What is Zionism?
What was the situation with the Levante prior to the First World War?
Zionism is a movement that was intended for the re-establishment of Jews; however, now it is the protection and development of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. Until the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948, Jews lived throughout the southern Levant alongside Muslims and Christians; since then, almost all have been expelled from their homes and sought refuge in Israel.
Who controlled the Levant?
How did they get this control?
How did the Treaty of Versailles impact who controlled the region?
Who controlled the Levant?
How did they get this control?
How did the Treaty of Versailles impact who controlled the region?
THE SYKES-PICOT AGREEMENT - 1916
What was the agreement? The agreement was between France and Great Britain when they made a secret accord by which most of the Arab lands under the rule of the Ottoman Empire were to be divided into British and French spheres of influence with the conclusion of World War I.
Why was the agreement signed? In its designated sphere, it was agreed, each country shall be allowed to establish such direct or indirect administration or control as they desire and as they may think fit to arrange with the Arab State or Confederation of Arab States.
Who does this benefit? This agreement benefited France and Great Britain the most.
What impact does this have on Palestine or Israel?
Why was the agreement signed? In its designated sphere, it was agreed, each country shall be allowed to establish such direct or indirect administration or control as they desire and as they may think fit to arrange with the Arab State or Confederation of Arab States.
Who does this benefit? This agreement benefited France and Great Britain the most.
What impact does this have on Palestine or Israel?
The Balfour Declaration - 1917
What was the declaration? A letter from Arthur James Balfour to Baron Rothschild (a leader of the British Jewish community) led the Jewish community in Britain and America into believing that Great Britain would support the creation of a Jewish state in the Middle East.
What were the reasons for the declaration?
What were responses to the declaration from Jews, Arabs and British Public?
Why did each group respond the way they did?
What were the reasons for the declaration?
What were responses to the declaration from Jews, Arabs and British Public?
Why did each group respond the way they did?
The Peel Commission - 1936
What were the recommendations of the Peel agreement? A Treaty system between the Arab and Jewish States and the new Mandatory Government; a Mandate for the Holy places; the frontiers; the need for Inter-State Subvention; the need for British Subvention; tariffs and ports; nationality; civil service; Industrial concessions; and the Exchange of land and populations.
Were they enacted as proposed? What prevented this? The Commission stated that Government have attempted to discharge the contradictory obligations of the Mandatory under conditions of great difficulty by "holding the balance" between Jews and Arabs. Repeated attempts to conciliate either race have only increased the trouble. The situation in Palestine has reached a deadlock.
How did the Palestinians and Jews respond to this idea? Explain the reasons for their response. Jewish opinion remained divided. On 20 August 1937, the Twentieth Zionist Congress in Zurich decided to reject the specific borders recommended by the Peel Commission, but empowered its executive to negotiate a more favorable plan for a Jewish State in Palestine. The two main Jewish leaders, Chaim Weizmann and Ben-Gurion had convinced the Zionist Congress to approve equivocally the Peel recommendations as a basis for more negotiation
Do you think the Palestinians or Jews would respond the same way today? Who would change their mind and why?
Were they enacted as proposed? What prevented this? The Commission stated that Government have attempted to discharge the contradictory obligations of the Mandatory under conditions of great difficulty by "holding the balance" between Jews and Arabs. Repeated attempts to conciliate either race have only increased the trouble. The situation in Palestine has reached a deadlock.
How did the Palestinians and Jews respond to this idea? Explain the reasons for their response. Jewish opinion remained divided. On 20 August 1937, the Twentieth Zionist Congress in Zurich decided to reject the specific borders recommended by the Peel Commission, but empowered its executive to negotiate a more favorable plan for a Jewish State in Palestine. The two main Jewish leaders, Chaim Weizmann and Ben-Gurion had convinced the Zionist Congress to approve equivocally the Peel recommendations as a basis for more negotiation
Do you think the Palestinians or Jews would respond the same way today? Who would change their mind and why?
