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Transcript of "Arab israeli conflict 1880 1948"
- 1. Arab Israeli Conflict 1880--1948 Arab Israeli Conflict 1880--1948• key features of the modern world• political, economic, social and technological features of the origins of Arab-Israeli conflict• forces for change that emerged during the origins of Arab-Israeli conflict• the nature of the political,social, economic and technological change that occurred in the origins of Arab-Israeli conflict• the impact of change and the formation of Israel
- 2. Arab Israeli Conflict Arab Israeli Conflict Concepts to learn:• Zionism• Imperialism• Decolonisation• Aliyah• Anti-Semitism• Internationalism• Nationalism• League of Nations• United Nations• Alliances• Spheres of influence• Terrorism• Diaspora Major Players:• Britain• France• USA• Israel• Palestine (PLO)• Egypt• Arab League
- 3. Description
- 4. Arab Israeli conflict: an overview Arab Israeli conflict: an overview• Local conflict – Jews and Palestinians• Regional conflict – Israel and Arab States• International conflict – Ottoman Empire,Britain France then USSR / US• Conflict over land• Conflict over religion• Conflict over nation states
- 5. Arab Israeli conflict: an overview Arab Israeli conflict: an overview Can be seen as a conflict between:• Jews V Muslims• Self defence V Self determination• Competing Nationalisms• Competing Fundamentalisms• Interference from imperialist rivalries• Proxy war between competing superpowers• Oil is a ‘burning issue’ and ‘fuels’ the British and American interference in the region
- 6. Palestinian Flag Palestinian Flag
- 7. Historical Rulers of Palestine Historical Rulers of Palestine• First settlement at Jericho about 8000 BC Canaanites• 15thC BC Egyptians• Moses escapes from Egypt and returns to the promised land.• Israeli King David conquered Jerusalem in 1000 BC• Romans conquered Palestine in 63 BC and ruled for 700 years.• Islamic Empire 8thC AD• The Crusades 1095-1291 rules by Christians• Ottoman Empire 1517-1917• British influence 1889-1914• British mandate 1920-1947• UN partition 1947• Israel’s declaration of independence 1948
- 8. Israeli FlagIsraeli Flag
- 9. Zionism Zionism• The belief in the restoration of Eretz Yisrael –Jewish homeland in Palestine to protect Jews from persecution• Zion means hill on which a temple is built in Hebrew• Gained currency amongst European Jews.• 1897 Zionist World Conference officially adoptedthis homecoming idea.• Part of 19thC nationalism• Part of an reaction against anti-Semitism inEurope• Russia forced Jews to live separately which wasa form of apartheid• Many Jews migrated to Europe and Palestine
- 10. ZionismZionism• Theodore Herzl (1860-1904) published DerJudenstaat in 1896 ( see source p.68 text)• To unite the diaspora (dispersal of Jewishcommunities around the world)• Zionist Jews believed that God had chosen theJews to carry His message.• Centuries of persecution had created a strongnational sentiment and a longing for peace andsecurity.• The “Holy Land” was the preferred choice due tothe historical links to Palestine
- 11. ZionismZionism• Anti-Semitism is a “special and peculiar hatredof the Jews, which derives its unique power fromthe historical relationship between Judaism andChristianity” Bernard Lewis• Jews seen as satanic, root of all evil,conspiratorial, corrupt, inventors of capitalismand communism and even enslavers.• In short, they have been made scapegoats forcenturies.
- 12. The First Aliyah The First Aliyah• Pogroms in Russia produced first exodus of Jews between 1882-1903• 2 million went to United States• 30,000 to Palestine increasing population to about 40,000 Jews• 150,000 Arabs in Palestine• Jews believed in agricultural self-sufficiency and establishing Eretz Yisrael.
