1 / 69

The Roots of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (1890s-1947) (REVISION)

The Roots of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (1890s-1947) (REVISION). By: Lord Elrond. introduction. What is the conflict about?. Essentially the conflict is over a particular space or place The conflict is primarily between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs

megara
Download Presentation

The Roots of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (1890s-1947) (REVISION)

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Roots of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (1890s-1947) (REVISION) By: Lord Elrond

  2. introduction

  3. What is the conflict about? • Essentially the conflict is over a particular space or place • The conflict is primarily between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs • The place is called Palestine by Arabs and Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel) by Jews • Since 1948 Israel has become the nation-state of the Jews, something resented by the Palestinian Arabs

  4. Arabs and Jews • Both peoples have a common origin – ABRAHAM • Arabs regard themselves as descendants from Abraham’s son – ISHMAEL • Jews regards themselves as descendants from Abraham’s son – ISAAC • So both see themselves as inheritors of Abraham and biblical tradition including the special land of Palestine/Israel promised by God in a covenant with Abraham • Despite Islam only arising in the 7th Century, Arabs claim to be the original inhabitants – Canaanites, Philistines and Amorites were Arabs

  5. Jews and Judaism, Y’Israel Israelites and Jerusalem • Judaism - the religion of the Jewish people, arose during the 2nd millennium BCE, in Israel. • Identity not only religious – some are agnostics and atheists. Based on belonging to a distinct and ancient nation – the Jewish people • Abraham and Sarah settled in Israel, • The 12 sons of the third patriarch – Israel (Jacob) became the “12 tribes of Israel”. This group became known as the People of Israel or Israelites. • The Bible contains promises to the Israelites their God that the land would be theirs.

  6. By 1000 BCE the 12 tribes of Israel united to form the Kingdom of Israel first under King Saul and then King David. David made Jerusalem the capital –often referred to as Zion. King David’s son, Solomon, built the first Jewish temple around 960 BCE 135 CE the Romans expelled the Jews

  7. During Roman rule, the Jews rebelled against pagan customs and to win freedom • In 70CE the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple • Following their forced exile in 135CE, no matter where they lived, Jews maintained their strong sense of attachment to their nationhood and to Zion – the land of Israel and Jerusalem. The desire to return was captured in their prayers and literature. • The modern Jewish nationalist movement called “Zionism” is about this desire to return

  8. Islam, Muslims, al-Quds and Filastin • Islam is the third great monotheistic religion • Muslims believe God’s final revelation was given to Muhammad via the angel Gabriel as recorded in the Koran. • For 10 years Muhammad ruled over the Muslim community in war and peace. • In 630 CE his army conquered Mecca which is now the holiest place in Islam – Muslims face Mecca when they pray. 632 CE Muhammad died. • At the end of the 7th Century, Muslims conquered Al-Quds or Jerusalem and its surrounding areas • Palestine under Islamic rule until the end of World War I.

  9. THE ORIGINS OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT CHAPTER 3

  10. The Origins and Aspirations of Zionism • Middle of the 19th Century, 10 000 Jews in Palestine, mostly in Jerusalem • End of 1880s – 25 000 • 1889 onwards Jews majority of the population in Jerusalem • 1900 – 50 000 due to migration form Russia • 1947 – 600 000, one-third of Palestine • WHY? The movement called ZIONISM

  11. Ideas and events that impacted Jews in 19th Century Europe • Until the mid-19th Century return based on the expectation of the coming of the Messiah • Before end of 19th Century, Jews deprived of political and civil rights. Only permitted to engage in certain trades and suffered persecution and discrimination in Christian and Muslim worlds. However, the Enlightenment and liberalism encouraged the emancipation of disadvantaged groups such as the Jews

  12. Western Europe • Rabbis Yehuda Alkalai and Zvi Hirsch Kalisher encourage Zionism • 1862 – Moses Hess wrote “Rome and Jerusalem” stating the Jews are a “separate nation” and should establish own state which should be socialist in nature • Strongly influenced early Zionist leaders like David Ben-Gurion

