Origins of the Arab Israeli Origins of the Arab Israeli ConflictConflict

A Variety of Starting A Variety of Starting Points Points

●●Biblical enmity between AbrahamBiblical enmity between Abraham’’s sons: Isaac and s sons: Isaac and

IshmaelIshmael

●●the advent of Islamthe advent of Islam

●●the prophet Mohammedthe prophet Mohammed’’s quarrel with the Jews of s quarrel with the Jews of

MedinaMedina

●●the emergence of Zionism in the 19the emergence of Zionism in the 19thth century century

●●British colonial policy in the early 20British colonial policy in the early 20thth century century

A Conflict of A Conflict of Competing Competing

Nationalisms:Nationalisms:Zionism and Arab nationalism Zionism and Arab nationalism embarked upon a course of embarked upon a course of parallel development in the 19parallel development in the 19thth century as predominantly secular century as predominantly secular political ideologies based on political ideologies based on emancipation and self-emancipation and self-determinationdetermination..

--Kirsten Schulze, --Kirsten Schulze, ‘‘The Arab-Israeli ConflictThe Arab-Israeli Conflict’’

Both Zionism and Arab Both Zionism and Arab nationalism evolved around the nationalism evolved around the concepts of:concepts of:

●●IDENTITYIDENTITY

●●NATIONHOODNATIONHOOD

●●HISTORYHISTORY

●●RELIGIONRELIGION

●●CULTURECULTURE

ZionismZionism●●Classical Zionism was rooted in the traditional ties Classical Zionism was rooted in the traditional ties

Jews in the Diaspora proclaimed to the Land of Israel, Jews in the Diaspora proclaimed to the Land of Israel,

and the belief that Jewish independence would be and the belief that Jewish independence would be

restored with the coming of the Messiah.restored with the coming of the Messiah.

●●With the development of the humanistic ideals of the With the development of the humanistic ideals of the

Enlightenment (citizenship, political responsibility, Enlightenment (citizenship, political responsibility,

etc.), Classical Zionism began to be transformed into etc.), Classical Zionism began to be transformed into

modern political Zionism. modern political Zionism.

Modern Political Modern Political ZionismZionism Ideological foundation consisted of the Ideological foundation consisted of the

following beliefs:following beliefs: the Jewish people constituted a nation and the Jewish people constituted a nation and

this nationhood needed to be acknowledged this nationhood needed to be acknowledged by the international communityby the international community

assimilation was rejected as undesirable assimilation was rejected as undesirable and impracticaland impractical

anti-Semitism could only be overcome by anti-Semitism could only be overcome by physical separation and by self-physical separation and by self-determinationdetermination

religious and cultural ties to the Land of religious and cultural ties to the Land of Israel made Palestine the logical territorial Israel made Palestine the logical territorial claim claim

Zionism Goes Zionism Goes InternationalInternational

●●Theodore Herzl, an Austrian playwright and Theodore Herzl, an Austrian playwright and journalist, was one of the key thinkersjournalist, was one of the key thinkers

●●His book, Der Judenstaat (1896), sparked a His book, Der Judenstaat (1896), sparked a movement, which insisted that the creation of movement, which insisted that the creation of a separate state was the only solution.a separate state was the only solution.

●●The Zionist Organization was formed and The Zionist Organization was formed and the First Zionist Congress convened in the First Zionist Congress convened in Switzerland in 1897.Switzerland in 1897.

●●Through this institutional basis modern Through this institutional basis modern Zionism evolved from a small intellectual Zionism evolved from a small intellectual movement into an international force.movement into an international force.

Immigration to Immigration to PalestinePalestine

A major A major aliyahaliyah—or immigration wave—began in 1904 —or immigration wave—began in 1904

and lasted a decade. and lasted a decade.

Most of the immigrants were fleeing tumultuous Most of the immigrants were fleeing tumultuous

times in Russia.times in Russia.

60,000 Russian immigrants60,000 Russian immigrants

This This aliyahaliyah began the establishment of a proto- began the establishment of a proto-

Zionist state within PalestineZionist state within Palestine

And, of course, the events that occurred in Europe And, of course, the events that occurred in Europe

in decades following only accelerated the in decades following only accelerated the

development of modern Zionismdevelopment of modern Zionism

The Emergence of The Emergence of Arab NationalismArab Nationalism

●●Arab nationalism is essentially the belief that the Arab nationalism is essentially the belief that the Arab people constitute a single political community Arab people constitute a single political community and should be united in some sense under a common and should be united in some sense under a common government.government.