- 13. 22nd Aliyah 1904-1914 Aliyah 1904-1914• New wave of immigrants brought socialist ideas and laid the foundations for modern Israel.• Jewish labour a vital factor in national revival• Formation of independent settlements and collective agriculture called kibbutzim• Kibbutzes cooperated and kept costs down.• They stopped hiring Arab labour• By beginning of WW1 (1914) Jewish population was 90,000• Forty agricultural settlements• Tel Aviv founded in 1909.
- 14. Three Important Documents Three Important Documents1. The McMahon-Hussein Correspondence 19152. The Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916 3. The Balfour Declaration 1917 approved by the British Parliament• and the 1920 San Remo International Treaty which adopted the 1917 Balfour Declaration as international law and guarantee. All three lead to the British Mandate 1922-23 by the League of Nations.
- 15. Impacts of WW1 Impacts of WW1• Ottoman Empire collapsed after WW1• Britain, France and Russia all had significant interests in Middle East• After WW1 1918 British forces (including Australian and NZ) controlled the region• The Middle East was divided between French sphere of interest (Syria and Lebanon) and British (Palestine and Iraq).• Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916 (read extracts p.52)• British and French secret security agreement which divided the region which included some area to Russia.• Palestine was to become an international zone while Britain and France secured areas to the south and north of Jerusalem (see map p.53)
- 16. McMahon – Hussein Letters McMahon – Hussein Letters• Britain needed support of Arabs to help defeat Turks.• Encouraged a revolt against Ottoman rulers in exchange for independence and land• 1915 started letters between the High Commissioner in Egypt Sir Henry McMahon and the Sharif of Mecca Hussein ended in 1916.• Correspondence has been subject to historical interpretation about promises made by Britain to Arabs• British leaders are also holding secret talks with Jewish leaders about Eretz Yisrael in 1916• June 1916 Hussein declared independence and started revolt.• Lawrence of Arabia helped coordinate the revolt.• After was there was confusion about the precise borders and area to be given to Arabs –especially in regards to Palestine• British didn’t give up Palestine or Jerusalem to Arabs which angered Hussein and supporters• (Read letters p.55-57)
- 17. Balfour Declaration Nov 2 1917 Balfour Declaration Nov 2 1917• British PM David Lloyd George favoured Jewish homeland in 1916• He hoped the large Jewish populations in US and Russia would influence their Governments in WW1.• Members of British Gov. thought a Jewish homeland would help GB control Palestine post-war era• They preferred this to the Sykes-Picot Agreement which ceded land to Arabs and French sphere of influence.• Zionist leader Dr Chaim Weizmann lobbied British Gov. for Eretz Yisrael through 1917.• 2 Nov 1917 Britain issued statement called Balfour Declaration (British Foreign Secretary Alfred Balfour)• Declaration approved by France and US• Declaration regarded as a victory by Zionists.• Arabs condemned it because land was promised to them in the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence. (read Balfour Declaration p.59)
- 18. British Mandate 1920-1948 British Mandate 1920-1948• San Remo conference 1920 supported the Balfour Declaration (post WW1 meeting of victors to discuss new borders and spheres of influence)• Areas assigned by League of Nations to British and French control• Britain officially took control in July 1922• Britain had to recognise Jewish homeland and prepare for self governance. Also safeguard the civil and religious rights of Palestinian Arabs
- 19. British Mandate 1922 British Mandate 1922 The approximate borders of the British Ma
- 20. Mandate 1919-1939 Mandate 1919-1939• Period of stability undermined by periods of rioting, strikes and armed clashes between Jews and Arabs• First Phase 1920-28 relatively stable• Second Phase 1929-35 increased tensions• Third Phase 1936-39 Arab revolt• Governing body for Jews was The Jewish Agency, Knesset and National Jewish Council• Palestine Arab Council and Supreme Muslim Council administered Arab sectors.• Population growth increased tensions especially immigration of European Jewry from Europe pre-WW2
- 21. Churchill White Paper 1922 Churchill White Paper 1922• Released by Churchill to reassure Arabs that Britain didn’t intend to impose Jewish majority on Palestine (read document p.71 Retreat from Mandate)• Zionist accepted the White Paper but Arabs did not.• Arabs believed it supported Balfour Declaration.• Fourth Arab Congress resolved political not violent means should be used to resolve conflict.• Fourth wave of Jewish immigration 1924-1930 added 35,000 in 1925 alone.• More Arabs attracted to the area due to increased economic activity.• Second phase of riots start over dispute about the Wailing Wall in 1929.
