Events Critical to the creation of the Arab-Israeli Dilemma

Critical Events that led to the Creation of the Arab-Israeli Dilemma

“Menu” for your DBQMr. Gibbs

Winter 2009

WWI

• The Battle lines were drawn at the start of the 20th Century

• The matchup we are concerned about in regards to Palestine is– Great Britain and France vs. Russia, Germany and

the Ottoman Empire

Nationalism and Liberalism

• The two concepts introduced to the rest of the world by France

• Nationalism – a country of the people, with permanent borders and a democratic government

• Liberalism – improvements to our society is possible through education and reform

The Kitchener Letter

• The messy break up of Islam • The Arabs declare their independence from

the Ottoman Empire and turn their support towards Great Britain

• Why? The Turks had driven Islam into the ground - The Arabs want an independent state of their own – the caliph to rule once again

The Thrice Promised Land

• The Husayn-McMahon Letters• The Balfour Declaration• The Sykes-Picot Agreement

The Husayn-McMahon Letters

• Correspondences between the British Government and Arab leaders from Mecca/Medina

• The British promise Palestine to the Arabs as part of their “independent Arab kingdom”

• Why? To gain support from the Arabs in WWI

The Balfour Declaration

• The British Government’s Promise of a national home for Jews in Palestine

• Why? To gain favor from the rest of the world

The Sykes-Picot Agreement

• The agreement with the French that divided up key land in the Middle East between the:

• French: Syria, Lebanon• British: Iraq, Transjordan and most

importantly, Palestine

• These territories would become “Mandates”

Mandate over Palestine

• The British rule Palestine directly – and are stuck between a rock and a hard place…

• Do we appoint a Jewish leader? Or an Arab?

• Uh oh.

Zionism

• “Next year in Jerusalem”• Theodore Herzl – The Jewish State• Anti-Semitism• First Zionist Congress• National anthem, flag, etc.• 25K to 80K

Anti-Semitism

• Pogroms in Russia

• Spreading throughout Europe

• Adds fuel to the Zionist movement

Population graphs

• As seen in your AID Sourcebook

• 450K more Jews into Palestine

• Still the minority – 30%

Birth of organized Terrorism in Palestine

• Led to a massive headache for the British who were trying to keep the peace as best they could

• Attacks on the British by both sides

• The British are “exhausted”

White Papers

• As a way to gain support from the Arabs in the imminent WWII

• Limits the number of Jewish immigrants into Palestine to 75K in the next 5 years….then no more after that.

• Why? To gain support from the Arabs in WWII

Holocaust

• 6 million Jews murdered

• Led to worldwide sympathy for a Jewish Homeland

• Led to more Jewish immigrants into Palestine

The United States

• The United States enter into the conflict by encouraging the British to ignore the white papers and allow Holocaust survivors passage into the Jewish settlements in Palestine

Arab League

• Now the independent Arab countries have an organized political front

• Levels the playing field - politically

UN Partition Plan

• A 2 state solution

• Jerusalem becomes an internationally governed zone

• Jews and Arabs living side by side

Creation of Israel

• The official establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine

• Immediately recognized by the US and Russia

• Neighboring Arabs were not as welcoming

Law of Return

• States that any Jew, from anywhere in the world, can return to Israel and be granted immediate full citizenship

• This Law set forth by the Knesset – the Israeli Government

4 Wars

• The War of 1948-49• The Suez War of 1956• The Six Day War• The War of Yom Kippur

The War of 1948-49

• Gaza and the West Bank were now under Egypt and Jordanian Power

• Jerusalem was split into East and West

• The land formerly known as “Palestine” ceases to exist

The Suez War of 1956

• Nasser

• A “victory” for the Arab World

The Six Day War

• Changes everything…..

• West Bank and Gaza Strip now “occupied”

• Israel also pushes all the way to the Suez Canal

• Israel occupies Golan Heights

The War of Yom Kippur

• Egypt’s last stand – they “split up” with the Arab nations….tail between their legs

Emergence of Egypt

Changing Borders

• The Absorption of Arabs• “The Israeli Dilemma”