White Paper - 1939
Why did Britain introduce this? During World War I, the British had made two promises regarding territory in the Middle East. Britain had promised the Hashemite governors of Arabia, through Lawrence of Arabia and the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence, independence for a united Arab country covering Syria in exchange for their supporting the British against the Ottoman Empire.
Who did it impact? There were three parts of the paper. (1) The constitution - It stated that with over 450,000 Jews having now settled in the mandate, the Balfour Declaration about "a national home for the Jewish people" had been met and called for an independent Palestine established within 10 years, governed jointly by Arabs and Jews:, (2) Immigration - Jewish immigration to Palestine under the British Mandate was to be limited to 75,000 over the next five years, after which it would depend on Arab consent:, and (3) Land -dividing Palestine into three zones .
How did the Jews respond? The Jews did not like this idea, so they began a campaign of attacks on government property and revolted against it
Who did it impact? There were three parts of the paper. (1) The constitution - It stated that with over 450,000 Jews having now settled in the mandate, the Balfour Declaration about "a national home for the Jewish people" had been met and called for an independent Palestine established within 10 years, governed jointly by Arabs and Jews:, (2) Immigration - Jewish immigration to Palestine under the British Mandate was to be limited to 75,000 over the next five years, after which it would depend on Arab consent:, and (3) Land -dividing Palestine into three zones .
How did the Jews respond? The Jews did not like this idea, so they began a campaign of attacks on government property and revolted against it
World War II - 1945
What was going on in the Levant during the War? The Army of the Levant identifies the armed forces of France and then Vichy France which occupied, and were in part recruited from, a portion of the "Levant" during the interwar period and early World War II.
How did the Arab populations respond to Nazism? They increased because they supported Nazism
Why did they respond in such a fashion? Hitler and fascist ideology were controversial in the Arab world, just as they were in Europe, with both supporters and opponents.Massive programs of propaganda were launched in the Arab world, first by Fascist Italy and later on by Nazi Germany. The Nazis in particular focused on impacting the new generation of political thinkers and activists.
Describe the situation around Jewish Immigration to Palestine during the Second World War. Radically increase the immigration rate of German and other European Jews and to double the population of Palestinian Jews.
Explain why the various powers acted in the way they did. During this period the League of Nations Mandate for the establishment of a Jewish Homeland in Mandatory Palestine to be used as a refuge for Jews was "still internationally recognized". The Gestapo and the SS inconsistently cooperated with a variety of Jewish organizations and efforts (e.g., Hanotaiah Ltd., the Anglo-Palestine Bank, the Temple Society Bank, HIAS, Joint Distribution Committee, Revisionist Zionists, and others), most notably in the Haavurah Agreements, to facilitate emigration to Mandatory Palestine.
Explain the considerable impact the Holocaust had on the region
How did the Arab populations respond to Nazism? They increased because they supported Nazism
Why did they respond in such a fashion? Hitler and fascist ideology were controversial in the Arab world, just as they were in Europe, with both supporters and opponents.Massive programs of propaganda were launched in the Arab world, first by Fascist Italy and later on by Nazi Germany. The Nazis in particular focused on impacting the new generation of political thinkers and activists.
Describe the situation around Jewish Immigration to Palestine during the Second World War. Radically increase the immigration rate of German and other European Jews and to double the population of Palestinian Jews.
Explain why the various powers acted in the way they did. During this period the League of Nations Mandate for the establishment of a Jewish Homeland in Mandatory Palestine to be used as a refuge for Jews was "still internationally recognized". The Gestapo and the SS inconsistently cooperated with a variety of Jewish organizations and efforts (e.g., Hanotaiah Ltd., the Anglo-Palestine Bank, the Temple Society Bank, HIAS, Joint Distribution Committee, Revisionist Zionists, and others), most notably in the Haavurah Agreements, to facilitate emigration to Mandatory Palestine.