- 22. Sir Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Winston Churchill
- 23. Rioting and Violence 1925-1936 Rioting and Violence 1925-1936• Passfield White Paper 1930 recommended Jewish immigration be stopped if it prevented Arab employment. Further urged restriction of land sales to Jews.• Zionists opposed the report and lobbied the Government to reject the recommendations. The British Gov. agreed.• Created further mistrust by Arabs and steeled their resolve to oppose the Mandate.• Rise of Arab-Palestinian nationalism emerged and began to override local or village loyalties.• Role of Haj Amin al-Husseini became more important as he led the Arab Higher Committee and mobilised Arab-Palestinian strikes and riots.
- 24. Haj Amin al-Husseini 1936 Haj Amin al-Husseini 1936
- 25. Peel Commission 1937 Peel Commission 1937• Riots and strikes erupted between 1936-39 with large loss of life on both sides• Peel Commission set up and concluded that Arab national independence and hatred and fear of Yisrael was the cause of unrest.• PC also concluded that the sides were irreconcilable and Mandate was unworkable.• It recommended the Mandate be terminated and separate Jewish and Palestinian states be established.• Jews accepted this but Arabs rejected saying there would be no partition of Palestine.• Further attacks from Arabs continued and Jews set up the Havlagah (restraint) as self-defense.
- 26. 1939 White Paper 1939 White Paper• British now rejected the Peel Commission’s recommendations• Arabs refused to meet with Jewish leaders at the RoundTable Conference in Jan 1939.• British Gov. facing war in Europe had to appease Arabs to secure oil rich Middle East.• British abandoned Balfour Declaration.• White Paper in violation of international treaties recommended establishment of independent democratic Arab-Palestinian state and restriction of Jewish immigration.• Arab Higher Committee rejected these proposals demanding an immediate Arab state and no more Jewish immigration.• In violation of 1920 International Treaties. Britain maintains this policy throughout war years. This caused the deaths of millions of Jews. After WWII the British under "Operation Embarrass" blew up Jewish refugee ships bound for Palestine-Israel.
- 27. Hitler’s pledge – “To rid Germany of Hitler’s pledge – “To rid Germany ofthe Jews”the Jews”
- 28. Chronology of anti-Semitic events Chronology of anti-Semitic events in Europe 1933-1945 in Europe 1933-1945• 1933 – Boycott of Jewish shops. Burning of books.• 1935 - Nuremburg Laws.Jews deprived of German citizenship., No Jew can marry a German.• 1938 - Crystal Night.organised anti-Jewish violence and expulsion of Polish Jews from Germany• WW2 begin 1 September with invasion of Poland• 1940 creation of Ghettoes and relocation of Jews• 1941 Invasion of USSR and mass shooting of Jews• 1942 Wannsee Conference. The Final Solution – mass killing by gassing• April 1945. Germany surrenders and the ‘Final Solution’ is revealed.