  13. Eastern Europe • No change under Tsarist rule for centuries • Restricted to living in the “Pale of Settlement” Approximately 5 million lived here • 1881 violent attacks against Jews in Russia triggered by the assassination of Tsar Alexander II • Pogroms were supported by government – thousands massacred/homeless • Worse when new Tsar – Alexander III passed the “May Laws” restricting Jews to ghettoes of the Pale of Settlement so expelled from smaller villages • Designed to 1/3 to emigrate, 1/3 accept baptism and 1/3 to starve • Quotas on Jews in higher education, conscription for 12 year old Jewish boys • Many fled west to start a new, safer life others look to separate Jewish state

  14. West meets East: The work of Theodore Herzl 1897 – Theodore Herzl, a Jewish journalist, helped found the World Zionist Organisation dedicated to creating a modern Jeiwsh state in Palestine Following Dreyfuss trial, Herzl convinced Jews would never be left alone unless they had their own homeland Vision was SECULAR, not religious 1901 JNF (Jewish National Fund) was created to buy land in Palestine on behalf of Jewish people 1881 - 1904, 25 000 Jews had immigrated to Palestine

  15. Social Structure • Under Ottoman rule, Jews and Christians had the status of “dhimmi” – inferior to Muslims, unique obligations, extra taxes on land + poll tax on all non-Muslim adult males, no chance of public office, refusal of Muslim court to accept their testimony in a case against a Muslim, refusal to approve new churches and synagogues etc. • Majority of population Arab fellaheen (peasants) living in villages, working on the land, heavily indebted to landowners • Urban elite were wealthy, powerful Muslim families • 1867 – foreigners right to own land as long as they paid taxes to Ottomans

  16. The First Aliyah 1882-1903 • 25 000 Jews moved to Palestine following 1881 pogroms • Established Moshav (cooperative farming community) called Rishon Le-Zion (The First to Zion) • Some settled in towns/cities like Jerusalem • Hebrew revived • Baron de Rothschild spent over $50 million and helped pay for first electrical power station in Palestine

  17. The Second Aliyah 1904-1914 • Many fleeing Pogroms of 1903 • BUT immigrants younger + influenced by SOCIALISM and COMMUNISM • David Ben Gurion who believed the fate of Zionist settlement depended on a strong Jewish economy • Independence could only be accomplished through creation of a Hebrew-speaking working class and highly centralised structures • By WWI there 40 agricultural communities mostly in the north with about 12 000 people

  18. Dispossession of the Fellaheen • 1882 to1948 JNF purchased 6% of Palestine • Landowners had to evict the fellaheen causing dispute between fellaheen and the Jews • Muslims offended women worked with men in fields in western “provocative” clothing • Mufti of Jerusalem, called for foreign Jews to be “terrorised and expelled” • False accusations that they would take holy sites

  19. Initial Ottoman response to Arab opposition to Zionism • Ottoman responded to 1891 Arab petition by passing discriminatory laws curtailing ability of Jews to purchase land in Jerusalem for next decade and restricting Jewish immigration to small groups only permitted to stay for one year • 1900 new law – 3 months then be expelled • 1905 Zionist Congress called for increased Jewish settlement SO Ottomans suspended all land transfers to Jews of Jerusalem and Beirut region • Reality – Arab landowners sold land at high prices and often bribed Ottoman officials

  20. The Ottoman Empire in WW1

  21. End of 19th Century Ottoman Empire on verge of collapse • European powers looking to fill vacuum • Ottoman Empire  dissolved, Arab lands under League of Nations • New borders creating PALESTINE (+ TRANSJORDAN later), LEBANON, SYRIA + IRAQ • Britain mandates over Palestine, Transjordan + Iraq. France over Lebanon + Syria • The mandate incorporated Britain’s wartime promise to the Zionist movement facilitating the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people

  22. Britain’s wartime negotiations and agreements • The Sykes-Picot Agreement, May 1916 • The McMahon-Hussein correspondence, July 1915 to March 1916 • The Balfour Declaration, November 1917