Explain the considerable impact the Holocaust had on the region
United Nations Special Committee on Palestine - 1947
Why was this organization formed? The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) was created on 15 May 1947 in response to a United Kingdom government request that the General Assembly "make recommendations under article 10 of the Charter, concerning the future government of Palestine".
What were they tasked with doing? The General Assembly adopted the recommendation to set up the UNSCOP to investigate the cause of the conflict in Palestine, and, if possible, devise a solution.
What conclusions did they arrive at?
How did the Arabs and the Jews respond to these conclusions?
Looking back from the 20/20 lens of history, what would you have done differently?
What were they tasked with doing? The General Assembly adopted the recommendation to set up the UNSCOP to investigate the cause of the conflict in Palestine, and, if possible, devise a solution.
What conclusions did they arrive at?
How did the Arabs and the Jews respond to these conclusions?
Looking back from the 20/20 lens of history, what would you have done differently?
notes
The Breakup of the Ottoman Empire: French and English Mandates
• “The sick man of Europe”: Ottoman Empire breaks up and becomes Turkey
• French and British divide up the former Ottoman territories into mandates
• Suez Canal and oil are the reasons for their interest
• Sykes-Picot agreement, 1916, gave most of the territory to Britain
• Iraq, Trans-Jordan and Palestine to Br.
• Syria and Lebanon to French
• They set up Arab governments in all mandates except Palestine
The Balfour Declaration, 1917
• Agreement by the British to set up a Jewish homeland in Palestine
• The Br. Mandate there remained under Br. Control
• The British had also promised the Arabs independence in the region
• 1918=60,000 Jews; 1939=630,000
• Beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict
• Sidenote* Turkey defeats Greece in 1920 in a war over Anatolia and a massive citizen shift occurs (1.5 mil)
The Israeli War of Independence, 1948
• Background to the war:
• Holocaust and persecution of Jews in Europe leads to many of them leaving to Israel
• Arab League is formed in 1945 to protest the Balfour Declaration
• France gives Syria and Lebanon independence in 1946
• British fall out of favour with the Jews under the guidance of the Zionist movement (A homeland had not been created yet)
• The Brits hand the problem over to the UN in 1947
The Israeli war of Independence, 1948 con’t.
• 1947 the UN suggests a partition.
• Jews are happy with this the Arabs are angry
• Arab radicals had attacked Jews throughout 1947
• The Arab League had rumours of attacking the Jews once the Brits left.
• The day the mandate ends the Jews under David Ben-Gurion attack the Arab League countries
• The Jews win and increase their territory from the parition including the Negev
Desert
• Many Palestinians became refugees
• Palestinians begin terrorist attacks within Israel
The Suez Crisis 1956, The Six Days War 1967, The Yom Kippur War 1973, Camp David, Yasser Arafat
The Suez Crisis, 1956
• In 1955 Egypt and Russia align with each other
• 1956 Egypt begins to get arms from Czechoslovakia
• Gamal Nasser begins to threaten Israel
• USA reacts by pulling out of the Aswan Dam project in Egypt
• Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal
• The Israelis attack first under their policies
• They had a secret deal that the Fr and Br would join in once this happened
• This angered the Americans and they threaten to cut off the oil if they did not back out
Suez Crisis Con’t
• The crisis is resolved by the introduction of UN Peacekeeping force (Lester B. Pearson’s idea)
• Israels economy flourishes under the secure conditions
• Changes the influence of power in the region from British and French to Russian and American
The 6 Days War, 1967
• 1967 Nasser expels the U.N. Peacekeeping force from the Canal zone
• Egyptians close the straits to the Israelis and mass troops on the border
• Israelis with the help of intelligence know of the attack and follow through with first-strike policy
