Homelands: Conflict in the Middle East Part 2 of 3

Focus Questions: How were the borders of the Middle East drawn after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire? For what reasons did the British make a commitment to a Jewish homeland?

Imagine you are a Jew living in a Jewish village in Russia in the 1890’s. There have been two recent attacks on your village by Anti-Semitic mobs, the Black Hundreds. An uncle was murdered and your house was burned down.

Move to the city and integrate with Russian society Which do you choose? Renew and strengthen your Jewish identity - reject Russian culture and continue with your life hoping for the best Emigrate to America Move to the city and integrate with Russian society D. Join a Zionist organization and emigrate to Palestine E. Join a Jewish radical political group, like the Bund, to fight anti-Semitism in Russia Now move to the corner of the room that represents your choice and be prepared to justify your decision!

Activity with a partner: Refer to the following slide that shows a map of the European Jewish Population distribution around 1933 Write two (2) generalisations based on the map:

World War I A major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918

Many Jews supported Germany because of Russian anti-Semitism How can Britain win Jewish support?

A Series of Contradicting Agreements Top Secret

1915 Britain gains the support of Arabs in World War I after promising independence for Arab states 1916 Britain agrees to the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence in which independence is promised to what is now Syria, Palestine (Israel), Jordan, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula should the Allies win the war. 1916 Britain also signs the Sykes-Picot Agreement with France. details a plan to split up most of the Middle East region between Britain and France should they defeat the Central powers. 1917 Britain creates the Balfour Declaration which states that after ousting the Ottomans from both Jerusalem and Baghdad, they promise to support a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.

On Nov 2, 1917, the British issued the Balfour Declaration, viewed by Jews and Arabs as promising a “National Home” for the Jews in Palestine.

Balfour Declaration British viewed "with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine." What do you think this means? How might a Palestinian interpret this? A Jew?

Identify a possible problem as a result of Britain's actions

T.E. Lawrence

Versailles Treaty US President Woodrow Wilson promoted the idea of self-determination Colonial empires should give ethnic groups the freedom to create their own nations So what will happen to the Ottoman Empire?

With a partner: So what will happen to the Ottoman Empire? Identify two (2) key changes between 1914 and 1920 as displayed by the maps on the previous slide:

1920 1914