Zionism and the Birth of Israel

2. Zionism and the Birth of Israel Foundation of political zionism ; Theodore Herzl an Austrian journalist In 1896 he published a book Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) Features of Jewish State: Gradual development and building of a state by the Jews in need of a national home

3. Funding of proposed state by Jewish capital and money • Infrastructural development such as communication, farms enterprises • Organisation of an efficient army to protect the state and development of banks and other institution

4. Herzl’s programme • Appealed the Jews all over to seek their cooperation • Jews should cease to be aliens • A Commission to be appointed to survey possible territories on which the proposed Jewish state to be founded

5. Conference of Jews: Basle • Aug 1897 Herzl convened the first zionist Congress at Basle, Switzerland • 197 delegates attended and the World Zionist Organisation was founded • Four measures were listed to attain the goal of a Jewish state • a. Promotion of colonization of Palestine on suitable line by Jewish agricultural, industrial workers and traders.

6. Organisation and binding of all Jews using local and international institutions in the country which they lived • Strengthening the national consciousness and awareness among the Jews • Securing consent of governments of Europe • Conference emphasized on having Jewish army, multi-lingual press, and a Jewish national fund for acquisition of land

7. Herzl’s Diplomacy • Herzl appealed the European powers to get charter from recognised government for “land without people to people without land” • Appealed Turkey, Germany, Russia, and finally England • British colonial secretary agreed to give a British colony near Al- Arish in Sinai. British Governor of Egyptian govt Lord Cromer objected • Chamberlain offered Uganda in East Africa

8. Result of Herzl’s effort • In 1904 Chamberlain died • Hence Palestine the only alternative • Herzl wrote in his journal “I founded • the Jewish State… perhaps in 5 years, and certainly not in 50, every one will know it”

9. Immigration of the Jews in Palestine • By 1904 the Jews numbered 25, 000 mainly from Eastern Europe: Poland and Romania. • 1917-1933 Most of them immigrated from Russia, David Ben Gurian , influenced by socialist ideas. He founded the first city Tel Aviv. • 1933 onwards maximum Jews from Germany

10. Colonisation of Palestine • Colonisation carried out systematically: • Palestine Land Development Company which trained the workers for settlement on land. • Establishment of school, institutions, theaters, sports clubs, trade union, labour owned factories, own newspapers , land purchased from local Arab land lords and cultivated them., established cooperative and collective agricultural enterprise – ‘Kibbutz’

11. Zionism and World War I • West Asia –geo-political significance • Weizmann, a chemical scientist from Europe – managed to obtain the Balfour Declaration from British colonial Secretary, Arthur James Balfour, Mark Sykes on 2 Nov. 1917 • Balfour Declaration: “His majesty’s government (Britain) view with favour the establishment with Palestine of a national home for Jewish people, and will use their best endeavour to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which

12. may prejudice the civil and religious non-Jewish communities in Palestine and the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in other countries”.

13. Growth of Zionism from 1919 - 1939 • Paris Peace Conference, 1919- Palestine mandated territory of Britain in 1922 • Many Jews migrated to Palestine • Co-existence with the Arabs of Palestine became difficult • Outbursts of violence, both Jews and Arabs were killed.- called Wailing Wall incident in 1929

15. Reasons for Arab backwardness • Arabs – 73% population lived in rural areas out of which 65,000 were nomads • Arabs agricultural methods were primitive • Only 25% of muslims children attended schools • Jews – 100% literary • Jews secured financial help from outside • Jews well organized

16. Commissions set up • Shaw Commission 1929 • Peel Commission in 1937t • Woodhead Partition Commission in 1938 • 1939 White Paper Document- restricted immigration and terminated British commitment to Zionism • Jews condemned it as monstrous document

18. The Biltmore Programme • Zionist conference held at Biltmore in New York, Ben Gurian adopted a resolution- rejected white paper document and favoured unlimited immigration • Such aggressive policy brought in direct confrontation with the Palestinians. • Significance- Jews turned to USA

19. Birth of Israel - 1948 • Britain referred Palestine issue to United Nation in Feb. 1947 • U.N. appointed a special Committee • It proposed the territory of the British mandate west of the Jordon River to be partitioned into Arab state and Jewish state with Jerusalem under international control. • On 29 Nov. 1947, U.N. adopted a partition plan • U.S and USSR voted in favour, England abstained, 56% of Palestine territory went to Israel

20. On 11 Dec. 1947 – end of British Mandate • 14 May, 1948, the Jewish National Council proclaimed the State of Israel at Tel Aviv. • Both US and USSR accorded recognition.

21. Arab-Israel War(1948) • Neighbouring states: Egypt, Syria, Jordon, Iraq and Lebanon declared war on Israel • Israel inflicted defeat on Arabs • Arabs poorly equipped , and divided • King Abdullah of Jordon interested in seizing the area of Palestine west of the River Jordon- the West Bank • Israel massacred the Arabs in Israel

24. Arabs fled to neighboring areas-created refugee problems and miserable condition • US, Br and France guaranteed Israel Frontiers, but Arab states refused the ceasefire as permanent.

25. The Suez War(1956) • Events leading to Sinai Crisis: • Sep 1955 Egypt announced an arms deal with Czechoslovakia, a Communist • In Dec. 1955 World Bank agreed to provide $20 million to build Aswan Dam in addition to American loan of $56 million and Britain $14 million , Condition laid that Nasser loosened his ties with the communists. Nasser did not comply • America and Britain withdrew the promised aid

26. Nationalization of Suez canal • Nasseernationalised the suez canal to finance the Aswan dam. • Br and Fr objected as they were major shareholders. • Conference held at London - August 1956 • Nasser formed a joint military command with Syria and Jordon, blocked the Straits of Tiran, so hold over Red sea

29. France, proposed a plan, where by Israel should counterattack in the Sinai Peninsula. • Pretext to Br and Fr to reoccupy the Canal Zone to protect it • Oct. 1956 Israel invaded the Gaza strip and the Sinai Peninsula, and advanced towards the Suez Canal. • Eng and Fr issued an ultimatum demanding withdrawal of both Israel and Egyptian forces from the Canal.