  23. If an Allied victory, it would divide and allocate Ottoman territory between BRITISH and FRENCH spheres of influence • While Britain would support the establishment of an independent Arab State or Confederation of States in Areas A and B, they would establish direct influence in the region in the red and blue zones • Palestine was to be internationalised

  24. The Sykes-Picot Agreement • After Allied victory, would divide and allocate Ottoman territory between BRITISH and FRENCH spheres of influence • While Britain would support the establishment of an independent Arab State or Confederation of States in Areas A and B, they would establish direct influence in the region in the red and blue zones • Palestine to be internationalised

  25. Sykes-Picot Agreement, 1916

  26. The McMahon-Hussein correspondence • When Turkey (Ottomans) entered the war, the British now looked to get the Arabs to help fight the Turks • Arabs would support Britain IF British promised them independence in Arab provinces of Ottoman Empire and recognise an Arab Caliphate under Hussein’s control • McMahon committed Britain in vague terms to “recognise and support the independence of the Arabs” in return for support against the Turks • Hussein argued all Arab territories should be included BUT McMahon identified areas “reserved” for British and French interest In the end it was left unresolved

  27. After the war, controversy about whether or not Palestine had been promised to the Arabs in the McMahon-Hussein correspondence. • Hussein argued Arab regions not mentioned in the correspondence should be included • British denied Hussein’s claim to and in a 1922 White Paper, declared Palestine WEST of the River Jordan was not part of its pledge

  28. Today Arabs claim that Britain promised Palestine to the Hashemites and reneged on the promise despite the fact Britain partitioned Palestine into two and gave the area east of the Jordan River to them • The Arabs point to the Balfour Declaration as an example of Britain’s duplicity or double dealing

  29. The Balfour Declaration Domestic policy issues: The 1905 Aliens Act • 1880 – 1914 – 3 million Jews fled pogroms in Russia • Most went to America, Britain and W. Europe • In Britain, Jews met with hostility resulting in the “Aliens Act” • 1916 Lloyd George PM, Arthur Balfour Foreign Minister • Balfour was asked by the WZO to support Zionism • DrChaim Weizmann, a scientist who had helped Britain’s bomb making ability, argued support for Zionist movement would help victory in the war and extend British interest in the Middle East in the postwar period • This appealed to British interests • Also thought it would encourage Russia and America in the war

  30. British Promise to the Jews: Balfour Declaration, 1917 His Majesty’s Government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of anational home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine… Sir Arthur James BalfourBr. Foreign Secretary

  31. Conflicting Jewish and Arab responses Arab response: Shock, sense of betrayal Believed the land belonged to them, the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence had promised it Arab protests ignored

  32. Postwar events: Palestine becomes a British mandate The 1919 Paris Peace Conference • Ottoman Empire  dissolved, Arab lands under League of Nations • New borders creating PALESTINE (+ TRANSJORDAN later), LEBANON, SYRIA + IRAQ • Britain mandates over Palestine, Transjordan + Iraq. France over Lebanon + Syria • The mandate incorporated Britain’s wartime promise to the Zionist movement facilitating the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people

  33. The Faisal-Weizmann Agreement 1919 Weizmann believed Arab opposition due to misunderstanding based on economic matters and believed this could be overcome After discussions, they signed the Faisal-Weizmann Agreement on 3 January 1919 encouraging and facilitating the immigration of Jews into Palestine on a large scale Faisal supported this on the grounds the Arabs attained their indepdendence However, when he was expelled from Syria he went back on this agreement and opposed Zionism

  34. The 1920 San Remo Conference and the Mandate of Palestine April 1920 system of Mandates endorsed • Syria/Lebanon under France • Palestine under Britain Ratification of Balfour Declaration enraged Arab nationalists, concerned about flood of immigration THIRD ALIYAH – 1919-23 35 000 Jewish immigrants arrived

