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Creation of the State of Israel. Europeans in the Middle East. After WWI, much of the Arab speaking world was given to the Allies (specifically Great Britain and France) in what was called the mandate system. Arab independence.
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Europeans in the Middle East • After WWI, much of the Arab speaking world was given to the Allies (specifically Great Britain and France) in what was called the mandate system
Arab independence • Some countries, such as Egypt and Iraq, had achieved independence before WWII • During the 1940s, still more Arab nations became free: • Lebanon- (formerly French) • Syria- (formerly French) • Jordon- (formerly British)
The Arab League • In 1945, leaders of Egypt, Iraq, Jordon, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Yemen formed the Arab League • Their mission was to unify Arab people around the world • By 1947, Palestine remained the only significant European ruled territory left in the middle east region • Both Arabs and Jews wanted Palestine for their people
Kibbutzim and Haganah • Following the Holocaust, increasing numbers of Jews began to settle in Palestine • To prevent this, Arabs began attacking Jewish settlers • Many Jews lived on kibbutzim, or collective farms, where they worked hard to turn the difficult terrain into productive farms • Jews created a military force called Haganah to protect themselves against the Arabs
The British turn Palestine over to the U.N. • Because they were unable to keep the peace, the British handed Palestine over to the United Nations in 1947 • Debates took place for months in the U.N. over what to do with Palestine • Most western countries, including the U.S., wanted to divide Palestine and give a portion to the Jews and a portion to the Arabs
The U.N. votes to create Israel • Arab nations wanted a single Palestinian country • November 29, 1947, the General Assembly of the U.N. voted to partition Palestine • On May, 14, 1948 the new state of Israel was created • The Arab nations of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and Jordon attacked Israel within 24 hours
The U.S. recognizes Israel • One of the first tasks of the United Nations was the creation of the Jewish nation of Israel • Carved out of the British mandate of Palestine, this new state was to become the name for millions of displaced Jews who had survived centuries of persecution • Truman’s advisors told him not to recognize Israel • The US needed access to middle eastern oil reserves and the Arabs were adamantly opposed to the creation of a Jewish state • Truman ignored the warnings and recognized Israel in 1948 to: • Keep the USSR out of Israel • Win Jewish-American votes • Capitalize on the post-war sympathy for the Jewish people • The decision to recognize Israel gave the US a strategic foothold in the Middle East, it also seriously damaged relations with Arab nations in the region and with Muslim people around the world
Israel defeats the Arabs • Fighting took place for nine months • In early 1949, Jerusalem was divided • As a result of the partition, more than 700,000 Arab Palestinians became homeless • Many fled to other Arab nations • Many lived in refugee camps