Mapping the Middle East

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Mapping the Middle East

• Global II Spiconardi

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The McMahon Agreement (1915)

• At the onset of World War I both Britain and
  Germany wanted Arab support
• Promised Arabs national independence in exchange
  for their help
• Also promised Zionists a homeland in exchange for
  their help
• Arabs make deal with the British known as the
  McMahon Agreement
• Zionism ? movement dedicated to building a Jewish
  state in Palestine

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Why Zionism?

• Persecution of Jews in Europe
• Dreyfus Affair
• A Jewish officer was falsely accused of selling
  French military secrets to the Germans
• False evidence convicts Captain Dreyfus
• Controversy abounds
• Army cover up divides France
• Muslim Arab press criticized French judicial
  system and was sympathetic to European Jews
• Journalist Theodore Herzel covers the trial and
  starts the Zionist movement

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Why Zionism?

• Pogroms
• Organized campaigns of violence against Jews
  permitted by the Russian government
• Many Jews fled Europe and came to America
• Many wanted a homeland in biblical Israel to
  avoid persecution

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The Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman Empire entered WWI on the side of the
  Central Powers
• During the war many nationalities within the
  empire rebelled against the Ottoman Empire with
  British help

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Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916)

• Britain and France make a secret deal to divide
  the Middle East into 5 districts after WWI
• Renege on the McMahon Agreement
• Those lying _at_

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Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916)

• Why did Brits and French go back on their word?
• Didnt believe Middle East was ready for
  independence due to religious and ethnic
  rivalries
• Palestinians Jews ? Fights over historical
  claims to the land
• Shiite Sunni Muslims ? Muslim sects disagree
  over leadership and practices
• Druze Muslims ? seen as a cult by other Islamic
  sects not seen as true believers of Islam
• Kurds ? ethnic group persecuted by Turks, Iraqis,
  and Persians
• Armenian Christians ? WWI genocide
• Christians and Muslims ? hard feelings traced
  back to the Crusades

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Balfour Declaration (1917)

• Due to persecution in Europe, many Jews returned
  to Palestine
• Many returning Jews called for a homeland
• Palestinians opposed the creation of a Jewish
  state
• Europeans see this as an opportunity to rid
  Europe of Jews

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Balfour Declaration (1917)

• Lord Balfour of Britain sends a letter to Zionist
  leaders
• His Majestys Government view with favour the
  establishment in Palestine of a national home for
  the Jewish people, and will use their best
  endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this
  object
• Despite increased migration to Palestine, Zionist
  Movement fails (until after WWII)
• Increased rioting against Jews

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