mountain one day, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and ordered him to begin reciting the word of God.

610 AD

The Origins of Islam

The area of Palestine was captured by Islamic armies under the command of the Caliph in 638 AD, shortly after Mohammed's death.

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Islam spread rapidly during Mohammed's lifetime, and was the dominant religion in Mecca and Medina, both cities in Saudi Arabia, before his death.

Origins of Islam

You'll join the Abdul family in their home in Jerusalem, in the year 692, under the Umayyad Caliphate.

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To understand the Palestinian Perspective, you will be playing as a member of the Abdul Family. You will get glimpses of this family's fate throughout the story.

Their Islamic faith has been strong in the almost 60 years since their family converted.

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The Abdul family has always lived in Palestine, and their family converted from Polytheism to Islam when Palestine was first conquored by the Muslims in 638,

projects at the time, including the Dome of the Rock - a shrine for people making pilgrimages to Jerusalem.

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The caliphs encourage scholars to live and work in Jerusalem, and early Muslim rulers emphasized the importance of learning. The Abdul family's eldest son, Malik, helps on several construction

Creation of Modern Israel

1948 AD

Fall of the Ottoman Empire

1917 AD

Crusader Conquest of Jerusalem

1099 AD

Origins of Islam

610 AD

Palestinian Perspective

TIMELINE

This period of time saw Islamic rulers welcome influences from other groups in the Middle East in the interest of learning and saw advances in medicine, mathematics, law, philosophy, literature, art and increased trade with East Asia.

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This period saw relative peace and prosperity in the Islamic Empire. Islam traditionally places a high value on education and knowledge and the Caliphs spent a LOT of money to have scholars translate ancient Greek and Roman texts into Arabic and Persian.

780 AD - 1250 AD

The Islamic Golden Age

The army reached Jerusalem in early June and laid siege to the city for five weeks, until on July 15, they breached the walls and engaged in the slaughter of tens of thousands of Jews and Muslims living in the city.

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By 1099, Jerusalem had been part of the Islamic empire for over 350 years. However, a call to arms from the Catholic Pope led to a large army of Western European Christian Knights invading Palestine.

1099 AD

The Seige of Jerusalem

The Abdul family are still living in a modest house in Jerusalem when they recieve word that a Large European army is approaching Jerusalem from the North.

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Lay Low / Hide

The Men of your family are traditionally scholars and engineers, but are nevertheless arguing over whether to fight the invaders or avoid the fight. What do you decide?

Join the Fight

At first, the men of the city hold the crusaders at bay, but eventually the crusaders take the city and slaughter thousands of men, women and children. Including several members of the Abdul Family.

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At first, the men of the city hold the crusaders at bay, but eventually the crusaders take the city and slaughter thousands of men, women and children, they Abdul family avoids the fighting and therefore does not lose many members.

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The capture of Jerusalem in 1099 was the first in centuries of conflict as various armies inlcuding the Christians, Egyptian Muslims and eventually the Ottoman Turks conquored the area.

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The 400 years of Ottoman rule were the most peaceful for Palestine. The Ottoman rulers were Islamic, but took it as their duty to preserve Palestine as a cultural and religious landmark for all 3 Monotheistic religions. The Ottomans also adopted a policy of allowing religious minorities (ex: Jews and Christians) to maintain their culture and rule themselves under the leadership of the Emperor. This time saw a flourishing of culture and rapid urbanization.

1517AD - 1918AD

Life in the Ottoman Empire

Creation of Modern Israel

1948 AD

Fall of the Ottoman Empire

1917 AD

Crusader Conquest of Jerusalem

1099 AD

Origins of Islam

610 AD

Palestinian Perspective

TIMELINE

1918-1948 AD

The British had previously promised the Arabs their own countries in the middle east, so they set aside Iraq and Jordan, but kept Palestine as a colony.

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The peaceful self rule of the Ottoman Empire came to an end with their defeat in WW1, in 1918. Palestine was then given to Britain as a 'mandate' or colony.