30. On 31 Oct, Israel accepted the ultimatum, but Egypt refused. • Eng and France entered the conflict by attacking the Egyptian bases. • Fortunately U.S and USSR demanded a ceasefire and forced Br, Fr and Israel to withdraw. • United Nations Emergency Force stationed troops on the frontier between Israel and Egypt

31. Significance of the War • Israel proved more stronger than Egypt • Anti-west feeling increased among the Arabs, pan Arabic spirit increased which culminated in the United Arab Republic in 1958 • Nasser emerged stronger as a hero of Arab nationalism,- a leader of the Arab world • Palestine Liberation Organisation set up under Arafat to fight for justice for the Arabs in 1964 • USA alarmed by the growing popularity of Nasser • British and France suffered humiliations

33. The Six-Day War(1967) • Arabs determination to destroy Israel, joined hands together-Lead was taken by Iraq, Syria and Egypt. • In May 1967, Cairo Radio announced “All Egypt is now prepared to plunge into total war which will put an end to Israel.” • Nasser called for the withdrawal of US Emergency Force, received support from Saudi Arabi and Iraq and Jordon and closed the Strait of Tiran • Prime Minister Levi Eshkol of Israel appointed General Moshe Dayan as Defence Minister

34. Moshe ordered a surprise attack on the Egyptian Air Force followed by an attack on all fronts. • In 6 six day, Israel occupied the Gaza strip and whole of Sinai Peninsula up to the east bank of the Suez canal, the rest of Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordon, and the Golan Heights from Syria • By the time the UN Security Council called for cease fire, the Arabs had suffered a major psychological and military defeat.

35. The Yom Kippur War(1973) • Nasser died in 1970 Anwar Sadat, the President of Egypt • In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a new attack on 6 October, the holiest day in theJewish Calendar. • After initial success, Israel succeeded in holding the territory captured in 1967, attacked Suez Canal into Egypt, and across the Golan Heights towards Damascus , Syria lost further 300 square miles of territory

36. Arab oil producing states reduced supply of oil to western powers and US resulting in oil crisis • OPEC(Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) increased the oil prices causing inflation in the world.

37. Egyptian-Israel Peace • Sadat convinced about peace as a solution to the problems. • Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger of US played the intermediary role • By the end of 1975, the Suez Canal which was closed since 1967 was opened • Egyptian and Syrian troops withdrew from the confrontation positions • President Nixon visited West Asia and Sadat to Washington

38. Peace treaty between Israel and Egypt : 1979 • In 1977, Sadat’s position in Egypt was threatened by riots and unrest due to inflation , low std of living. • Most of the Arab world contd to be anti- Israel • Yet Sadat announced for peace settlement with Israel Prime minister, Begin • Inspite of opposition from the Arab league, the Peace treaty was signed between Egypt and Israel in Washington in March 1979 with Carter as intermediary.

39. Terms of the Treaty • Israel promised to withdraw her troops from Sinai. • Egypt promised not to attack Israel again • Egypt guaranteed to supply oil and Israeli ships could use the Suez Canal • Within five years self-governing authorities will be established in the West Bank of the Jordon, and Gaza strip and Syria • Treaty condemned by PLO and most Arab States.

40. In Nov. 1980 Begin announced Israel would not return Golan Heights and West Bank. • Extremist Muslim soldiers assassinated Sadat while he was watching a military parade in October 1981. They believed that he had betrayed the Arab and Muslim .

41. Invasion of Lebanon by Israele • June 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon and defeated PLO, Syrian armed forces, • Followed by raids and counter raids • Resulted in Intifada- uprising in 1987 in Israel occupied Palestine areas- because of miserable conditions, they boycotted Israel goods, attacked Israel’s soldiers • Israel resorted to armed suppression of the revolt.

42. Peace Between Israel and PLO • 1992 Rabin, the newly elected Prime Minister believed in negotiation and concessions to achieve lasting peace. • Yasser Arafat responded favourably and both flew to US agreed to sign the historic peace agreement. • By the peace accord Israel formally recognised PLO and vice versa • Israel agreed to establish self rule in Gaza strip and West Bank

43. Extremist groups of both Israel and Palestine opposed as In Palestine they wanted complete independence and Israeli settlers in West Bank were against all concession to the PLO • Yet in July 1994 Rabin and King Hussein of Jordon signed a peace agreement ending 46 years of conflict and strained relations.

44. Taba Agreement 1995 • Sep 1995, Rabin and Arafat signed the Taba Agreement in Washington • Proclaimed self-rule for Palestenians • Israel agreed to withdraw its troops from most of the West Bank in stages over several years and handing over both civil and security powers to the PLO • All Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would be released in three phases • Yigal Amir, a Jewish student hostile to the agreement assassinated Rabin on Nov 4, 1995

45. Hamas, Palestinian militant group and Hizbollah • Hamas carried four suicide bombings in 1996 claiming 63 lives in Israel • Hizbollah, militant Shiate Islamic group attacked northern Israel from Lebanon • Today peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians had remained a distant dream. • Rigid stand taken by the extremist on both side, the terrorist activities of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, especially the suicide bombing in Israel killing the people and the ruthless attacks by Israeli armed forces, especially targeting the Hamas leadership has strained relations.