349. Arab-Israeli Conflict: Occupation of The West Bank (Part 4)

This episode of Empire: World History examines the aftermath of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, focusing on the occupation of the West Bank and its profound impact on Palestinian society. Professor Eugene Rogan details how approximately 200,000 Palestinians fled to Jordan during the war, while the majority chose to remain, hoping to preserve their land and property under Israeli military rule. The episode explores the legal and administrative systems imposed by Israel, including the use of Ottoman and British-era laws, the exploitation of 'Mawat' (uncultivated, untitled land) for settlement expansion, and the deeply unequal justice system that favored Israeli settlers over Palestinians. Despite the oppressive conditions, the 1970s saw a paradoxical economic improvement for many Palestinians due to labor opportunities in Israel. The episode then shifts to the rise of Yasser Arafat and the Fatah movement, culminating in the symbolic Battle of Karameh in 1968—a minor military engagement that became a powerful myth of Palestinian resistance. This victory galvanized global support and transformed Arafat into a revolutionary icon. However, the growing power of Palestinian militias in Jordan led to escalating tensions, culminating in Black September 1970, when King Hussein expelled the PLO in a violent campaign that many Palestinians view as a new Nakba. The displaced Palestinians resettled in Lebanon, setting the stage for further regional instability and conflict.