●●Like Zionism, Arab nationalism began in small Like Zionism, Arab nationalism began in small intellectual circles.intellectual circles.

●●Small Arab nationalist societies and literary clubs Small Arab nationalist societies and literary clubs began emerging across the Arab world in the late 19began emerging across the Arab world in the late 19thth century—centered around the ideas of UNITY, century—centered around the ideas of UNITY, LANGUAGE and CULTURE.LANGUAGE and CULTURE.

The Reactionary The Reactionary Elements of Arab Elements of Arab

NationalismNationalism A strong anti-Turkish sentiment emerged A strong anti-Turkish sentiment emerged

as a result of centuries of Ottoman as a result of centuries of Ottoman

controlcontrol

An anti-colonial/anti-imperial element An anti-colonial/anti-imperial element

was a natural reaction to European was a natural reaction to European

influences.influences.

Anti-Zionism quickly became a central Anti-Zionism quickly became a central

tenet of Arab Nationalism.tenet of Arab Nationalism.

Diversity and Conflict within Diversity and Conflict within the Arab Nationalist Movementthe Arab Nationalist Movement

●●Despite its common aims, the movement was Despite its common aims, the movement was by no means unified.by no means unified.

●●Views differed on:Views differed on:degree of autonomydegree of autonomytype of political structuretype of political structureLeadershipLeadershiplocal national and tribal loyalties (a local national and tribal loyalties (a distinct Palestinian nationalism was one distinct Palestinian nationalism was one such splitsuch split

The disintegration of the Ottoman Empire The disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the turmoil of the 1and the turmoil of the 1stst World War World War provided the perfect opportunity for provided the perfect opportunity for these passions to explode.these passions to explode.

The Impact of The Impact of WWIWWI

The Ottoman Empire (Turkish) entered the war on The Ottoman Empire (Turkish) entered the war on the side of Germany.the side of Germany.

Britain started to cultivate allies among, both the Britain started to cultivate allies among, both the Arabs and Zionists, to engender resistance against Arabs and Zionists, to engender resistance against the Turks.the Turks.

Britain made promises that certain Arab territories Britain made promises that certain Arab territories under Ottoman control would be returned to Arab under Ottoman control would be returned to Arab sovereignty if the Allies won the war.sovereignty if the Allies won the war.

BritainBritain’’s promises were mistakenly interpreted as s promises were mistakenly interpreted as including Palestine.including Palestine.

The result was that both Zionists and Arab The result was that both Zionists and Arab nationalists believed Palestine had been promised nationalists believed Palestine had been promised to them—the seeds for conflict had been sown.to them—the seeds for conflict had been sown.

British Policy and the Palestine British Policy and the Palestine MandateMandate

In 1917, British Foreign Secretary Balfour stated, In 1917, British Foreign Secretary Balfour stated, ‘‘His MajestyHis Majesty’’s Government viewed with favour the s Government viewed with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.the Jewish people.’’

British troops entered Palestine in 1918 and set up a British troops entered Palestine in 1918 and set up a provisional military government in Jerusalem.provisional military government in Jerusalem.

To avoid a power vacuum after the War, England To avoid a power vacuum after the War, England and France carved up the Middle East into spheres and France carved up the Middle East into spheres of influence.of influence.

The League of Nations granted Britain control of The League of Nations granted Britain control of Palestine.Palestine.

British Policy Cont’dBritish Policy Cont’d

Britain managed to build resentment with Britain managed to build resentment with both the Zionists and the Arabs.both the Zionists and the Arabs.

For instance, in the international arena For instance, in the international arena Britain tended to support Zionism, while in Britain tended to support Zionism, while in Palestine, British officials favored the Palestine, British officials favored the Arabs, often influenced by concern for the Arabs, often influenced by concern for the Muslim opinion of the surrounding Middle Muslim opinion of the surrounding Middle East world.East world.

Blundering from one upsetting policy to the Blundering from one upsetting policy to the next, the British equivocation began to next, the British equivocation began to incite violence, beginning with the first incite violence, beginning with the first Arab disturbances in 1920 and 21.Arab disturbances in 1920 and 21.