• Destroy the Egyptian airforce, take Sinai pennisula, Golan Heights, and West Bank (Whole war lasts 6 days)
• USA needs to step in to halt attacks in fear of angering the other Arab nations
Anwar Sadat
• Replaces Nasser as the leader of Egypt in 1970
• Kicks out the Soviet advisors in 1972
• He felt they could not align with the atheist Soviets
• Planned for the Yom Kippur War, 1973
• Eventually turned into a dove and won a Nobel Peace prize for going to Israel and asking for peace in 1977 (leading to the Camp David Accords)
The Yom Kippur War, 1973
• The Egyptians planned for another attack
• This time they wanted it to be a surprise over the Yom Kippur holiday
• They have original gains (US then sends aid to Israel)
• The war ends with the borders being unchanged
• The west then pushed hard for a settlement due to the rise in oil prices (OPEC raised oil 70%)
• Put the world in financial crisis
The Camp David Accords, 1978
• U.S. President Jimmy Carter hosted a Peace Treaty between the Egyptians and Israelis at his retreat
• They agreed to:
• Not make war
• Negotiate the refugee problem
• Israel could use the Suez Canal
• Israel would get their supply of oil from Egypt
• The result of this was the Egyptians got expelled from OPEC
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)
• 500,000 Palestinian refugees living in south Lebanon conduct terrorist attacks on Israel (PLO)
• Israel invades Lebanon as far as Beirut in 1982
• Multinational force sent in to restore order (PLO women are massacred)
• Syria invades in 1987
• PLO eventually agrees to withdraw
• 1991 a cease fire was signed although Syrian troops remained in Lebanon
• Attacks still launched on Israel from Golan Heights area
PLO and International Terrorism
• The militant arm of the PLO is called Fatah
• Leads hijackings of planes (3 blown up on the runway in Jordan in 1970)
• Most recognized were the attacks on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics
• Arafat claimed to have nothing to do with the attack
• Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir responded with Operation Sword of Gideon
• They lead many intifadas in the following years
Yasser Arafat
• Leader of the PLO and later PLA
• Also pushed for the independence of Palestine
• Represented Palestine at several peace accords
• Was originally militant but became more peaceful in the 80s and 90s
• Won a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in Oslo, 1993
Iran-Iraq War, Saddam Hussein, Kuwait and the Gulf War 1991
The Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1990
• A Shiite revolution takes place in Iran and the Shah was replaced by Ayatollah Khomeini
• This concerned the Sunni leader, Saddam Hussein in Iraq
• Khomeini was very anti-American so they supported Iraq
• War breaks out in fear that the revolution would spread to Iraq (really a war of religion although they both claimed territory of each others)
• UN gets involved in 1988 and a formal treaty is signed with no gains in 1990
Saddam Hussein
• Sunni leader of Iraq
• Chosen by the CIA as a pro-American and helped brought to power
• Worried about the spread of Shiite Islam
• Harsh on his own country (Kurds and 65% Shiite nation)
• Claimed Kuwait to start the first Gulf War
• Used poison gas on the Kurds in the north
Kuwait and the Gulf War, 1991
• Aug. 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait
• “No more Munichs” proclaimed by George Bush Sr. and place sanctions on Iraq to pull out
• 30 countries join in a coalition against Iraq (including some Arab countries)
• USA made sure Israel wouldn’t join for fear of losing the Arab support
• Kuwait liberated after 4 days (90,000 Iraqi casualties)
• Bush did not invade Iraq or remove Saddam in fear of losing the Arab support
• Threat of poison and gas high
• Saddam tried to get Israelis involved by firing SCUD missiles at them
• “The sick man of Europe”: Ottoman Empire breaks up and becomes Turkey
• French and British divide up the former Ottoman territories into mandates
• Suez Canal and oil are the reasons for their interest
• Sykes-Picot agreement, 1916, gave most of the territory to Britain
• Iraq, Trans-Jordan and Palestine to Br.
