UN Resolution 242
In November 1967 , the UN adopted Resolution 242 , which introduced the principle of land-for-peace , calling for Israeli withdrawal “ from territories occupied ” during the war in the context of a peace settlement with its Arab neighbors . The lack of a definite article ( i . e ., “ territories occupied ,” not “ the territories occupied ”) was intentional , leaving open the possibility for future negotiation about exact borders . The endorsement of land-for-peace embodied in Resolution 242 has been the basis for all subsequent negotiations .
The First Palestinian Claim to the Territories The Resolution presumed that Jordan was to be Israel ’ s negotiating partner in reference to the West Bank , and that Egypt would play that role in regard to Gaza . It made no mention of Palestinians . It wasn ’ t until 1988 that both Jordan ( that year ) and Egypt ( a decade earlier , in 1978 ) had renounced their claims to the territory , in favor of the Palestinians .
The Territories
The Sinai Peninsula
Between 1967 and 1979 , Israel constructed several settlements in the Sinai Peninsula . Notably , Yamit was home to 2,500 Israeli citizens , and Sharm el-Sheikh was built up from a fishing village into a major resort town . After the peace accord of 1979 , all settlers left the Sinai , and all settlements — with the exception of Sharm el-Sheikh , which Egypt wanted to keep in its renovated form — were dismantled .
2
The Golan Heights
Israel applied its rule of law to the Golan Heights in 1981 , without formally annexing it , citing the necessity of maintaining the regional high ground in order to prevent