Figure 1.-- |
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Foreign countries have fom the beginning played a major role in the Israeli-Palestian conflict. The Ottoman Empire allowed the first Zionist settlers. Britain seized Palestine during World War I and was the mandate power governing Palestine until after World War II and partiton (1948). The neigboring Arab or frontline states invaded Palestine to support Palestinian irregulars in an effort to destroy Israel (1948-49). The major countries involved in the invasion were Egypt, Syria, and Jordon. The strongest was Egypt which deployed armor forces. The most professional military force was the British trained Arab Legion. Somehow the Hagenah which became the core of the Israel Defense Force, without access to heavy weapons, managed to hold on to the area assigned in the U.N. partition. The front-line states joined by other Arab states refused to recognize or negotiate with Israel. They also did not assist the Palestinias establish a state. They began decades of building up military forces to destroy Israel and supporting guerrila operaions against Israel. Jordan's King Abdullah who supported a more moderate approach was assasinated. The Soviets who had voted for partition changed its policy and played a major role in the Arab arms buildup. The United States voted for partition, but until after the Six Days War played only a minor role in the conflict. After repeated military defeats, Egypt's President Anwar Sadat decided toi make peace and was assasinated. The overthrow of the Shaw in Iran brought to power an Islamic Republic which joined the fight against Israel.
Britain seized Palestine during World War I and was the mandate power governing Palestine until after World War II and partiton (1948).
The neigboring Arab or frontline states invaded Palestine to support Palestinian irregulars in an effort to destroy Israel (1948-49). The most important country involved was Egypt, because of its size. Egypt deployed armor forces. Somehow the Hagenah which became the core of the Israel Defense Force, without access to heavy weapons, managed to hold on to the area assigned in the U.N. partition.
The front-line states joined by other Arab states refused to recognize or negotiate with Israel. They also did not assist the Palestinias establish a state. They began decades of building up military forces to destroy Israel and supporting guerrila operaions against Israel. This effort was led by Colonel Gamul Abdulh Nasser and the Free Officers who ousted King Farouk in Egypt. After repeated military defeats, Egypt's President Anwar Sadat decided to make peace and was assasinated.
The overthrow of the Shah in Iran brought to power an Islamic Republic which joined the fight against Israel (1979).
Jordon was one of the Frontline Atab states which invaded Palestine in an effort to destroy Israel (1948). Although a relatively small country, it was particularly important because of its British trained Arab Legion. The Arab Legion succeeded in seizing East Jerusalem. Jordan's King Abdullah who supported a more moderate approach was assasinated.
Lebanon is a more diverse country than most of the Middle Eastern countries which are predominantly Arab, in some cases with small Christian populations. At the time the Isreali-Palestunian conflict began, Lebanon was the most prosperous Arab countries. Lebanon was dragged into the conflict which gradually exacerbated the ethnic and religious conflict among the various Lebanese groups.
Syria was one of the Frontline Atab states which invaded Palestine in an effort to destroy Israel (1948). The Syrians also made some progress in the north, advancing into areas allocated to the Palestinians in the partition. Syrian control of the Golan Heights which for years was used to shell Israeali farmers aand families below it. Israel seized the Golan in the Six Days War (1967). Hafez Assad eventually came to power following a dizzying series of military coups that had made Syria the most unstable regime in the Middle East. Assad established stability. He also oversaw a country in which living standards declined to levels below that of many other Arab states. The Assads oversee a fragile state. They are members of the Allawi religious minority who Islamicists do not even consider to be Muslims. The country tht they rule is a coolection of potentially disparate minorities. The potential for domestic chaos is potentially similar to Iraq. The Muslim Brotherhood is a major threat to the regime. The Assad family appears to have created a dynasty. It commands the Ba'th Party, but there are many rivalries within the Ba'th that threaten the Assad family rule. Syria has intervened in neighboring Lebanon.
The Ottoman Empire allowed the first Zionist settlers in their province of Palestine. The Ottoman Empire was destoyed in World War I and Britain received a League of Nations mandate to rule Palestine..
The Soviets who had voted for partition changed its policy and played a major role in the Arab arms buildup.
The United States voted for partition, but until after the Six Days War played only a minor role in the conflict.
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