• Syria and Lebanon to French
• They set up Arab governments in all mandates except Palestine
The Balfour Declaration, 1917
• Agreement by the British to set up a Jewish homeland in Palestine
• The Br. Mandate there remained under Br. Control
• The British had also promised the Arabs independence in the region
• 1918=60,000 Jews; 1939=630,000
• Beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict
• Sidenote* Turkey defeats Greece in 1920 in a war over Anatolia and a massive citizen shift occurs (1.5 mil)
The Israeli War of Independence, 1948
• Background to the war:
• Holocaust and persecution of Jews in Europe leads to many of them leaving to Israel
• Arab League is formed in 1945 to protest the Balfour Declaration
• France gives Syria and Lebanon independence in 1946
• British fall out of favour with the Jews under the guidance of the Zionist movement (A homeland had not been created yet)
• The Brits hand the problem over to the UN in 1947
The Israeli war of Independence, 1948 con’t.
• 1947 the UN suggests a partition.
• Jews are happy with this the Arabs are angry
• Arab radicals had attacked Jews throughout 1947
• The Arab League had rumours of attacking the Jews once the Brits left.
• The day the mandate ends the Jews under David Ben-Gurion attack the Arab League countries
• The Jews win and increase their territory from the parition including the Negev
Desert
• Many Palestinians became refugees
• Palestinians begin terrorist attacks within Israel
The Suez Crisis 1956, The Six Days War 1967, The Yom Kippur War 1973, Camp David, Yasser Arafat
The Suez Crisis, 1956
• In 1955 Egypt and Russia align with each other
• 1956 Egypt begins to get arms from Czechoslovakia
• Gamal Nasser begins to threaten Israel
• USA reacts by pulling out of the Aswan Dam project in Egypt
• Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal
• The Israelis attack first under their policies
• They had a secret deal that the Fr and Br would join in once this happened
• This angered the Americans and they threaten to cut off the oil if they did not back out
Suez Crisis Con’t
• The crisis is resolved by the introduction of UN Peacekeeping force (Lester B. Pearson’s idea)
• Israels economy flourishes under the secure conditions
• Changes the influence of power in the region from British and French to Russian and American
The 6 Days War, 1967
• 1967 Nasser expels the U.N. Peacekeeping force from the Canal zone
• Egyptians close the straits to the Israelis and mass troops on the border
• Israelis with the help of intelligence know of the attack and follow through with first-strike policy
• Destroy the Egyptian airforce, take Sinai pennisula, Golan Heights, and West Bank (Whole war lasts 6 days)
• USA needs to step in to halt attacks in fear of angering the other Arab nations
Anwar Sadat
• Replaces Nasser as the leader of Egypt in 1970
• Kicks out the Soviet advisors in 1972
• He felt they could not align with the atheist Soviets
• Planned for the Yom Kippur War, 1973
• Eventually turned into a dove and won a Nobel Peace prize for going to Israel and asking for peace in 1977 (leading to the Camp David Accords)
The Yom Kippur War, 1973
• The Egyptians planned for another attack
• This time they wanted it to be a surprise over the Yom Kippur holiday
• They have original gains (US then sends aid to Israel)
• The war ends with the borders being unchanged
• The west then pushed hard for a settlement due to the rise in oil prices (OPEC raised oil 70%)
• Put the world in financial crisis
The Camp David Accords, 1978
• U.S. President Jimmy Carter hosted a Peace Treaty between the Egyptians and Israelis at his retreat
• They agreed to:
• Not make war
• Negotiate the refugee problem
• Israel could use the Suez Canal
• Israel would get their supply of oil from Egypt
• The result of this was the Egyptians got expelled from OPEC
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)
• 500,000 Palestinian refugees living in south Lebanon conduct terrorist attacks on Israel (PLO)
• Israel invades Lebanon as far as Beirut in 1982
• Multinational force sent in to restore order (PLO women are massacred)
• Syria invades in 1987