- 29. The Shoah (Holocaust)The Shoah (Holocaust)
- 30. WWII and Middle East WWII and Middle East• Palestine was an important strategic area for Allies during WWII – access to Mediterranean and oil fields.• British gave in to Arab demands to restrict Jewish immigration – angered Zionists• 1942/3 German’s advanced in North Africa, Balkans and into the Soviet Union threatening oil fields at Baku.• French Vichy Gov (Fascist sympathizes) took over Syrian administration• British navy enforced immigration restriction and turned Jews away fleeing Europe to appease Arabs, causing the deaths of million of Jews.• Two refugee ships sank after being intercepted by British in 1940/41 killing nearly a thousand Jews fleeing Europe.•
- 31. Jewish Response to WWII Jewish Response to WWII• 18000 Jews joined the British Army to fight the Germans in Palestine.• Strong resistance still remained against British because of appeasement of Arabs• Zionist leaders turned to USA for support.• Biltmore Program established by Ben Gurion. He called for Jewish state in the whole of Western Palestine and unlimited immigration. US very sympathetic.• Haganah (Jewish defence force) continued to work against the British and Germans. The Irgun broke away and formed a more militant response than Haganah.• This culminated in the bombing of the bridges and the King David Hotel (British headquarters) in 1946 which killed 91 people
- 32. Arab response to WWII - Arab response to WWII• Arabs still saw British and French as common enemy• Amin al-Husseini collaborated with the Germans and helped organize a revolt against the British in Iraq.• A fatwa (call to holy war) was issued against the British by al-Husseini in 1941• However, moderate Arabs supported the British war effort and 8000 Palestinians joined the British Army.• In 1945 the Arab League (Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Transjordan was formed and maintained their opposition to Yisrael and immigration of Jews after the holocaust.
- 33. Post WWII Post WWII• British Labor Government under PM Attlee continued policy of 1939 White Paper which outraged Zionists• Britain wanted to maintain control in region and now threatened by the Soviet Union’s growing influence (later to become the Cold War 1948-1990)• USA under President Truman took on cause of Jewish displaced persons.• US also had rival interests to Soviet Union in region and attempted to block them.• The US supported partitioning Palestine but Britain rejected this idea and referred the problem to the newly formed United Nations in 1947.
- 34. UN Resolution 181 UN Resolution 181• Proposal to partition Palestine was hotly debated and finally agreed upon 29 Nov 1947. Votes 33 for, 13 against, 19 abstained (Britain abstained, Australia supported).• Arabs rejected outright because they received 6400 km. and Jews received nearly 10,000• Arabs saw it as a denial of their rights, betrayal by the British and unfair that they had to atone the sins of theNazis for the holocaust.• Newly formed Arab League warned the UN they would intervene militarily and called the UN vote invalid.• Most Zionists supported the UN 181 but some rejected it because Jerusalem was not part of the Jewish state.• By now the conflict had grown from a local one to a regional clash between Jews and the surrounding Arab nations (Arab League).
- The Arab countries persecuted and expelled over a million Jewish families who lived their for over 2500 years, from their countries, they confiscated all their assets and 120,440 sq. km. of real property valued in the trillions of dollars.
The Story of the Jews: Finding the Words, 1000BCE-1492CE by Simon Schama – review
ReplyDeleteSimon Schama's panoramic history of Judaism pulls you in with an engaging mix of fact and anecdote
simon schama story jews
Simon Schama: 'panache'. Photograph: Tim Kirby/BBC/ Oxford Film and Television/Tim Kirby
Ian Thomson
Sunday 22 September 2013 04.00 EDT Last modified on Thursday 22 May 2014 00.41 EDT
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First the derision and the sorrows, then the years of exile. Kicked out of antisemitic Spain in the 1490s, Jews were among the first to arrive in the New World. They were Iberian immigrants or Sephardim (after Sefarad, Hebrew for Spain) in search of refuge. Officially, Jews were not allowed to settle anywhere in New World territories with Catholic orthodoxies. Judaism, if it was practised at all in pre-British Jamaica, was practised in secret. After the island was wrested from Spain in 1655, however, Sephardi Jews began to arrive from Brazil, Holland, England, Guyana and Surinam. By the mid-18th century, Jamaica had become a thriving outpost of diaspora Jewry in the Caribbean, with infusions also of Ashkenazi Jews from northern Europe.
