European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 11, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Israel n a 3h.wo 4h.mio 65�,rx� sum Delpar Lenl. Laititi Komu tubers Tell the Story Israel . Of Nablus i Wolbank population 831,000 1977   197   source 5l�1s department appears even More Radical. The Beu nowt of he disputed land today Are Tor the most part limits defined by Britain under a mandate approved by the league of nations in 1922 Afler Britain and France a Vidor Power Over Middle East territories thai the ottoman Empire held before world War i under the ottomans Palestine had been administered As a Section of Syria and it was in this period that zionist jews began immigrating in the late 19th Century in Tonia part in response to pogroms in Russia. By the end of world War i arabs still constituted More than 00 percent of the population. When Brilain was granted the n Windale. A Central condition was that it loser the creation of a jewish National Homeland in Palestine As icing As this did not prejudice the lights of those already living in the Aiea the Promise was in the Balfour declaration a letter written in november 1317, in which Britain seeking jewish help in its War Effort had1 promised lord Rothschild president of the British zionist federation that it would work for 3 jewish Homeland in Palestine. Undefined boundaries the mandate and the Ballour declaration became Central pillars Tor the jewish claim to the land that is now Israel. These documents did not however spelt out boundaries 1 or a jewish Homeland within Palestine or Del a the form it should take. Britain mean wide. Had made another Promise during work War t. In a letter sent in 1915 by sir Henry Mcmahon Britain s High Commissi Overin Egypt to Hussein hash emite sheriff of Mecca in Hopes of encouraging he Arab revolt Itiat later broke out against the ottomans this letter pledged British support for Ahab Independence in the Mica. But Letl ambiguous whether this included Palestine Over the next 20 years jewish immigration and Elf ch11,1968 new a Chi to map acquisition of land became the Central issues in a growing conflict Between arabs and jews particularly in the 1930s when Britain tried to Stem the flow. In 1936, arabs staged a general strike that was followed by an uprising that lasted until 1939. It included bitter Arab attacks on jews in Hebron Haifa Jaffa and Tel Aviv and prompted a strengthening of jewish Salt defense groups. In May 1939, Wilh War imminent. Is British published a write paper thai Eflee Ivery promised the arabs a Hall 1o the How of jews Aller five years to be followed by sell government with an Arab majority. The zionists were outraged. By 1947, despite continuing British Elt oits to restrict immigration a jewish population thai had been 56.000 in the Early 1920s had grown to 650,000 Hoo Tilths of the population of Palestine and the United nations split the land into jewish and Arab countries. Partition and War the map As drawn by the United nations divided the land Inlo six sectors three Arab three jewish with Jerusalem reserved As a International zone Well within the largest Arab sector. The jewish leadership in Palestine accepted partition the Arab leadership did not in the fighting thai developed As the Dale of partition approached and in the invasion by neighbouring Arab countries that followed he jaws made major gains including the modern City of Jerusalem although the old City and the wailing Wall ten under jordanian control. The lighting also established a pattern of Arab displacement and bitterness lha lasted 40years, erupting again last december in sustained violence in the occupied territories today Many arabs say they were driven of their land by War and by aggressive land acquisition policies and have a right to return to Al of it. The israelis say that this claim Means the arabs Are arguing not Lor the Wesl bar and Gaza or even Ine existence of a pates Inifi slate but for the destruction of Israel la sell. Israelis maintain thai Arab moderates who might agree to recognize Israel s right to exist in return Lor a Homeland carved out of the occupied lands have been intimidated by the popularity of the Mililani positions of he Plo. The israelis would prefer a state Federated with Jordan no an Independent one. Moderate palestinians say israeli occupation Potash have prevented the emergence of popular moderate leaders. The immediate causes for the refugee flight of 1948 before the advancing laces Ara disputed most accounts cite a combination of factors the cease Fira lines of 1949 set the frontiers of Israel As it was to exist until 1967. Jordan whose Arab legion had fought in the 1948 War hold until the 1967 War the area now known As the West Bank As Welt As East Jerusalem including the holy Sites in the old City lion which jews were barred. The Gaza strip Fen under egyptian administration. But during All those years neither Egypt nor Jordan fostered the creation of a palestinian nation in these territories. The West Bank in fact became incorporated Inlo Jordan. Angry lesson at Suez the refugee centers in Syria Jordan and the Gaza strip became sources for palestinian raids on Israel prompting retaliatory raids by Israel. In 1956, Israel cooperated with Britain and Franco in overrunning Giza and Sinai while the British and French occupied the Guez canal. Bui International pressure notably from the United slates forced a pullback without a peace agreement with Egypt. Israelis Drewan angry lesson from this. Afler the fighting in 1967, they were determined that future withdrawals must bring peace. This Lime their armies seized in addition to Sinai the Golan Heights All of a West Bank and Iha Arab part of Jerusalem including the old cily. East Jerusalem was annexed almost immediately the entire cily was declared Israel s capital and the Golan Heights was annexed in 1981. Some one million arabs who remained in the West Bank and Gaza strip were compelled to live under israeli Milmary administration. In november 1967, the United nations had passed Resolution 242, envisioning As a basis for future peace negotiations a withdrawal by Israel from occupied Arab lands in Exchange for peace and recognition of Israel s right to exist. The Resolution left a Central ambiguity however. In failing to specify How much territory would be evacuated. Ii also referred Only to refugees rather than to a palestinian nation a Point Al the Core of the Plo s refusal to accept Resolution 242 is a sate basis for negotiations Israel has since withdrawn completely frown egyptian land in Sinai under terms of the Camp David treaty signed wih Egypt in 1979. But reaching a solution Over the Gaza strip and West Bank has proven vastly More difficult. Site in the West Bank in particular Ere linked to the jewish past. And the land with its strategic his Long Border and proximity to he coastal cities is critical to israeli military. In any comprehensive negotiations the question of Jerusalem would be the most difficult of All because of ils religious significance for westerns As Well As Tor jews and because Israel insists its annexation is irrevocable. At the same time As the Camp David peace treaty was drawn up Egypt and Israel reached Accord on a framework Lor a palestinian sell Emend a live year transition period intended to Lead to autonomy Lor palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Bui again a Central ambiguity was Tell its Lime on the question of what autonomy meant. The arabs interpreted it to mean statehood the israelis limited self Iule the question of who should negotiate far to palestinians is crucial until in is in swayed. No settlement is Likely. Israel refuses to negotiate with the Plo on the ground Hal it is a be Roris of Jalijali preferring instead to Deal with other palestinians and with King Hussein of Jordan. Bui these palestinians Are reluctant to take Tho step of entering any negotiations without the participation or approval of the ply meanwhile Israel has been Busy establishing its own presence in the territories it occupied changing their character by establishing military Camps and jewish Settle meals. Al first. Labor governments attempted to limit the Pat Lem of settlement to one Hal More heavily reflected Security concerns than links to history appearing to leave room Tor territorial Compromise Afler 1977, when the right Wing liked bloc come to Power encouragement was Given to groups that seek to retain All the occupied territories As pa/1 of the ancient land of Israel. By Lalo last year in seemed Hal Tho Arab world had begun to pay less attention to tote palestinians. But in december a new phase of the fratricidal agony opened the rocks and firebombs of a frustrated new pates Indian generation. The stars and stripes Pago 15