• PLO eventually agrees to withdraw
• 1991 a cease fire was signed although Syrian troops remained in Lebanon
• Attacks still launched on Israel from Golan Heights area
PLO and International Terrorism
• The militant arm of the PLO is called Fatah
• Leads hijackings of planes (3 blown up on the runway in Jordan in 1970)
• Most recognized were the attacks on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics
• Arafat claimed to have nothing to do with the attack
• Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir responded with Operation Sword of Gideon
• They lead many intifadas in the following years
Yasser Arafat
• Leader of the PLO and later PLA
• Also pushed for the independence of Palestine
• Represented Palestine at several peace accords
• Was originally militant but became more peaceful in the 80s and 90s
• Won a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in Oslo, 1993
Iran-Iraq War, Saddam Hussein, Kuwait and the Gulf War 1991
The Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1990
• A Shiite revolution takes place in Iran and the Shah was replaced by Ayatollah Khomeini
• This concerned the Sunni leader, Saddam Hussein in Iraq
• Khomeini was very anti-American so they supported Iraq
• War breaks out in fear that the revolution would spread to Iraq (really a war of religion although they both claimed territory of each others)
• UN gets involved in 1988 and a formal treaty is signed with no gains in 1990
Saddam Hussein
• Sunni leader of Iraq
• Chosen by the CIA as a pro-American and helped brought to power
• Worried about the spread of Shiite Islam
• Harsh on his own country (Kurds and 65% Shiite nation)
• Claimed Kuwait to start the first Gulf War
• Used poison gas on the Kurds in the north
Kuwait and the Gulf War, 1991
• Aug. 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait
• “No more Munichs” proclaimed by George Bush Sr. and place sanctions on Iraq to pull out
• 30 countries join in a coalition against Iraq (including some Arab countries)
• USA made sure Israel wouldn’t join for fear of losing the Arab support
• Kuwait liberated after 4 days (90,000 Iraqi casualties)
• Bush did not invade Iraq or remove Saddam in fear of losing the Arab support
• Threat of poison and gas high
• Saddam tried to get Israelis involved by firing SCUD missiles at them
Subjunctive Question
If Israel wasn't so strongly supported by the United States of America to begin with, would of they still gone down the same course of history as they did?
quote
"Russians can give you arms but only the United States can give you a solution." - Anwar Sadat
PICTURE + Cartoon
Video
Essay
“Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic, and saying so is vile. But singling out Israel for opprobrium and international sanction out of all proportion to any other party in the Middle East is anti-Semitic, and not saying so is dishonest.”
― Thomas L. Friedman
Consider the quote by Thomas Friedman. To what extent are the problems in the Middle East a product of anti-Semitism, and to what extent are they a product of Nationalism?
Throughout the twentieth century, the problems in the Middle East were very much a product of nationalism; on the other hand, they were not so a product of anti-Semitism; rather, an act of anti-Israel. There are countless examples of nationalism during this era; however, none touch better than Israel’s retaliation towards the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the Israeli War of Independence, and the incident directed from the Suez Canal. Furthermore, the problems in the Middle East are just as well a product of Anti-Israel, shown by: The Balfour Declaration, the PLO, and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. As Anti-Semitism may play a minor role in these problems, it holds no match when compared to the results of nationalism, and Anti-Israel acts. Anti-Semitism was demonstrated during the Israeli War of Independence as well, and the tension between the Arabs and Jews – continuing to this day. The problems in the Middle East are strictly products due to Nationalism and Anti-Israel, for which will be supported in the paragraphs below.
