1. Post-WW1 Middle East

2. By 1914 (WW1), all of N.Africa was under Euro control
Ottoman Empire was already weakened significantly, having lost all its remaining European territories except eastern Thrace (still part of today’s Turkey)

4. Ottoman allied with the Central Power vis-à-vis Triple Entente
Central Power lost- Ottoman had to pay a price
During WW1, major Triple Entente powers –a series of secret treaties to divide the Ottoman Empire after victory
The best known- Sykes-Picot Agreement
At the same time, to fight against the Ottomans they also concluded secret treatises with Arabs (Husayn-McMahon Correspondence)

5. (Husayn-McMahon Correspondence)
Brit High Commissioner in Cairo, McMahon wrote to the Sharif (local governor in Hijaz) to start revolt against the ottoman
Husayn’s demand- Br pledge –financial & political support vs. Ott & his enemies
Husayn’s demand- to create ind Arab states in the Ar peninsula & most parts of Fertile Crescent (greater Syria)
McMahon agreed excluded some parts the most contested /toughest Palestine.
‘exclude portions of Syria lying to the west of Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo” (vagueness)

6. Exclusion was it confined to only Lebanon, a region coveted by France
Or also Palestine.
Arabs claimed Br promised Palestine to them.
Br also had a secret agreement with the Zionist

7. Goldschmiddt’s take- West of Syrian cities- Lebanon, Br cared mare about its ally France than a homeland for Jewish “homeland” at this time.
Palestine exclusion angered Husayn and refused to accept the deal.

8. Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916
Key Players- Br ,France, Russia
Vested interest in Ottoman Empire
Russia- control of the Turkish Straits
Italy –large portion of s/w Anatolia
Greece- Izmir
France- Syria, Lebanon & Palestine

10. According to Sykes-Picot, there were to be:
An ‘A’-zone of French influence, somewhat corresponding with present-day Syria but without coastal access, and extending far into present-day Iraq, to include the city of Mosul.
A ‘B’-zone of British influence, roughly correspondent to present-day Jordan and Iraq and including the Israeli port city of Haifa. Also included were the southern part of present-day Israel (i.e. the Negev desert), and a band of territory extending deep into the Arabian peninsula.
A ‘Blue’ zone of direct French control, in central Anatolia with extensions towards the south (the Syrian coast) the west (the southern Turkish coast) and far inland.

11. A ‘Red’ zone of direct British control, in southern Iraq and extending southwards over Kuwait to include the Persian Gulf coast of Arabia.
An international zone in the Holy Land, pending consultation with other world powers.
The main criticism of the Sykes-Picot Agreement was that it failed to take into account the wishes of the Arab populations in the area – who had been promised self-determination
Lawrence of Arabia, who promised the Arabs a homeland in exchange for siding with the British against the Turks.
Anglo-French treaty represented the West’s betrayal of Arab cause, secret was not made public until after WW1
1917, Balfour Declaration (More on this later)

12. Reconciling the Conflicting Promises
Wilson’s 14-points- denounced secret treatises, urged self-determination for all peoples (specifically in ex-Ott territories)
No one could reconcile the various conflicting claims of Arab, Zionist, Brit & France
Wilson solution-referendum (self-determination) in Syria
France protested it the same should take place in Iraq, else boycott it
Commission limit Zionist plan (jewish immigration to Pal) rule out any plan for turning Pal as Jewish national homeland
Wilson suffered stroke before he could read the commision’s report

13. What’s Next? San Remo & Treaty of Sevres(1920)
France & Brit agreed to settle differences
France gave up its claim to Mosul and Pal- got a free hand in the rest of Syria
System called “mandates”(tutelary relationship)
France & Brit agreed to divide ME mandates
Syria & Lebanon- France
Iraq & Palest (incl. today’s Jordan) to Brit

14. What about Amir Faysal in the 1920s ?

15. Led by Sherif Husayn, they helped France & Brit to defeat Ott
Allies failed to keep their promises to Husayn
Arabs hoped to est control in the fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent is a historical region in the Middle East that includes the Syria, Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt These countries on a map together have a shape that is similar to a crescent

17. In this area where Arabs were the majority, the Allies set Mandates (colonies in disguise)
Instead of coming together the Arabs were pulled farther apart
One area Palestine was declared to Jewish homeland