From Arab Nationalism to the Creation of a Jewish State ... · Arab States Palestine and the Arab States ‐These are the ‘Arab States’ to which Palestinian Arabs turned increasingly

Inter‐War World:|the Palestine Question

From Arab Nationalism to the Creation of a Jewish State(1921-1948)

Palestine: Arabs and JewsThe Jewish Situation:

‐Small Jewish community long established in Fertile Crescent; more had moved there during Ottoman times

‐‘Jewish Compatriots’ of Syrian Resolution [quoted last lecture]

‐Jews who had fled Europe (and especially Russian) anti‐Semitism had mostly gone to United States

Palestine: Arabs and JewsZionism and Palestine

‐Argument made to British that Jewish settlers drawn to Palestine would serve as ‘protectors’

‐During war, Lord Balfour supported idea with ‘Declaration’ (larger war concerns in mind)

‐Actual significant migration Jews to region came from post war situation: Russian Revolution/Civil War drove new exile movements

Palestine: Arabs and JewsZionism and Palestine:

‐Increasing United States ‘isolationism’ [last lecture] also curbed immigration: Eastern European/Russian Jews headed to Palestine

‐Unlike earlier immigrants (who had been poor, similar economic lifestyle to neighbouring Arabs): many were wealthy, able to buy land, invest in development

‐Literally bought land out from under poorer Arabs (many of whom were actually ‘tenants’ of wealthy Arabs)


‐ others from educated middle classes: established themselves in cities

‐In short: competing for land and wealth among Arabs of all classes


‐ Balfour Declaration interpreted by many Arabs as ‘intention to create wholly Jewish Palestine’

‐1920 serious riots – attacks on Jewish settlers and their property

‐ when new British High Commissioner arrived (1920): hoped to quell fears – failed

‐ 1921 attacks escalated

Palestine: Arabs and JewsWhite Paper of 1922

‐Jewish population (approx.80,000 – only 1/4 of which was rural, agricultural): complained of lack British protection against Arab anger

‐ fears that British were reneging on Balfour Declaration fueled by White Paper

‐ while commenting that Jews had their own political assembly, own religious authorities and used their own language (Hebrew) in all aspects of life, education. . .


‐ What British government means by ‘national homeland’ is development of this community

‐ While this necessitates immigration, ‘it is important that this not exceed the capacity of the economy, the country to absorb them. They must not be a burden on the people of Palestine as a whole nor deprive [any of them] of their employment’. Current immigration levels are suitable

‐In other words: Jewish immigration was to be restricted!

Palestine: Arabs and JewsTensions mount:

‐ Both communities convinced that British had ‘sold them out’, both fearful that they would lose the ‘nationhood’they felt they’d been promised

‐ Mutual distrust, escalating conflicts focused in Jerusalem on ‘the Wailing Wall’ in 1928‐29: Jews proposed consolidating control in area of wall to facilitate large crowds, Muslims interpreted that as attempt to take over al‐Aqusa Mosque – erupted in physical violence, continued political wrangling

Palestine: Arabs and Jews‘Wailing Wall Disturbances’ [British term]:

‐ Economic problems for both Jewish and Arab communities, involvement of ‘external’support/interests (Jewish diaspora, regional Arab states) led to countrywide outbreak of violence: largest loss of life in any of 1920s riots

‐ ‘disturbances’ dangerously understated impact of what has been called the beginnings of a real civil war

Palestine: Arabs and Jews“the 1929 riots were a watershed in exacerbating the Arab‐Jewish conflict in Palestine, catalyzing social and political changes, reshaping strategies and setting new parameters of political action for both sides involved. On the local level, the riots generated a process of rapid social, geographical, and political separation between the two rival political communities whose relations came to assume an increasingly hostile nature. On the regional basis, the 1929 crisis and its consequences precipitated a structural change of the Palestine conflict, turning it from an inter‐communal into a regional one, and heralded a reassessment of Britain's Zionist policy. “

[see ‘Wailing Wall Riots’, Resources]

Palestine: Arabs and JewsArabs Rioting in Jerusalem

HebronMassacre –

InternationalNews

Palestine: Arabs and JewsArab‐Palestinian Rebellion 1936‐39

‐ British blamed Jewish land purchases and immigration for ‘provoking’ Arabs, resulting in 1929

‐ New White Paper severely restricted Jewish immigration: restrictions held even into early 1930s when Nazi regime in Germany created new exodus of Jews seeking refuge

‐ Further exacerbated situation: 1936 general strike by Arabs ended any thoughts of reconciliation even in minds of delusional British

Palestine: Arabs and JewsPeel Partition Plan 1936:

‐ plan to partition Palestine, with permanent British control over Jerusalem

‐ Arabs rejected any talk of dividing Palestine; neither accepted idea of permanent British presence in sacred Jerusalem

‐ Violence between 1936‐39: over 28,000 Jews and Arabs killed in mutually inflicted massacres

Palestine: Arabs and JewsWhite Paper of 1939:

‐ WWII looming in Europe: Britain concerned to relieve itself of costly efforts in Middle East (and India) but also appease larger ‘Arab World’

‐ 1939 White Paper: announced intention to withdraw from Palestine mandate in 10 years

‐ Palestine would be partitioned: Arabs and Jews [plan put to paper with significant changes, 1947]

