The Israel-Palestine Debate

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The Israel-Palestine Debate

• Pursuit of Justice Unit

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Canaan

• 2000 years ago
• Holy Land
• Judaism, Islam, Christianity
• Where Abraham was from
• Father of monotheism

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• Territory in dispute

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First Millennium

• Arabs fared better than Jews
• 70 AD Romans destroyed Jerusalem and forcibly
  removed Jews from the area
• Land renamed Palestine (previously Canaan)
• DIASPORA- Roman occupation of Palestine, many
  Jews left for Europe
• 7th Century- because of Diaspora, few Jews left
  in Palestine

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• 11th and 12th Century- Europeans attempt to gain
  land from Arabs (Crusades)
• Zionism (19th Century)- Serious movement of
  return to Promised Land by Jews from Europe
  (Jewish term for Nationalism)
• Based on religious ownership of land
• Would later lead to a Israeli State in 1948

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Zionism

• 1897 World Zionist Organization created in Basle
  Switzerland
• President- Doctor Theodore Herzl
• Let us be like other nations
• Vision of a new state of Israel, a haven for
  Jewish settlers
• AT THIS TIME
• 90 of Palestine Palestinian Arab

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• Before WWI- Palestine a part of Ottoman Empire
• Dec 1917 British gained control of Jerusalem
• Oct 1918 British had gained control of all of
  Palestine
• during WWI addressed next slide
• Zionists saw this as a window of opportunity

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During WWI

• British made promises to both Jews and Arabs
• 1915- declared support for post-war Arab
  independent state in Palestine
• Britain France signs 2 agreements
• 1- 1916- Sykes-Picot Agreement (gave land to
  Arabs)
• 2-1917- Balfour Declaration (allowed for Jews
  in Palestine)- prompted violent riots from Arabs

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• Aug 1920- first quota of Jewish immigrants
  allowed in Palestine
• June 1922- White Paper (British govt report
  giving info on proposals on an issue)
• Outlined plan for Jewish National Home
• Suggested PART of Palestine to be used as a home
  for Jews- Palestinians rejected
• Aug 1922- League of Nations supports historical
  and biblical connections of Jewish people with
  Palestine

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• 1920s- Arab opposition grows
• Despite disturbances where both Jews and
  Palestinians were killed, Jewish immigration
  increases (both within British quota and
  illegally)
• Another problem- Jewish immigrants purchased
  large amounts of land from Palestinians

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Arab Palestinian Resistance

• 1935- demand British government to
• 1- Stop Jewish immigrants from entering Palestine
• 2- Stop the land transfer from Arabs to Jews
• 3- to establish democratic institutions
• Arab High Committee created in April 1936
• General strike ordered along with large-scale
  violent resistance

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British Reaction

• 1937- Peel Commission recommended
• 1- Palestine be broken up to allow for a Jewish
  homeland
• 2- that Palestinians be forcibly removed from the
  proposed Jewish State

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Palestinian Reaction to Peel

• Antagonized by pro-Zionist stance, continue armed
  resistance into 1939
• British army put down uprisings with great
  severity
• 3074 Palestinians killed, 6000 arrested, 110
  hanged by British forces attempting to put down
  uprisings
• Most members of Arab High Committee arrested or
  deported which caused a lack of Palestinian
  leadership until after 1939
• Jewish immigration continued until Jews made up
  34 of Palestinian population in 1944!

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Reaction White Paper of 1939

• British concerns of Palestine overshadowed by
  WWII
• British re-evaluate issue of Jewish immigration
  after Arab revolt
• British released White Paper that determined
  British policy of Palestine until end of war in
  1945

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White Paper 1939 continued

• Within 10 years, there would be a separate
  Palestinian State for both ARABS and JEWS
• Froze Jewish immigration over the next 5 years so
  that Jews would only reach 1/3 of the population
• After 5 years, Arabs would have to agree to any
  further Jewish immigration
• Did not please Jews or Arabs, but was strictly
  followed by British during war

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Zionism picks up support

• After White Paper, Zionists turn their attention
  to the United States for support (all of Europe
  at war)
• Zionist leader Ben Gurion calls a conference in
  New York city to gain support
• The Conference accomplished
• Backing for unrestricted Jewish immigration to
  Palestine
• Support for Haganah- Jewish army established in
  1920
• Gaining enthusiasm for a Jewish Commonwealth in
  Palestine

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WWII and Holocaust

• Nazis had killed 6 million Jews
• International shock at condition of survivors,
  experience in Concentration Camps, and amount of
  Displaced persons
• Many immigrated to North America, MANY wanted to
  immigrate to Palestine

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• Potsdam Conference July 1945
• Truman asks Attlee to lift restrictions on Jewish
  immigration to Palestine (to relieve pressure on
  DP camps)
• Trumans request 100 000 Jews be allowed into
  Palestine
• Nov 1945- increased Jewish immigration to 1500
  per month
• Committee created to solve problem
• While committee being organized, Truman bombarded
  by Zionists (p.176)

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Anglo-American Committee

• April 1946
• No need for an Arab or Jewish state in Palestine
• Recommended an international trusteeship under
  British control
• Increased Jewish migration to 100 000
• NOT approved by American or British leaders
• (wanted to avoid Arab violence British
  intervention)
• MEANWHILE- Zionists wanted British out of
  Palestine
• Began terrorist activities (1937- Irgun, 1940-
  Stern Gang)
• Other proposals offered but denied by both Arabs
  and Zionists

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1947

• Truman and UN pressures others to support a
  divided state for Palestinians and Zionists
• 1- Britain announces will withdraw
• 2- Vicious Civil war breaks out between Arabs and
  Jews in December
• -both sides whole villages destroyed
• -2000 killed by January 1948
• US withdrew support for the UN resolution
• Arabs now seeking refuge. 700 000 fled Palestine
• Leaders of Arab Palestine attempted to stop them
  from leaving (page 184)

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• Zionist launch military operations April 1948
• Zionists gain Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa
• May 1948- State of Israel self- proclaimed
• US immediately recognize Declaration of
  Independence legitimate
• More Palestinians flee

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• May 15 1948- Syria, Trans-Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt
  invade Israel
• UN sends in mediators (mediators assassinated by
  Stern Group)
• War continued until December 1948 when Arabs
  defeated
• 1949- Israel given sovereignty over 12 800 km
  bordering Mediterranean
• Trans-Jordan kept land west of Jordan River
  (including East Jerusalem)
• Egypt took control of Gaza strip
• Palestine ceased to exist

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• YouTube - The History of Palestine
• Biased for who?