  35. April 1920 riots • Muslim leaders stirred up crowd with false accusations that Jews planning to destroy Muslim holy sites • Pilgrims called to “spill Jewish blood for Palestine”. Crowd chanted, “We will drink the blood of the Jews” • Arabs entered Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem resulting in ransacking of property, 300 Jews evacuated, 7 Jews and 4 Arabs killed

  36. The Haganah Jews decided that the British could not protect them so they established own security force - the Haganah

  37. High Commissioner to Palestine • Herbert Samuel was appointed High Commissioner • He passed Land Transfer Ordinance enabling land sales to Jews and unrestricted Jewish immigration

  38. A distinctive Palestinian Arab nationalism begins to emerge • After July 1920 Palestinian territorial nationality develops • Rejected Jewish political and moral rights to Palestine • Call a halt to transfer of land to Jews • Call for an end to further Jewish immigration • Call for recognition of Palestinian Arab Executive Committee

  39. The 1921 Riots and the June 1922 Churchill White Paper • Week long violence - 48 Arabs, 47 Jews killed ,over 200 injured • High Commissioner’s Inquiry found the Arabs guilty due to discontent, particularly amongst evicted felaheen • White Paper reassured Arabs there wouldn’t be a Jewish majority and that Jewish immigration would be permitted only if it did not exceed the economic capacity of the country to absorb new arrivals • Rejected by Arabs because didn’t provide complete end to Jewish immigration

  40. Palestine under British Mandatory Rule 1922 to 1947

  41. British Mandatory rule 1922 to 1939 Population growth during the Mandate Period 1900 – Palestine’s population over ½ million 1948 – Palestine’s population 1.8 million Transformation in SIZE and COMPOSITION 1900– 80% population Muslim Arabs, 10% Christian Arabs, 10% Jewish 1948– two-thirds Arab (8% Christian), one-third Jewish (Arabs 1.2 million, Jews 600 000

  42. There were three periods of Jewish immigration before WWII. The Third Aliyahfrom 1919 to 1923 35 000 immigrants – 53% from Russia, 36% from Poland The Fourth Aliyahmid 1924 to 1931 88 000 immigrants – many shopkeepers and artisans from Poland The Fifth Aliyahfrom 1932 to 1939 215 000 Jews mostly from Germany many were medical practitioners or distinguished academics

  43. Jews & Arabs in Palestine, 1920 • In 1920, there was 1 Jew toevery 10 Arabs inPalestine. • By 1947, the ratio was 2 Arabs forevery Jew. The Arabs felt that they were losing control of their “country!”

  44. British Mandate in PalestineCreatedJuly, 1922

  45. Jewish Settlements: The Kibbutz System • First one founded in 1908. • Communal living. • “Make the DesertBloom!”

  46. Institution building within Palestine In 1921 Samuel appointed Hajj Amin as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Hajj Amin fostered Arab opposition against British Failed in a petition to abandon Balfour Declaration

  47. Institution building within the Arab community Hajj Amin al-Husseini became President of the Supreme Muslim Council, the highest body in charge of Muslim affairs in Palestine. Rivalries between the dominant Arab families By 1939, endemic rivalry between Arab elites and the absence of unified policies By 1935 many Palestinian Arabs concluded that political and diplomatic efforts were ineffective and only anti-British armed rebellion would succeed

  48. Institution building within the Jewish Community 1919 to 1948 – the Yishuv established the institutions necessary for a sovereign state including a parliament (Knesset), health services, education system and defence force. Hisdarut trade union organisation established to facilitate an autonomous Jewish economy within Palestine. Social services and security, helped absorb new Jewish immigrants The Jews success in creating a coherent and effective political structure was largely due to David Ben-Gurion’s leadership whose Mapai Party dominated in the 1930s

  49. The 1929 riots 1929 – violence following a long-running dispute concerned in the Kotel (Western Wall of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount). September, 1928 – trouble began with Jews movable screen Mufti claimed the Zionists threatened the Holy Places of both Muslim and Christian Arabs. Jews responded with counter demonstrations. 1929 – a young Jewish boy kicked a football into a neighbouring stabbed after ball goes into Arab neighbourhood, violence ensues

More Related