Zionism

Beginnings  Before World War I, the British and French had promised Arabs independence if they helped them fight against the Ottoman Empire  After the war, the Europeans did not hold up their end of the bargain-they were more interested in oil & money  The Europeans created “Mandates,” to be divided into countries at a later date  Before World War I, the British and French had promised Arabs independence if they helped them fight against the Ottoman Empire  After the war, the Europeans did not hold up their end of the bargain-they were more interested in oil & money  The Europeans created “Mandates,” to be divided into countries at a later date

Groups  Different groups argued for different kinds of countries to be created:  Pan-Arabists-Wanted one Arab country across the Middle East. Argued that Arabs had a common history, culture, religion, and language and should be one country.  Islamists-Wanted countries set up that would be governed by sharia, Islamic law.  Zionists-Argued for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East  Many Pan-Arabists and Zionists were secular -did not want a religious government

Britain’s Problem  Britain was responsible for dividing up the land they called Palestine  Arabs believe these are Arab lands  Zionist Jews believe this is the place where the Jewish homeland should be  In 1917, about 70% of the people there were Arab, and about 30% were Jews  Britain was responsible for dividing up the land they called Palestine  Arabs believe these are Arab lands  Zionist Jews believe this is the place where the Jewish homeland should be  In 1917, about 70% of the people there were Arab, and about 30% were Jews

The Arab Case  Arabs had been living on this land for centuries  They have strong religious ties to the city of Jerusalem  Dome of the Rock  Al-Asqa Mosque  Jerusalem is where Muhammad ascended into heaven

The Jewish Case  Jews had first settled in Palestine in ancient times (they called it Canaan)  They established a kingdom there in roughly 1000 BCE  They were forced to leave their homeland (Diaspora), but feel God had promised them this land  Jerusalem is the holiest city with the holiest place in Judaism-the Temple Mount  Jews were persecuted everywhere they lived, so they needed their own country to be safe.  Jews had first settled in Palestine in ancient times (they called it Canaan)  They established a kingdom there in roughly 1000 BCE  They were forced to leave their homeland (Diaspora), but feel God had promised them this land  Jerusalem is the holiest city with the holiest place in Judaism-the Temple Mount  Jews were persecuted everywhere they lived, so they needed their own country to be safe.

Zionism  Zionists worked to create a Jewish homeland and to persuade more Jews to settle in Palestine.  The leader of the Zionist movement was a Hungarian Jew named Theodor Herzl  Herzl’s speeches and book The Jewish State convinced many Jews to return and persuaded some European leaders

The Balfour Declaration  In 1917, British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour wrote to Baron Walter Rothschild, another Zionist leader  Balfour supported the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine  This encouraged many more Jews to move to Palestine, but enraged Arabs  In 1917, British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour wrote to Baron Walter Rothschild, another Zionist leader  Balfour supported the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine  This encouraged many more Jews to move to Palestine, but enraged Arabs

“A land without a people for a people without a land.” Zionist Slogan

“The bride is beautiful, but she is married to another man.” Report from a delegation of European Jews to Palestine