Partition Scheme1937

[base of 1939White Paper]

Partition Plan1947

ArabLands

JewishLands

InternationalOccupationof Jerusalem


‐Also addressed sensitive subject of Jewish Immigration

‐ since 1922 paper: 300,000 more immigrants had brought Jewish total of population up to 1/3

‐ Paper provided for that proportion to be permanent: Jewish immigration limited to 15,000/year to 1944 ‐‐thereafter only with Arab consent; further land sales to Jews restricted or prohibited

Palestine: Arabs and JewsMay 14, 1948: creation of Israel

‐ During last decade of Mandate: Jewish nationalism called increasingly upon international diaspora, Arabs on neighbouring Arab states [see below]

‐ Allowed for development of state (including army) in all but name: when British mandate ended, Jews proclaimed a state based on/rooted in ethnicity, culture and religion – Israel

Palestine: Arabs and Jews

Reading ofProclamationAnnouncingCreation of

State of IsraelMay 14, 1948


‐ Army immediately moved into Arab territory: at least 900,000 Palestinians fled massacres or were forcibly expelled from the new Israel

‐ War intensified with intervention of other Arab Forces [

‐ Air attack on Tel Aviv very eve of Independence: followed by invasion armies from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt [Saudi Arabia fought under Egypt’s command]

‐ Fighting continued: 1949 [see ‘Born Under Fire’, Add’l Rdgs]

Internationalizationof

1948 – 1949

War of Israel’sIndependence


ArabForcesVolunteersin Palestine1948


Palestinians LeavingPalestine

Leaving Haifa (right)

Palestinian RefugeesCamps 1948

Birth of PalestinianRefugeeProblem“naqbah”


‐ several agreements February 1949: Egypt, Lebanon, Transjordan, Syria (bordering Israel) agreed to formal armistice lines

‐ Israel gained some territory formerly granted to Palestinian Arabs

‐ Egypt and Jordan retained control over the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (respectively.)

These armistice lines held until 1967


Israel AfterArmistices

Agreements1949

Arab StatesArab Nationalism and Arab Statehood

‐ Also products of WWI and ‘secret agreements’: Sykes‐Picot accord central

‐ British tried to appease Arabs by recognizing Faisal’s self‐declaration of ‘King’ of Syria ‐‐ but Syria not theirs to give

‐ French deposed ‘King’: ruled Syria directly

Arabs StatesArab Nationalism and Arab Statehood

‐ played religious minorities off against each other contributing to long‐standing conflicts (Christians, Muslims, Druzes): Lebanon Republic created 1926

‐ Arab resistance ongoing in Syria: Independence negotiated in 1936

Arab States

Arabs StatesArab Nationalism and Arab Statehood

‐ British: faced strong Nationalist resistance in Egypt following war

‐ Same year it formally took on Palestine Mandate (1922), granted ‘independence’ to Egypt while continuing to exercise military presence and political influence


‐ Strong Nationalist Party “Wafd” (meaning ‘delegation’) emerged during War under Saad Zaghloul

‐ Firmly committed to ‘ousting’ British

‐ Constitutional Monarchy (1923): Wafd won elections 1924 – but relations with King, supported by British, uneasy

Arab States

Wafd Party Founder

Saad Zaghloul(1859 – 1927)


‐ Ongoing British interference exacerbated when King signed Anglo‐Egyptian Treaty 1936: even though Wafdhad won elections with 89% vote – inability to limit newly encroaching British influence cost it popular support

‐ Political system in place until Revolution overthrowing King occurred 1952: but other parties (including the ‘new’ Wafd) were key players

Arab StatesPalestine and the Arab States

‐ These are the ‘Arab States’ to which Palestinian Arabs turned increasingly in their bid for Nationalism

‐ These are the states that as an Arab coalition, attacked the new state of Israel and fought an almost year‐long war to win back Palestine

Arab StatesPalestine and the Arab States

‐ They failed. Short and Long‐Term Consequences:

‐ close to a million Palestinians becoming permanent refugees in their own territories, including Gaza and the West Bank

‐ a new state born in bloodshed, surrounded by enemies, who has never forgotten its struggle for nationhood but never felt secure in it


‐ Mandate of Iraq: as video (‘Promises and Betrayals’) notes on several occasions – British interest in Iraq was Oil – more accurately ‘promise’ of oil

‐ Iraq was Faisal’s compensation for losing Syria – and he accepted

‐ Although a ‘mandate’, managed like a colony – Faisal surrounded by British advisors

Arab StatesMandate

ofIraq

Gertrude Bell, Advisor toBritish Administration

and picnic withKing Faisal (front)


‐ International grouping companies (including British, Dutch/Shell, US/Standard (later Chevron) – German and Ottoman interests lost following war)

‐ Prospecting only undertaken following ‘settling’ post‐war Ottoman Empire: oil struck 1927, full production delayed because of Great Depression [next week]

‐ 1932: Faisal granted Independence but International Oil interests continued; long‐term military treaty with British

Interwar Middle East

Be sure to view “Problems and Betrayals”in conjunction with both this lecture

and that of last day!

Documents

From Arab Nationalism to the Creation of a Jewish State ... · Arab States Palestine and the Arab States ‐These are the ‘Arab States’ to which Palestinian Arabs turned increasingly