Essay Plan On Peace & Conflict – Arab-Israeli

Resource Description

Assess the importance of superpower involvement in the Arab-Israeli Conflict in the period to 1974

United States involvement

• By 1960s, US economy became dependant on oil. Therefore they invest heavily in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. 
• Supported Jewish migration to Palestine, but long refused Jews to immigrate in significant numbers (Zenophobia). Reluctant of Jews to US, but supported Zionism.
• Always concerned about security and access to Suez Canal.
  

Soviet Union involvement

• Access to Suez Canal was a priority for USSR
• Took opportunity to allow USSR Jewish population to grow
• When Stalin died, new contact with Egypt and Egypt agreed to sign arms agreement with Czech.
• Encouraged closer relations between Syrian communist party and socialist Ba’ath party

Europe

• Britain and France had significant interests in Middle East. Preserving their interests often brought them in conflict with local Arab population
  

Role:

• After the decline of Britain and France after WW2, US and USSR becomes increasingly involved in AIC after Suez 1956
• Camp David Agreement 1977 – US involvement, act as a mediator, no USSR.
• Both US and USSR support opposing sides in Six Day War 1967
  

Objectives: 

• Both US and USSR wanted competition to increase influence and ideologies in the Middle East (ME)

Creation, aims, methods and effectiveness of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO)

• It was formed to liberate Palestine from Zionist colonial oppressors through the use of ‘armed struggle’ method
• Aimed to promote a distinctive Palestinian ideology
• The PLO was very ineffective at first due to being dominated by Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia