I Was Here First: Power Games + Colonial Rule in the Middle East

Background: The Jewish People JEWISH CLAIM: Jewish claim to the Middle East goes back 3,000 years to the Old Testament. According to their history, God gave the Jews (known as Israelis) this special land.

Background: The Jewish People JEWISH CLAIM: Claim on Palestine (eventually remained Israel) is based on their ancient possession of that land as a result of God’s promise to Abraham (the founder of the Jewish people). The land was captured many times; as were the Jews.

Background: The Jewish Claim Continued The last time they Jews + their land was captured was under the Roman Empire in 70 CE were the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews were expelled. They ended up being residents in various European nations: Diaspora = movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland.

Background: The Jewish Claim Continued In the mind of present-day Israelis, history legitimizes their claim to Israel. World Zionist Organization was formed in 1897: Aim to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine through massive immigration. Zionism is a form of radical nationalism of Jews and Jewish culture that supports a Jewish nation state in territory defined as the Land of Israel.

Background: Palestinians PALESTINIAN CLAIM: When the Jewish population had been evicted from their land a group of Arabs (known as Palestinians) settled in the region and assumed ownership. Their claim on the region is based on almost two years of living there. Arab Palestinians made up 95% of the total population of Palestine in 1880 and 90% in 1917.

Europe and the Middle East: The Interwar Years (1) Most of the Middle East had been mandated to Britain and France after WWI. Several European powers went back to their imperialistic/colonial ways.

Europe and the Middle East: The Interwar Years (1) One of the areas that was heavily “mandated” was the former Ottoman/Turkish Empire’s possessions of the Middle East. Mandate: is a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another after WWI; a country (i.e. GB, FR) would administer the territory on behalf of the League.

Europe and the Middle East: The Interwar Years (2) Trade routes were the major concern; not oil as yet. For instance, Britain was concerned about the Suez Canal, her route to her colony of India, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. British made promises to the Zionist organizations while Palestine was still formally part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire.

The Allies and Secret Treaties During the war the Allies signed a number of secret treaties that carved up the Middle East in anticipation of post-war gains. These secret treaties contradicted the Allies promises of self-determination to countries in that region. WWI stimulated nationalist sentiments in many Middle East possessions.

Mandates + Betrayals When the mandates were completed by the Treaty of Sevres (1920; Ottoman Empire + Allies after WWI), Middle Eastern counties felt betrayed. These feelings of betrayal would lead to a series of uprisings. Most were unsuccessful but they did provide a prelude to the struggles that would lead to liberation in the Post-WWII era.

Imperial Rule + Nationalistic Movements = Sykes-Picot The following are the highlights in the history of the relationship between imperial rule and nationalistic movements during the interwar period: The Sykes-Picot Agreement: 1916 – Britain signed an agreement with France to divide up the territory of the former Ottoman/Turkish Empire.

Imperial Rule + Nationalistic Movements = Sykes-Picot Britain would be awarded the bulk of the defeated Turkish lands, set up Arab governments in Iraq and Trans-Jordan (Jordan today). France was not so generous in Syria and Lebanon. There were no provisions for an independent Jewish or Arab state.

Rule and Movements = Balfour Declarations Balfour Declaration: 1917 – statement/agreement in principle by Britain to create a national homeland for the Jews. Palestine would, as a result, remain under direct British control and would not be given over to Arab governments as were other British mandates.

Rule and Movements = McMahon Letters McMahon Letters: 1918 – British letters to the Arabs promising to “recognize and support the independence of the Arabs in all regions... The Arab race shall be given full opportunity of once again forming a nation in the world... No people shall be subject to one another.” These promises were made in return for Arab support and assistance in defeating the Ottoman Empire in WWI.

Rule and Movements Britain decides to support the Balfour Declaration because the leaders of the Zionist movement promised to protect British interests in the Suez Canal. A vital trade route to their most prized colony of India. The Jewish homeland in Palestine was to be administered through League of Nations mandate.

Rule and Movements = Turkey and Greece War Between Turkey and Greece: The part of Turkey known as Anatolia was more controversial in regards to the “mandate” system. Allies planned to take this over and encouraged Greece to send troops to control the Turks and the Italians. General Mustafa Kemal (Turkish leader) wanted to kick out all Europeans.

Rule and Movements = Turkey and Greece (continued) This led to a war between Turkey and Greece where the Turks defeated the Greeks and a peace treaty was signed in Lausanne. A massive exchange in citizens took place: All Greeks were removed from Turkey. All Turks were removed from Greece. In all 2+ million people were removed.

Rule and Movements = Turkey and Persia Turkey and Persia: Were nationalistic countries who wanted to rid themselves of European imperialism. Yet, these countries wanted to adopt European ways = seen as modern! In Turkey, Kemal, renamed Ataturk, forced European ways upon his people.

Rule and Movements = Turkey and Persia (continued) In Persia, Reza Kahn overthrew the government which had been dominated by the British and Russians (1921). Started a reform and modernization movement like Turkey’s. 1925, Kahn became the Shah (monarch) and in 1935 Persia was renamed Iran.

Rule and Movements = Turkey and Persia (continued) Both movements were largely urban developments. Britain did little to resist these nationalistic movements.

Rule and Movements = Palestine Palestine: To become Israel in 1948, and a key player in Middle Eastern affairs – British Foreign Secretary – Arthur Balfour – stated he was in favour of establishing a homeland in Palestine for the Jews.

Rule and Movements = Palestine Problems: Palestinians were not all in favour of giving the land away. British never consulted the Arabs (promised them independence) – 60,000 Jews in Palestine in a total population of 750,000.

Rule and Movements = Palestine British romanticized about Jewish homeland while Arabs saw this as a threat to their nationalistic desires. British did little to stop the legal and illegal immigration of Jews into Palestine/Israel during the interwar years.

Other Middle Eastern Countries Egypt: Britain had occupied Egypt since Zaghlul, leader of the nationalistic party Wafd, was unsuccessful to free Egypt from the British.

Other Middle Eastern Countries: Egypt Continued British spirited Zaghlul out of the country, but the movement was carried on by the members of Wafd – so not to lose the country entirely, Britain granted Egypt limited independence. King Faud I was the leader of the new Egypt but the Wafd was not satisfied.

Patterns of Disturbances Starting in the interwar years patterns developed regarding disturbances in the Middle East. Violent uprising were put down by British and French troops. Order was restored by the granting of small measures of autonomy.

Patterns of Disturbances (continued) Eventually, most Middle Eastern countries gained independence, but imperialist controlled foreign affairs and left troops behind. Remember: All the Middle East was important to Britain in so far as the Suez Canal was concerned (major trade route) and later oil (not until after WWII to the present). Saudi Arabia was the only Middle Eastern nation not to come under European imperialist rule.