This map of Israel shows the areas it took over following the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war in which Israel successfully launched a preemptive attack against Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian forces massed along its borders. Israel seized the Sinai from Egypt, the strategically important Golan Heights from Syria, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan.

In 1979, the Sinai was returned to Egypt, after Egypt signed a mutual recognition pact with Israel. Since then, negotiations have focused on the remaining territories occupied by Israel since 1967 and achieving a return to the pre-1967 borders.

Population of Jews and Arabs living in Israel in 2004--(in thousands) Israeli Jews: 5235.1 Israeli Arabs: 1339.2 [source: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, "Statistical Abstract of Israel, 2004"]

Jewish Settlers in the Occupied Territories Total settler population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip: 1972: 1,500 1983: 29,090 1992: 109,784 2004: 239,800 Total settler population in East Jerusalem: 1972: 6,900 1992: 141,000 2000: 170,400 2004: 185,000 Total settler population in the Golan Heights: 20,000 [source: Foundation for Middle East Peace]

Where the Palestinians are West Bank (including East Jerusalem): 2.4 million Gaza Strip: 1.4 million [source: Foundation for Middle East Peace]

home - on the ground - cycle of violence - can anything end this? - combatants - introduction
discussion - video excerpts - producer chat - map
tapes & transcripts - press - credits - privacy policy
FRONTLINE - wgbh - pbs

web site copyright 1995-2014 WGBH educational foundation