British Mandate Period

The Abdul family continued to live in peace during the Ottoman empire. The family thrived and are now middle class merchants, artisans, and scholars.

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Move

Stay in the City

You read in the news that the British are starting to encourage Jewish migration to Palestine. Do you stay in the city of Jerusalem, or move to the countryside?

What Happens?

THe large number of educated European Jews are competing with Arab families for Jobs. You go for a job interview, but lose out to a recent migrant.

What Happens?

You decide to move out to some land owned by your cousin to farm and escape the competition for jobs in the city, but when you arrive, you find your cousin has already allowed new migrants to buy the land from him.

What Happens?

The Abdul family faces hard times financially because of the sudden competition for jobs and land. Thousands of other Arab families are having the same experience, and sometimes violence breaks out between the two groups.

Creation of Modern Israel

1948 AD

Fall of the Ottoman Empire

1917 AD

Crusader Conquest of Jerusalem

1099 AD

Origins of Islam

610 AD

Palestinian Perspective

TIMELINE

The tension and periodic violence between Jews and Muslims continued in Palestine between WW1 and WW2. When WW2 ended and the world learned the full extent of the Holocaust, it had a large effect on the conflict.

Jewish survivors flee europe

6 million dead

EGYPT

How did it affect the conflict?

+Next

What wAS THE Holocaust?

1933-1945

World War 2 & the holocaust

The increased immigration to Palestine only increases the conflict between Muslims and Jews, and by 1948 they were looking for a way OUT of their colony in Palestine. They went to the UN, which passed Resolution 181, creating two separate countries, one for the Muslims and another for the Jews, with Jerusalem as a shared international zone. The British departed and conflict ensued immediately.

Partition and conflict

Resolution 181

EGYPT

What does the Abdul Family Do?

1948

Creation of Israel

What Happens?

Palestinians reject Resolution 181, on the basis that it gives too much land to the Jews. Britain withdraws from Palestine anyway, and neighboring Arab countries support the Palestinians by attacking Israel as soon as the British are gone.

Leave

Stay

The Abdul Family is now forced to choose between remaining in Jerusalem, which the UN designated an international zone, or moving to the parts of Palestine the UN set aside for the Arabs. What do you do?

What Happens?

You choose to stay in Jerusalem, but it's no longer the peaceful home your family knew for generations. Violence is common and often, young Palestinians are searched even to walk around the city they call home.

Finish

Eventually, the Israeli government begins building a wall to keep your people separate from the Jews. The wall is built on Arab land, and is considered illegal, but nothing changes, and Palestinians often are not allowed to cross it.

What Happens?

The Abdul family decides to relocate to one of the areas the UN set aside as Palestinian land under Resolution 181, and at first things are quiet, but then new construction projects begin popping up...

The Abdul Family learns that the construction projects are building settlements. These are walled off Jewish only apartment complexes protected by the Israeli Military on Palestinian land, built without permission.

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The Settlements become another barrier to peace in the region...

Finish

Where it stands Now

Jerusalem

The Peace Process

Six Day War

Where does the conflict stand today?

Effect on the Conflict

During the war, people in the rest of the world knew tjat Hitler was persecuting the Jews, but not the full extent of the murders being carried out at in villages across Europe and in the concentration camps. In 1945, when US and Soviet troops marched across Europe freeing people from the death camps, news cameras followed and the public saw the realities of the Holocaust. The effect was twofold. Surviving Jews left Europe for Palestine in huge numbers. Second, the world powers felt sympathetic and felt the Jews should have their own country to prevent another Holocaust.

Jerusalem Today

Who controls the city of Jerusalem is one of the trickiest disagreements between Israelis and Palestinians today. The city contains sites considered sacred to all three monotheistic religions and both Israel and Palestine claim the city of Jerusalem as their capital city. Most of the international community does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, given that half the city was originally granted to the Palestinians and has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

• Jerusalem is a topic of contention among the Israeli's and Palestinians.
• There are frequent outbursts of tension and violence in the city, particularly around religious sites and celebrations.

