The Arab-Israeli Conflict

transcript

• Judaism

• Anti-Semitism

• Judaism

• Anti-Semitism

• Zionism

Zionism

Zionism is a nationalist Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, calls for the self-determination of the Jewish people and a sovereign, Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to support and advocate on behalf of the Jewish state, and its current existence.

Theodor Herzl (1860 - 1904)

• Born in Budapest, lived in Vienna

• A Journalist

• Paris correspondent for Austrian newspaper

Der Judenstaat, Theodor Herzl (1896)

• Problem = anti-Semitism

• Assimilation into Europe is a proven failure

• Solution = A national home for the Jews

The Middle East, pre WW1

Herzl negotiates for territory

• With the Ottoman Sultan for a state in Palestine

• With the British for a state in Cyprus, the Sinai peninsula, El Arish, Uganda

WW1: The Entente vs. The Central Powers

The Hussein-McMahon Correspondence 1915/ 16

Sayyid Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca

Sir Henry McMahon,British High Commissioner

in Egypt

The Hussein-McMahon Correspondence

• Supports Arab independence. (Roughly) modern day Lebanon should be excluded from an Arab state. (This position is attributable to British (GB) consideration of the French, who have a long association with the large Christian population in this area.)

• In return, the Arabs will assist Britain by fighting against the Turks. The Arabs will only adopt as GB as their advisor and mentor and will let GB directly control modern day Iraq.

• A (Subsequently) Controversial Phrase"The two districts of Mersina and Alexandretta and portions of Syria lying to the west of the districts of Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo cannot be said to be purely Arab, and should be excluded from the limits demanded."

Post-WW1 Arab State under the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence

Sykes-Picot Agreement, 1916(Between Britain and France, assent from Imperial Russia)

Sir Mark Sykes

British Diplomat

Francois Georges-Picot

French Diplomat

The Sykes-Picot Agreement, 1916

The Balfour Declaration, 1917

Arthur James Balfour

British Foreign Secretary

Baron Rothschild

Leading British Zionist

The Balfour Declaration, 1917

"His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours 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, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

What motivated the British to make the Balfour Declaration?

• "Mr Lloyd George and Mr Balfour were deeply religious men and knew the Bible, knew the value of the Bible and the knew the effect the Bible had on the character and life of the British nation…."

• "In America there was a powerful Jewish community…"

Chaim Weizmann (British Zionist)

The Arab-Israeli Conflict

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