In the Jamaican capital of Kingston one evening I attended Sabbath. The synagogue floor was strewn with sand, muffling one's tread in symbolic memory of the enforced silence Jewry had to keep under Spanish rule. At either side of the ark, two perpetual lights flickered red to symbolise the unity of the Sephardi and Ashkenazi communities: and in tall, golden letters across the ark was the Old Testament injunction in Hebrew: "Know before Whom You Stand". It was a place of wonder and reverence.
Simon Schama's wide-ranging history of early Judaism (the first of two projected volumes) ends with the brutal expulsions from Spain in the 15th century. Streams of Jews made homeless were seen to move towards Portugal. An uncertain future awaited them in the New World and elsewhere. Any Jews left behind were "manhandled into Christianity" by the Inquisition or else burned.
The Inquisition set up by the Spanish crown in 1478 was integral to the drama of Sephardi Jewry. Its methods of intimidation and control foreshadowed those of totalitarian secret police, says Schama; with horrific frequency it persecuted Jews and Muslims (those twin ogres of non-belief) as Queen Isabella swore to flush out the last Moorish and Semitic enclaves from her dominions. Other countries had their inquisitions and papal courts of inquiry, but the Iberian equivalent was uniquely cruel to Jews (and lasted for three and a half centuries until its dissolution in 1834).
Throughout northern Europe, too, Ashkenazim were indicted as slayers of Christ and (typically) of Christian children. Jewish communities in Poland, Germany and northern Russia, like Jews anywhere in the world, refused to recognise the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and for that they had to be punished. In the Rhineland cities of Mainz and Worms, in the 11th century, Crusader hordes murdered thousands of the "infidel Israelite". Antisemitism had become the oldest prejudice in the book. Five centuries later, the Protestant theologian Martin Luther railed against the "arrogant, vengeful, foreign presence" within Germany and vowed to restore biblical Christianity through a virulent Jew hatred.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Jewish history is more than just a history of uprooting and assault. Schama chronicles the origins of Jewish identity in territories somewhere between the Nile and Euphrates. After the destruction of the Temple by Romans in AD70, Jews were banished from Jerusalem and dispersed to far-flung places. For many Jews today, the return to Jerusalem is linked to the anticipation of the Messiah. Israel could not have been born in the way and when it was without Hitler. Yet Schama's preference, I would guess, is for Jews of the diaspora who have not abandoned their pride of origin, but who remain supranational citizens of the world, rather than of Israel. Schama reflects movingly on his north London Jewish upbringing, where his parents instilled a love of words and music and debate.
Judaism did not come out of nowhere; elements of Judaic imagery and ritual can be traced to Hellenic and pagan practice, Schama tells us. Hanukkah may correspond to the winter solstice period that celebrated the "return of light", while images of deities resembling Diana, Venus and Apollo have come to light in Jewish catacombs excavated in Rome. These images would seem to belie the stated Jewish aversion to decoration. Quite when Judaic law proscribed the use of graven images is unclear but, like much else assumed to be "immemorial" Jewish practice, the prohibition was most likely instituted centuries after Judaism was born. (The separation of the sexes in synagogue likewise finds no sanction in the Torah, says Schama, though it makes sense if you believe that prayer can be upset by thoughts of women).
For centuries, Jews have been "anciently planted" in Arab lands. Babylonian or Iraqi Jews had lived untroubled in Baghdad for about 25 centuries until they were expelled by antisemitic decree in 1950-51. These Arab Jews had been so integrated into Muslim society as to be virtually indistinguishable from the Shia and Sunni communities. Yet their integration was no guarantee of their safety. So many thousands of Iraqi Jews have become exiles, or sought that status, that fewer than 20 of them are believed to be left in Baghdad today.
The Story of the Jews offers a poignant testimony to a people who have come close to annihilation many times but survived. It is an inspiring story and Professor Schama tells it with panache, weaving facts and anecdotes into a vivid history that ought to be read by Jews and non-Jews alike.