The Road to Independence

1. The Road to Independence Politics Politics Politics

2. Causes of Arab Anger • 1920 Arab attack on Tel Chai • Trumpeldor goes to help – killed in action • Arabs felt betrayed by England, France and Jews after WW1 • Even educated Arabs disillusioned

3. Conflicting Promises • Balfour et al promised Jews a homeland in Palestine • Britain wanted Jewish support while at war • Britain also wanted Arab support • Offered independence to Arabs if they fought Turks (McMahon letters)

4. But they lied to both people…. • Britain and France secretly agreed to divide the spoils - • England – Palestine and Iraq • France – Syria Lebanon • Sykes-Picot Agreement • Angry Arabs now wanted total control

5. League of Nations – If only…. • Would not “give” Palestine to Britain • Instead gives them the “duty to develop Palestine as a Jewish homeland” • Called the British Mandate – but really colonialism • Britain’s protection allows Zionism to take root

6. Britain Creates Trans-Jordan • Winston Churchill split off all Palestine east of the Jordan and gave it to Hashemites • ¾ of Jewish homeland • Now known as Trans-Jordan now Jordan • Churchill sympathetic to Zionist goals • Britain - little to develop Jewish homeland

7. Arab Anger Growing • Jewish population growing • Demanding Arab independence • Oppose Zionism • Their view – Britain giving their country to outsiders • Don’t want to be minority • Arab nationalism too • Arab revolt against British rule and Zionist enterprise • British military and Jews crushed it

8. Arab Riots • 1921 – First Arab riot • Mainly Jerusalem and Safed • Contained by British • 1929 riots longer and more brutal • Jerusalem,Hebron, Safed • Not Kibbutzim • 133 Jews killed, many wounded

9. Arab Riots of 1936 • Britain didn’t always punish rioters or prevent riots • Arabs emboldened • Arabs control Hebron • Drove Jews out • Holy place for Jews • David’s capital and burial place of patriachs and matriachs

10. Jewish Response – Self Defence • Ha-Shomer needed to expand • By 1920 called Haganah • Unofficial army with 2 enemies – Britain, Arabs • Official policy –self restraint or Havlagah • Rejected policy of retaliation • Wanted both ethics and immigration

11. Jewish Response - Immigration • Increasing numbers of Jews coming • European persecution • 67,000 fled Poland • Hitler gained power in 1933 • Between 1929 and 1939 250,000 Jews came to Palestine

12. Jewish Response - Settlements • Hard to build settlements – • Could be attacked while being built • Built settlements in one day! • “Stockade and Tower” • Watchtower, defense wall, small farm with cows and chickens

13. Jewish Response - Health • Land restored to health • Very poor health conditions under Turks • Malaria, TB • American Henrietta Szold visited • Went back to form Hadassah • Schools for docs, nurses • Mothers education • Raised health standards

14. The British White Paper 1937 • Jews building but were being attacked by Arabs • Arab violence increasing • British Response – the White Paper • A state in Palestine with Arab majority • Jewish immigration: • 15,000 for 5 years – then stopped

15. Zionist Reaction • Zionists everywhere appalled • Timing could not be worse • Then WW11 started • Hitler conquered most of Europe but not Britain • Jews had to fight against Nazis in WW11

16. Dilemma – what should Jews do? “We shall fight the war as though there is no White Paper and we shall fight the White Paper as if there is no war” David Ben Gurion

17. World War 11

18. Hitler’s Plans • Captured most Europe • Wants Suez Canal • Next step – kill Jews in Palestine • Wants oil fields in Middle East • Arabs back Hitler, some actively • British arrested some pro-Nazis

19. Jews Want to be Soldiers • Jews treated with mistrust • Not allowed to fight unless Jews and Arabs enlisted in equal #s • Only in 1944 was Jewish Brigade allowed • Liberated some camps

20. Britain and the Yishuv • Nazis setting up bases in Syria • Britain could not spare soldiers to destroy them • Turned to Yishuv • A special Jewish strike force created by Haganah • Palmach - who destroyed the enemy bases

21. Moshe Dayan • Bothered by Britain’s changing attitudes • Born on Degania • Joined Haganah • Britain afraid Haganah would fight Arabs • Dayan + 42 officers arrested – 10 years jail • Released when Britain needed them in Syria

22. Palmach • Dayan founding member of the Palmach • Very brave – lost one eye • Later Britain took back weapons when they no longer needed Jews • Palmach stole them back • Now Haganah and Palmach outlawed • Went underground

23. Suez Canal Threatened • German victories in North Africa • Britain wins Battle of El Alamein • British army and Yishuv Jews held back Nazis • Allies winning – Yishuv safe • Britain no longer needed Jewish help

24. Illegal Immigration • Haganah HAD to rescue Jews from Europe • Britain kept White Paper policy even with Hitler • Haganah smuggled Jews into Palestine • By 1948 more than 100,000 had been saved “illegally”

25. Hanna Senesch – Jewish Hero • Left Hungary and family when she was 18 • Settled in Palestine • In 1939 she wanted to rescue her mother and other Jews • Joined group who parachuted to Europe • Acted like Hungarian soldiers to rescue • Hanna betrayed and executed at 23

26. World War 11 Ends • Hitler dead • 6 million Jews murdered • 5 million non-Jews murdered • Yishuv now fighting British to allow them to bring in the remnants from Europe • White Paper still stands

27. Hana’s Poems Blessed is the match consumed in kindling flame. Blessed is the flame that burns in the secret fastness of the heart. Blessed is the heart with strength to stop its beating for honor's sake. Blessed is the match consumed in kindling flame. My God, My God, I pray that these things never end, The sand and the sea, The rustle of the waters, Lightning of the Heavens, The prayer of Man.