Effect on the Conflict

During the war, people in the rest of the world knew tjat Hitler was persecuting the Jews, but not the full extent of the murders being carried out at in villages across Europe and in the concentration camps. In 1945, when US and Soviet troops marched across Europe freeing people from the death camps, news cameras followed and the public saw the realities of the Holocaust. The effect was twofold. Surviving Jews left Europe for Palestine in huge numbers. Second, the world powers felt sympathetic and felt the Jews should have their own country to prevent another Holocaust.

October 7, 2023

On October 7, 2023, Hamas led an assault on Southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. An estimated 4,000 rockets were fired into Israel and an estimated 6,000 soldiers invaded and attacked both military and civilian targets. There were widespread allegations of violence against civilians, including women and children and allegations of sexual assault. Hamas took about 250 Israeli hostages (30 of them children) and held them in hopes of forcing Israel to engage in a prisoner exchange. Israel responded with an ongoing assault on Gaza known as the Israel-Hamas war. As of November 2024, it is estimated that 60% of Gaza has been destroyed.

• Hamas planned and carried out the 10/7 attacks but ordinary Israeli and Palestinian families are the ones suffering in the war.

The Balfour Declaration

Britain spurs Jewish Migration

Once the British gained control of Palestine, they issued an official statement saying they believe the Jews should have their own independent homeland in the area. The statement was put out by British official Arthur Balfour in 1917. The result was that large numbers of European Jews began moving to Palestine to escape tension and poverty in Europe.

• DEF: A statement made by the British Government supporting the creation of an independent Jewish country in Palestine.

The Peace Process

There were notable peace talks in 1949, 1973, 1978, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022. Every US President who served during those years has attempted to broker peace between the two sides, as have other powerful countries, like the Soviet Union. The UN Security Council almost unanimously supports a two state solution that would require Israel to go back to their pre-1967 borders, including exiting any Palestinian Territory currently occupied by Israel. The US is Israel's main ally and votes down the resolution.

• Barriers to Peace:
• Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.
• Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem and sections of the west bank.
• Periodic outbreaks of violence that interrupt peace talks.

The Six Day War

June 1967

Israel and Egypt had had tensions regarding Egypts attempts to block Israeli sea trade in the area in 1956 and warned that any further attempts to block Israeli trade would be considered a cause for war. In May 1967, Egyptian President Nasser said he would block Israeli shipping again and moved his troops into defensive positions. He also ordered all UN personnel to leave Egypt. Israel launched preemptive airstrikes against Egyptian military targets and within six days occupied the entire Saini peninsula.

• The war resulted in Israel occupying the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank (and west Jerusalem) from Jordan, and the Gaza Strip and the Saini Peninsula from Egypt.

The Holocaust

Hitler's "Final Solution"

The Jews faced a significant history of discrimination, poverty, exclusion and mistreatment in Europe throughout their history. This pattern got immeasurably worse when Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933. The Nazi party began systematically collecting Jews into Ghettos, killing them via firing squads, or shipping them to concentration camps for forced labor or mass murder. All told, at least 6 million European Jews were murdered.

The Holocaust

Hitler's "Final Solution"

The Jews faced a significant history of discrimination, poverty, exclusion and mistreatment in Europe throughout their history. This pattern got immeasurably worse when Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933. The Nazi party began systematically collecting Jews into Ghettos, killing them via firing squads, or shipping them to concentration camps for forced labor or mass murder. All told, at least 6 million European Jews were murdered.

The Sykes Picot Agreement

Making Colonies in the Middle East

The Sykes Picot agreement was a secret agreement made by government representatives from Britain and France to make colonies out of the land they captured from the Ottoman Empire once it was defeated during World War 1.

• DEF: A secret agreement by Britain and France to create colonies in the Middle East.