Furthermore, Nationalism played a crucial role in determining the problems occurring in the Middle East. After suffering terrorist attacks from the PLO, Israel decided to invade Lebanon in 1982 – and succeeded – which resulted in the withdrawal of the PLO. This showed a tremendous sense of nationalism in being able to retaliate against such a neighboring force. Secondly, much before this incident was the Israeli War of Independence in 1948; evidently, the name itself can prove the nationalism of which the war consisted. During this war, the Jews attacked the Arab League countries; as a result, they increased their territory massively – expanding their nationalism. Lastly, the Suez Canal in 1967 was yet another direct product of Nationalism on the Egyptian side, and the Israeli side. Nasser (president of Egypt) nationalized the canal, and denied the Israeli use of it; consequently, Israel was angered and took action in 1967 with an attack on Egypt, targeting specifics. Nonetheless, Nationalism did play a great role within the problems of the Middle East, especially within Israel – leading towards countries becoming anti-Israel.
Therefore, as a result of Israeli nationalistic movements, many Middle Eastern countries then became anti-Israel. To begin, the Balfour Declaration in 1917 was exactly the incident that created the Arab-Israeli conflict. Both groups did not agree with one another, which led to disputes; furthermore, great wars. Once again, the PLO is brought up in support of anti-Israel when 500,000 Palestinian refugees living in South Lebanon conduct terrorist attacks on Israel, showing their hatred. Another incident of the PLO being anti-Israel is the attack on Israeli athletes at the 1982 Munich Olympic Games which stirred more and more tension between the two. Lastly, the Yom Kippur War in 1973 was probably the greatest of all anti-Israel actions taken in history. Yom Kippur is an Israeli holiday of which the nation celebrates; however, Egypt decided to attack them on this day with intentions of a surprise attack. Israel was nearly blown off the map until the United States of America stepped in, and supported Israel with military weapons in order for them to fight back. Many significant historical events have been of the anti-Israel cause, and the problems continue to resonate even to this day.
Nevertheless, anti-Semitism has also determined problems of the Middle East; however, its impact was not nearly as much as nationalism and anti-Israel had. The Israeli War of Independence was a sure sign of anti-Semitism when the Palestinian refugees committed terrorist attacks within Israel against Jews specifically. Another example is when the Arabs attacked the Jews throughout 1947; as a result of being angered from the partition US suggested. Anti-Semitism did have a minor impact of the Middle East, but it was nowhere as significant as anti-Israel in general.
Consequently, throughout the twentieth century, nationalism and anti-Israeli movements has been the product of problems. Nationalistic movements such as: when Israel attacked Egypt due to the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967, when Jews attacked Arab league countries – part of the Israeli War of Independence – in 1948, and when Israel retaliates against the PLO and invade Lebanon successfully in 1982, have all created massive problems in the Middle East. Anti-Israeli demonstrations from: when 500,000 Palestinian refugees living in South Lebanon conduct terrorist attacks on Israel, the Belfour Declaration in 1917 that began the Arab-Israeli conflict (still to modern day), and the horrid Yom Kippur War in 1973. On the other hand, anti-Semitism played a minor role from a problem stand point as Palestinians attack specifically the Jews in the Israeli War of Independence, and when the Arabs attacked the Jews throughout 1947 as a result of a disagreement. Therefore, nationalism and anti-Israel were evidently the two main contributors towards the problems in the Middle East.
― Thomas L. Friedman
Consider the quote by Thomas Friedman. To what extent are the problems in the Middle East a product of anti-Semitism, and to what extent are they a product of Nationalism?
Throughout the twentieth century, the problems in the Middle East were very much a product of nationalism; on the other hand, they were not so a product of anti-Semitism; rather, an act of anti-Israel. There are countless examples of nationalism during this era; however, none touch better than Israel’s retaliation towards the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the Israeli War of Independence, and the incident directed from the Suez Canal. Furthermore, the problems in the Middle East are just as well a product of Anti-Israel, shown by: The Balfour Declaration, the PLO, and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. As Anti-Semitism may play a minor role in these problems, it holds no match when compared to the results of nationalism, and Anti-Israel acts. Anti-Semitism was demonstrated during the Israeli War of Independence as well, and the tension between the Arabs and Jews – continuing to this day. The problems in the Middle East are strictly products due to Nationalism and Anti-Israel, for which will be supported in the paragraphs below.
