Many different groups have had an impact on the relations between Israel and its neighbours.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] (a) e.g. 'A Lebanese Shia militant group.'
2. '(a) It fought against the Israelis and the South Lebanon Army in Lebanon.'
3. '(a) It is anti-Semitic.'
4. '(a) It has served in Lebanese governments.'
5. '(a) It was involved in the Syrian civil war.'
6. '(a) It has been designated as a terrorist organisation by many countries.'
7. [4-5] (b) It is important because in 2007 in the Battle of Gaza with Fatah it took control of the Gaza Strip. This led to the dissolution of the unity government and the division of the Palestinian territories into two – the West Bank governed by the Palestinian National Authority and Gaza governed by Hamas.
8. [2-3] (b) e.g. 'Its aim is to liberate Palestine.'
9. '(b) It defeated Fatah in the 2007 Battle of Gaza.'
10. '(b) It is the governing authority of the Gaza strip.'
11. '(b) It had a majority in the parliament of the Palestinian National Authority.'
12. '(b) It has fought several wars with Israel.'
13. [4-6] (c) 'I disagree with this statement because the two political parties agree about a lot of things. They agree that Israel has got to preserve its security and strength. They agree that the Palestinians do not have the right to self-determination or to an independent Palestinian state. For a long time from 1948 to 1994 both parties refused to negotiate with the PLO.'
14. OR
15. '(c) I agree with this statement. There is one crucial thing that they disagree over. This is the best way forward to secure Israel's security. Likud thinks that the best way to do this is to create a 'Greater Israel' and to deny any claim by the Palestinians over the West Bank. On the other hand, the Labor Party believes that security could be achieved through a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians and Arab neighbours.'
16. [2-3] (c) e.g. 'They agree there should not be an independent Palestinian state.'
17. '(c) They both take a hard-line stance in their dealings with their Arab neighbours.'
18. '(c) Likud believes the Palestinians have no right to an independent state while Labor is more interested in making peace with the Palestinians.'
19. '(c) They disagree over Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.'
20. '(c) Labor recognised the PLO which Likud refused to do.'