Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: From the earliest years the Middle East was known for it's wars and conflict.
Religious differences and both the Jews and Palestinian Arabs lay claim to certain
territories and religious sites. The fact that the conflict is based on religion makes it
an explosive situation and very difficult to find a solution. When the state Israel was
established the conflict took on a particular form and the existence of the Palestinian
Arabs was threatened. Israel and Egypt were faced opposite each other regularly on
the battlefield. Only with the help of a superpower they were able to be in active
conflict with each other. Since the Second World War there were an alliance
between Israel and the US and Egypt decided to approach Russia for a partnership.
Both Israel and Egypt realised that they could not face each other on the battlefield if
they were not getting aid and help from a superpower. The influence of the
superpowers in this conflict in the Middle East brought a new dimension to the whole
situation.
The relationship between the superpowers after World War II was in such a bad
shape that it gave way to the rise of the Cold War. The bad relationship between the
superpowers had a direct influence on the countries in the Middle East. Due to the
fact that the allies of the superpowers in the Middle East was entangled in a conflict
that increased the mistrust between the superpowers. The course of the October war
of 1973 was completely different than the rest of the Middle East wars up until 1973.
The superpowers was drawn into the war because of the pressure that was put on
the superpowers during this war. That what was feared by everybody were coming
true. The conflict in the Middle East was developing from a regional war to the threat
of a pending global war. It was very clear that the superpowers could not control
their clients of the Middle East to such an extent to avoid a direct confrontation
between them.
The global crisis did not last long and ended very shortly after it started. During the
period after the October war an intense period of negotiations took place between the
relevant countries. The friendship between Israel and America was reasonably
stable in comparison to the unstable relationship between Egypt and Moscow. Egypt
was approaching Washington now to establish a friendship with them. America was
the driving force behind the negotiations in the Middle East and with that tried to bring an end to the influence of Russia in the region. They were very succesful in doing
that and agreements were signed between Israel and Syria as well as Israel and
Egypt.
The conflict between Egypt and Israel ended with the signing of the peace agreement
between them but the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs has not
ended. The grievances between them are extremely complex and a solution for
peace looks very unlikely. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Midde-Ooste was vanaf die vroegste tye 'n gebied wat gekenmerk is aan oorlog
en konflik. Die konflik spruit uit godsdiensverskille en die aansprake wat beide die
Jode en Palestynse Arabiere het op grondgebied en heilige plekke. Die feit dat die
konflik op godsdiens geskoei is maak dat dit 'n plofbare situasie is en uiters moeilik
om 'n oplossing te verkry. Die konflik het 'n kenmerkende vorm aangeneem toe die
staat Israel gestig is en die bestaan van die Palestynse Arabiere in die gebied
bedreig is. Israel en Egipte het menigmaal te staan gekom teenoor mekaar op die
oorlogsveld. Beide kon dit net doen met die hulp van hul bondgenootskap met 'n
supermoondheid. Israel en die VSA was bondgenote terwyl Egipte toenadering tot
USSR gesoek het. Israel en Egipte het besef dat hul die hulp en ondersteuning van
'n supermoondheid nodig gehad het om suksesvol in hul stryd te wees teen die
ander. Die invloed van die supermoondhede in die konflik in die Midde-Ooste het 'n
nuwe dimensie gegee aan die stryd.
Na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het die verhouding tussen die supermoondhede
sodanig verswak dat dit gelei het tot die ontstaan van die Koue Oorlog. Dié swak
verhouding het 'n direkte invloed gehad in hul verhoudinge met die lande in die
Midde-Ooste. Omdat hulle bondgenote ook in 'n stryd gewikkel was het dit verder
bygedra tot die wantroue tussen die supermoondhede. Die Oktober-oorlog van 1973
het heeltemal anders as die ander oorloë verloop. Die druk wat die sitausie op die
supermoondhede geplaas het, het daartoe gelei dat hulle direk in die konflik betrek
is. Dit wat almal gevrees en oor gespekuleer het, het nou waar geword. Die konflik
van die Midde-Ooste het nou ontwikkel van 'n streeksoorlog na 'n dreigende globale
oorlog. Dit blyk baie duidelik dat beide supermoondhede nie genoegsame druk op
hul bondgenote kon plaas om 'n direkte konfrontasie tussen hulle te vermy nie.
So vinnig soos wat die globale krisis ontwikkel het so vinnig is dit beëindig. Die
tydperk na die Oktober-oorlog was gekenmerk aan 'n intense periode van
onderhandeling tussen die betrokke lande. Die verhouding tussen Israel en die VSA
was baie stabiel teenoor die onstabiele verhouding tussen Egipte en die USSR.
Egipte het al meer toenadering tot Washington gesoek. Amerika was die dryfveer
agter die vredesonderhandelinge en het daarmee gepoog om die invloed van USSR
in die Midde-Ooste tot 'n einde te bring. Hy was baie suksesvol daarmee en ten spyte van teenkanting is vredesooreenkomste gesluit tussen Israel en Egipte asook
Israel en Sirië.
Die konflik tussen Egipte en Israel is grootliks beëindig maar die konflik tussen Israel
en die Palestynse Arabiere is nog in volle swang. Die twispunte tussen dié twee
nasies is kompleks en "n vredesoplossing lyk hoogs onwaarskynlik.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53379 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Botha, Marniel |
| Contributors | Grundlingh, A. M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences . Dept. of History. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 130 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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