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Overview:
Other information: In addition to the following text, other background information about the life and work of Rabin is available in the form of a chronology on the history of Israel and a short text outlining Israel's political system. The words that have been underlined are defined in the glossary.
Traditionally, Zion was understood as meaning the spiritual city of Jerusalem. Today it is taken as meaning both the state of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. This is also the reason why none of Israel's top politicians are in favor of partitioning Jerusalem. Herzl died in 1904 at the age of 44 in the Lower-Austrian city of Edlach. Although he was unable to realize his ideas, he is today regarded as one of the pioneers of the modern state of Israel. Towards the end of the 19th century, increasing numbers of East European Jews immigrated to Palestine. Four further immigration waves (Hebrew: Aliah) caused by events in Europe followed prior to the foundation of the Jewish state in 1948. During the fifth Aliah, between 1932 and 1939, 250,000 Jews fled to the "Promised Land" to escape Nazi persecution in Germany. Bitter conflicts between the settlers and Arabs living in Palestine were common during this period. British mandatory rule was unable to solve this problem. In order to protect themselves from Arab attack, Jews founded resistance groups such as Hagana. Indeed, these groups were also involved in attacks against the British following the end of the Second World War brought about by Britain's reluctance to allow more immigration into Palestine. The British withdrew in 1947 handing over control of this area in the Middle East to the UN. The UN Security Council decided to found a Jewish and an Arab state. This plan was accepted by Jews, but rejected by Palestinians and Arab states. The establishment of the Jewish state The state of Israel was proclaimed on 14.5.1948. Israel was recognized diplomatically by the USA and Soviet Union only a few hours after its foundation. This new state, however, was subjected to almost immediate attack from its Arab neighbors. In fighting over 10 months against Egyptian, trans-Jordanian, Syrian, Lebanese and Iraqi troops, Israel managed, with the exception of Jerusalem's old town, to defend all its territory. Almost all Arabs living in areas now occupied by Israeli forces fled into neighboring Arab nations. These refugees totaling almost 700,000 were not integrated into the respective societies, but were placed in camps where some of them remain today. This group has grown to number almost 3.5 million today. They demand the right to return; a right that is denied by Israel. The young state of Israel consolidated in the period following these battles. Immigration restrictions were lifted and Israel was recognized by many non-Arab states. However, even in the years that followed, tension and hostility on its borders remained high. War against its Arab neighbors
Israel, however, was attacked unexpectedly by Syrian and Egyptian forces on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar (Yom Kippur) in 1973. Arab forces were able to capture significant amounts of land during the first days of the Yom Kippur War, before being recaptured by Israeli forces later. This war ended without a clear victor, but is still celebrated in the Arab world as a victory since it represented the end of the Israeli Army's reputation for being invincible. Peace process with Egypt and Syria In an effort to encourage a peace settlement, US President Richard Nixon charged his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, with the task of negotiating agreements between Israel and Egypt and Syria. Kissinger managed to work out military disengagements between Israel and Egypt in the Sinai and between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights during 1974 and 1975. The disengagement agreement with Syria was signed in May 1974; that with Egypt in September 1975. With the arrival of Egypt's new president, Sadat, tensions between Israel and Egypt eased. Following protracted negotiations sponsored by US president, Carter, a peace treaty was signed in Camp David. In this agreement, Israel agreed to return gradually the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and find a solution to the question of autonomy for the Palestinians. Egypt was the first Arab state to recognize Israel diplomatically. This peace agreement formed the basis for further peace negotiations in the Middle East and the relatively good relationship between Egypt and Israel. No sooner had these difficulties been sorted out, than another conflict took centre stage: The conflicts with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The PLO increasingly attacked the north of Israel from the Lebanon. With Ariel Scharon as defense minister, the Israeli army invaded the Lebanon capturing its capital, Beirut. This war was criticized both abroad and, to a certain degree, domestically. Many observers felt that Israel had overreacted dangerously to the terrorist attacks by the PLO. Criticism of Scharon and the Israeli army intensified following massacres in Palestinian refugee camps. They were accused of merely watching on as Christian militia groups entered the camps and killed hundreds of people. Ariel Scharon was made indirectly responsible for the death of up to 1000 people by an Israeli inquest. Troubles with domestic policy and the second Gulf War Israel's economic situation had become increasingly difficult by the middle of the 80s: Inflation reached almost 1000%. In December 1987, the Palestinian Intifada (Arabic: a shaking off) began, which involved mainly young Palestinians against the occupying Israeli forces. Israel's government led by prime minister Schamir came increasingly under pressure both abroad and at home because of the brutal actions of the Israeli army. Schamir, who belonged to Likud, rejected negotiations with Arafat's PLO, and presented a plan, which was categorically rejected by the Palestinians and Arab League. Palestinians lost a great deal of international sympathy during the second Gulf War when they sided with Iraq and Sadam Hussein, who fired missiles at Israel. Yitzhak Rabin was elected Israel's prime minister in June 1992. In September 1993 an agreement was signed between the PLO and Israel, which ended the Intifada. In this declaration of principles, the PLO also recognized Israel's right to exist. In return, Israel agreed to allow and phase-in Palestinian self-rule in the occupied territories over a period of five years. The final status of the occupied territories was to be determined in 1996. This aim has not been achieved. Much has improved for the Palestinians and the Israelis alike, but the optimism surrounding the Oslo Agreement has disappeared. This is practically clear in the latest Palestinian uprising, the so-called Alaqsa-Intifada. Whether or not an acceptable peace for all sides can be found in the future remains uncertain.
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Subjects: Human
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