| Date | November 2016 | Marks available | 20 | Reference code | 16N.3op5a.HL.TZ0.22 |
| Level | Higher level only | Paper | Paper 3 (Aspects of the history of Europe and the Middle East) - last exams 2016) | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Discuss | Question number | 22 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
“The issue of the Occupied Territories was the major obstacle to peace in the period up to 2000.” Discuss.
Markscheme
Responses are expected to identify the main factors that have, at various stages, been a hindrance to peace between Israel and its neighbours. Apart from the Occupied Territories (Gaza and the West Bank) these could include issues such as recognition of Israel’s right to exist, the Palestinian refugee problem, terrorist activities, the “right of return” and the problem of Israeli settlement.
Indicative content
- The initial stages of the peace process were the Camp David Agreements (1978) and the Washington Treaty (1979). At this point the Occupied Territories were not a key issue in negotiations.
- The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) kept the issue of Palestinian refugees alive throughout the 1970s. However as early as 1974 Arafat indicated that he would accept a Palestinian state in Gaza. The 1988 Intifada brought the issue of the Occupied Territories to the fore. Israel rejected the suggestion of a two-state solution, maintaining that the Occupied Territories preserved its security.
- After the end of the Cold War, the US was willing to put more pressure on Israel and the PLO to make peace. The Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 agreed moves towards a measure of self-government and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. However, there were still significant problems that remained unresolved; the continued presence of Israeli troops in parts of the West Bank, the question of whether Israel would recognize a Palestinian state, the settler issue, the status of Jerusalem and the “right of return”.
- The emergence of groups such as Hamas, terrorist attacks, the death of Rabin, the election of Netanyahu in 1996 and the Israeli military clampdown in 1997 were also factors that hindered attempts to reach a peace agreement in the years up to 2000.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
[20 marks]
