Case Study 2 - The Origins of the Arab–Israeli Conflict

What is Arab nationalism

Arab Nationalism: This is the idea that Arab people who lived in Palestine and the surrounding Middle East wanted to be independent and have their own country. They didn’t want foreign countries controlling them.

What is Zionism

Zionism: A movement started by Jewish people in the late 1800s. They wanted to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine because Jews faced discrimination, violence, and persecution (unfair treatment) in Europe.

Why did both groups (+what were the groups) want Palestine?

Both groups wanted Palestine but had different goals: Arabs wanted it as their own Arab country, Jews wanted it as a safe Jewish homeland.

How did and why did Britain get control over Palestine?

League of Nations Mandate: After World War I ended in 1918, the League of Nations (an early international group like the UN) gave Britain control over Palestine. This was called a “Mandate.” Britain’s job was to govern the land and prepare it for independence.

What two promises did Britain make that caused problems after it gained control over Palestine?

• Balfour Declaration (1917): Britain said it supported a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
  
  

• Hussein-McMahon Correspondence (1915-16): Britain promised Arabs independence in parts of the Middle East if they helped fight the Ottoman Empire.
  

What happened after these two promises were made by Britain?

Because of these promises, Arabs and Jews both expected different things and got upset.

• More Jews started moving to Palestine, which worried Arabs because they feared losing their land and rights.
  
  

• Arabs protested and sometimes attacked Jewish communities, and Jewish groups also defended themselves.
  

Following this response, how did Britain try to calm the situation?

• Peel Commission (1937) suggested splitting Palestine into two countries.
  

• White Paper (1939) limited Jewish immigration to please Arabs.

After Britain made these attempts to calm the situation, what was the response from both sides?

Both sides were unhappy, and violence continued.

Following the poor response from both sides, outline what happened with Jewish holocaust survivors and Jewish groups, and what Britain eventually did with Palestine

After World War II, many Jewish survivors of the Holocaust (where millions of Jews were killed by the Nazis) tried to move to Palestine.

Jewish groups like Irgun and Stern Gang fought against British control to allow more Jewish immigrants.

Britain, tired and unable to control the violence, decided to leave Palestine and passed the issue to the United Nations in 1947.

What was the Balfour declaration?

• A statement made by the British government in 1917.
  
  

• It said they supported a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
  
  

• But it also said it should not harm the rights of the people already living there (the Arabs).

What was the Jewish response of the Balfour Declaration?

Positive – they were happy and saw it as a step toward creating a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

What was the Arab response of the Balfour Declaration?

• Negative – they were angry because they already lived there and felt their land was being given away.
  

• They feared losing their rights and homes.
  

What happened after WW2?

• After World War II, many Jews wanted a safe homeland because of the Holocaust.
  

• The idea of creating a Jewish state in Palestine became stronger.

Jewish response to the question of a Jewish homeland post WW2

• Supportive – wanted a Jewish homeland in Palestine for safety and independence.
  

• Many began migrating to Palestine, and Jewish groups pushed for a new state.
  

Arab response to the question of a Jewish homeland post WW2

• Strongly opposed – believed Palestine was already their land.
  
  

• Feared being forced out or ruled by Jews.
  
  

• Did not agree with dividing the land to make a Jewish state.

What was the UN Partition Plan?

• In 1947, the United Nations suggested dividing Palestine into two parts:
  

  • One for Jews

  • One for Arabs
    
    

• Jerusalem would be internationally controlled.
  

What were the reasons for the UN partition of Palestine?

1. Growing conflict between Jews and Arabs in Palestine
   
   

2. Jewish migration increased after the Holocaust
   
   

3. Violence and tension made the British (who controlled Palestine) want to leave
   
   

4. The UN believed dividing the land was the only way to reduce conflict
   
   

5. To give Jews a homeland after WWII and the Holocaust, while trying to respect Arab rights

What were the terms of the UN partition plan?

1. Palestine divided into two states:
   
   

   • One Jewish state
     
     

   • One Arab state
     
     

2. Jerusalem would be under international control (not owned by either side)
   
   

3. Jews got more land, even though Arabs had a larger population

Why did the UN partition plan fail?

• Jews accepted the plan (happy to get a state)
  
  

• Arabs rejected the plan (felt it was unfair and took their land)
  
  

• Fighting broke out between Jewish and Arab groups
  
  

• Led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War after Israel declared independence

What were the international responses of the UN partition plan?

• United Nations approved the plan
  
  

• USA and USSR supported it
  
  

• Arab countries were against it and supported Palestinian Arabs
  
  

• Global opinion was divided — some supported a Jewish homeland, others backed Arab opposition

Outline the mounting violence that led to the Arab-Israeli war

1. UN Partition Plan (1947) was accepted by Jews but rejected by Arabs
   
   

2. Right after the plan was announced, violence broke out between Jewish and Arab groups in Palestine
   
   

3. Both sides attacked villages, roads, and cities
   
   

4. British forces, who still controlled Palestine, were pulling out and did little to stop the fighting
   
   

5. Tensions grew as Jewish groups prepared for independence and Arab groups resisted it
   

What was the peak of tension that started the Arab-Israeli war?

• On 14 May 1948, Israel declared independence
  
  

• The next day, Arab countries invaded (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq)
  
  

• This began the 1948 Arab–Israeli War

What was Britain’s involvement with the conflict?

• After World War I, Britain was given control of Palestine under the League of Nations Mandate (1920).
  
  

• Britain had to manage the land and protect both Arabs and Jews.

What is the ‘Britain’s responsibility’ debate about?

Historians argue about how much blame or responsibility Britain holds for the conflict between Arabs and Jews in Palestine.

Reasons to why Britain is responsible - Balfour Declaration

1. Balfour Declaration (1917): Promised a Jewish homeland but also said to protect Arab rights – caused confusion and tension.
   
   

Reasons to why Britain is responsible - British Mandate

1. British Mandate (1920–1948): Britain ruled Palestine but failed to keep peace between Arabs and Jews.
   

Reasons to why Britain is responsible - Letting violence grow

1. Letting violence grow: Britain didn’t do enough to stop rising violence between the two sides.
   
   

Reasons to why Britain is responsible - Quick withdrawal

1. Quick withdrawal: Britain left Palestine in 1948 without a proper plan, leading to chaos and war.

Reasons to why Britain isn’t fully responsible - Deep-rooted conflict:

1. Deep-rooted conflict: The tensions between Jews and Arabs were based on religion, nationalism, and land, and would likely have happened even without British involvement.

Reasons to why Britain isn’t fully responsible - the balance

2. Tried to balance both sides: Britain made efforts to limit Jewish immigration at times (to calm Arab anger), and also tried to protect Jewish communities, but was criticised by both sides.
   

Reasons to why Britain isn’t fully responsible - Post-WWII pressures

3. Post-WWII pressures: After the war, Britain was economically weak and dealing with global problems (like India’s independence). It couldn’t afford to keep controlling Palestine.
   
   

Reasons to why Britain isn’t fully responsible - The UN took over

4. The UN took over: Britain handed the issue to the United Nations, showing it was trying to find an international solution rather than forcing one on its own.