The Roots of Arab-Israeli Rage, Part 2

1949 - Despite the end of the First Arab-Israeli War, Israel's existence remains tenuous. Thousands of Arab infiltrators penetrate Israeli borders. Early incursions come mostly from Arab refugees seeking to reclaim houses, possessions, or crops lost in the war. Soon, however, incursions by Arab guerrillas begin. Border raids, including attacks on civilians, pick up where the war left off.

1953 - Israel establishes a special commando unit, led by Ariel Sharon, to carry out retaliatory strikes and deter attacks. In response to an Arab grenade attack killing a mother and two children, Sharon's unit kills dozens of villagers in the West Bank town of Qibya. The incident triggers a wave of international condemnation, with the United States suspending economic aid. Israel directs future reprisals at Arab military targets, rather than civilians.

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