Furthermore, Nationalism played a crucial role in determining the problems occurring in the Middle East. After suffering terrorist attacks from the PLO, Israel decided to invade Lebanon in 1982 – and succeeded – which resulted in the withdrawal of the PLO. This showed a tremendous sense of nationalism in being able to retaliate against such a neighboring force. Secondly, much before this incident was the Israeli War of Independence in 1948; evidently, the name itself can prove the nationalism of which the war consisted. During this war, the Jews attacked the Arab League countries; as a result, they increased their territory massively – expanding their nationalism. Lastly, the Suez Canal in 1967 was yet another direct product of Nationalism on the Egyptian side, and the Israeli side. Nasser (president of Egypt) nationalized the canal, and denied the Israeli use of it; consequently, Israel was angered and took action in 1967 with an attack on Egypt, targeting specifics. Nonetheless, Nationalism did play a great role within the problems of the Middle East, especially within Israel – leading towards countries becoming anti-Israel.
Therefore, as a result of Israeli nationalistic movements, many Middle Eastern countries then became anti-Israel. To begin, the Balfour Declaration in 1917 was exactly the incident that created the Arab-Israeli conflict. Both groups did not agree with one another, which led to disputes; furthermore, great wars. Once again, the PLO is brought up in support of anti-Israel when 500,000 Palestinian refugees living in South Lebanon conduct terrorist attacks on Israel, showing their hatred. Another incident of the PLO being anti-Israel is the attack on Israeli athletes at the 1982 Munich Olympic Games which stirred more and more tension between the two. Lastly, the Yom Kippur War in 1973 was probably the greatest of all anti-Israel actions taken in history. Yom Kippur is an Israeli holiday of which the nation celebrates; however, Egypt decided to attack them on this day with intentions of a surprise attack. Israel was nearly blown off the map until the United States of America stepped in, and supported Israel with military weapons in order for them to fight back. Many significant historical events have been of the anti-Israel cause, and the problems continue to resonate even to this day.
Nevertheless, anti-Semitism has also determined problems of the Middle East; however, its impact was not nearly as much as nationalism and anti-Israel had. The Israeli War of Independence was a sure sign of anti-Semitism when the Palestinian refugees committed terrorist attacks within Israel against Jews specifically. Another example is when the Arabs attacked the Jews throughout 1947; as a result of being angered from the partition US suggested. Anti-Semitism did have a minor impact of the Middle East, but it was nowhere as significant as anti-Israel in general.
Consequently, throughout the twentieth century, nationalism and anti-Israeli movements has been the product of problems. Nationalistic movements such as: when Israel attacked Egypt due to the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967, when Jews attacked Arab league countries – part of the Israeli War of Independence – in 1948, and when Israel retaliates against the PLO and invade Lebanon successfully in 1982, have all created massive problems in the Middle East. Anti-Israeli demonstrations from: when 500,000 Palestinian refugees living in South Lebanon conduct terrorist attacks on Israel, the Belfour Declaration in 1917 that began the Arab-Israeli conflict (still to modern day), and the horrid Yom Kippur War in 1973. On the other hand, anti-Semitism played a minor role from a problem stand point as Palestinians attack specifically the Jews in the Israeli War of Independence, and when the Arabs attacked the Jews throughout 1947 as a result of a disagreement. Therefore, nationalism and anti-Israel were evidently the two main contributors towards the problems in the Middle East.
3,2,1
Corrupt, Hate, Immature
What would of happened if the Belfour Declaration hadn't been put in place?
Why did Israel have the need to attack other countries if they already had the reliance of the USA super power?
Erupted Volcano
What would of happened if the Belfour Declaration hadn't been put in place?
Why did Israel have the need to attack other countries if they already had the reliance of the USA super power?
Erupted Volcano