HIST104 Lecture 21: The Modern Middle East (I) - The Creation of IsraelArab Nationalism
12 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Quiz Monday:
10 questions that deal with the historical background of contemporary
international affairs
○
All multiple choice - 1 pt each
○
All will relate to something in class since spring break
○
Ex: identify such an such a question based on the following info
○
•
Zionism
Movement called Zionism emerged among the jews as a response to anti
semitism
○
Jews were emancipated and given full equality
○
This new freedom enabled them to leave the ghettos and enter the
mainstream of public life
Many began to be successful in their professions
§
○
At the same time, jews faced increasing antisemitism from nationalists in
europe
Many nationalists argued that it was impossible to be a jew and a
german, etc
§
Jews faced persecution as a result of nationalism
Lots of restrictions placed on their lives
□
§
○
Persecution and violence became so prevalent in russia that many jews
decided to emigrate
Over 20,000 leaving russia every year, some going to the region of
Palestine
§
○
•
Palestine
As more jews moved to Palestine, it became the focus for the Zionist
movement
○
Zionists promoted the idea of national independence for jews
Zionism was a nationalist movement in response to nationalism
§
○
Zionists thought the jews should have their own state, where they could
then practice traditional jewish life freely
○
•
A key figure in the development of zionism was Theodor Herzel (1860-1904)
While Herzel was in France working as a joirnalist, he saw a great deal of
anti-semitism
○
In 1896 he published a book called The Jewish State where he argued that
Jews shouldn’t expect any reduction in the level of anti-semitism in
Europe, but that they should push for the creation of a jewish state
Suggested this state should be based in Palestine
§
This book was very influential among jews
§
○
Not all jews agreed that zionism was a good idea - many thought
assimilation into another society was possible
○
Over time this zionist movement gained support and became a significant
movement
○
•
One barrier for zionists was that Palestine in Herzel's time was part of the
ottoman empire
Arabs living in palestine were even more opposed to zionism - religious
threat and threat to their land
○
Several thousands jews did emigrate to Palestine before WW1, and during
WW1 the zionists got a boost from the british
In 1917 britain promised to give support to british settlers in
palestine
Balfour Declaration (1917)
In this declaration the British said they would help the
jews to establish a national home in palestine, but
would not do anything about the arabs that already
lived there
®
□
§
○
The palestinian arabs hoped at this time that they would be able to form
their own place now that the ottoman empire was coming to an end
British promised them support too
§
○
Both wanted independence, and both were promised british support
○
•
Arabs and zionists were both frustrated. After WW1 the League of Nations gave
britain the responsibility for governing palestine
Palestine became a british mandate after WW1
○
The british were interested in palestine's strategic importance
So close to the canal and the red sea
§
○
Britain tried to balance the needs of the arabs and the jews - did not work
out well
British wavered between trying to favor jews and trying to favor
arabs
§
○
•
WW2 changed the british situation in Palestine
The war increased he commitment of the jews to have their own state
Holocoust made them feel they could never feel safe if they didn’t
have a state of their own
§
Jewish militants became terroristic against the british in palestine to
try to make them see that they needed a state of their own
§
1)
The war weakened the Palestinians (??)2)
Zionist cause gained further momentum as a result of the US strength
British were quite anxious that the international community should
help come up with a solution
§
○
British announced in 1947 they would withdraw from palestine
British govt asked the united nations to find a solution instead
§
○
•
United nations came up with a partition plan - some of palestine to the arabs,
some to the jews
Jews accepted this, but the arabs rejected it
○
•
May 1948, jews proclaimed the state of Israel
American president truman immediately recognized this jewish state
○
Stalin also recognized israel on behalf of the soviet union
○
Both superpowers supported israel at the beginning
○
The surrounding states were outraged - israel represented the betrayal of
arabs
Felt that the arabs had been sold out
§
Many of these surrounding states immediately went to war with
israel
§
○
Attacks against israel didn’t suceed
○
•
One important effect of this first arab-israeli war is that it led to the exodus of
hundreds of thousands of palestinian arabs out of israel
Al-Naqba (the castastrophe)
○
Refugee arabs dispersed around the middle east
○
Palestinian refugee problem continues to be a crucial aspect to the arab
israeli confict
○
•
In its early years israel was constantly threatened by its arab neighbors
Received support in money and arms from the US and the soviet union
(only in the beginning from soviet union)
Also received a lot of money from german govt, and jews living
abroad
§
○
These contributions helped israel to defend itself as well as to build their
modern state
○
•
Law of return 1950
In 1950 the israeli government gave all jews the right to return - right of
jews to come and settle in israel from anywhere in the world
Over a million jews came and settled there
§
○
•
Israel spent a lot of money on developing its military capacity
Military service was one way of reducing the divisions in israel
○
Diversity of the jewish people
○
Some orthodox jews exempted from military service - source of tension in
recent years
○
•
Arab thinkers in the early 20th century argued that arab people should
recognize what they have in common with eachother
After the breakup of the ottoman empire at the end of WW1, arabs were
more politically divided than ever
○
Arab nationalists argued that they should come together in a single state
○
Some of these nationalists hoped that Egypt cold provide the leadership
for this movement
○
•
Egypt
Annual flooding of the nile helped agriculture to develop
○
Egypt was attractive to european powers
○
Egypts desire to protect the Suez canal led them to fall under British
control
○
Nationalist movement emerged in Egypt to free them from outside
dominance
Nationalist movement led the british to grant Egypt independence
in 1922
§
In reality, the independence was not complete. The british
continued to control the zone around the canal, as well as kept
control over Egypt's foreign affairs
§
This ongoing british influence and the presence of british troops
caused a lot of tension between the british forces and the
nationalists, especially around ww2
Country was not truly independent□
§
○
Group of young officers in the Egyptian military carried out a coup in 1952
(Free Officer's Coup)
Overthrew the Egyptian govt and siezed power
§
Started carrying out reform
Set a limit on the amount of land big land owners could own□
Promised education for everyone
All these things were well percieved
®
□
§
○
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970)
Part of the egyptian nationalist movement,
and then became part of the Free Officer's Coup□
§
Was part of the military for a time, and fought in the arab israeli
war
Was very unhappy with the arab's performance in the war,
and saw it as an embarrassment
Big reason why he thought the egyptian govt needed to
be changed
®
□
§
After the Coup, he emerged as the leader in power
People really liked him - seemed like a regular person□
Wanted to modernize and build up industry
Favored the form of modernization where the govt
would take the lead, not private companies
®
□
Biggest plan he supported was to build a hige dam on the nile
to regulate the supply of water where most arabs lived to
help agriculture and reduce the problems of flooding and
drought - this was going to be very expensive
Looked as if funds were going to come from the US,
britain, and the world bank
In 1955, these countries and the world bank
withdrew their support for the dam project after
Nassar made a purchase of weapons from
Czechoslovakia
Czech was communist and tied to the soviet
union
}
◊
®
This arms deal alarmed the western powers and israel
®
□
Still wanted to build the wall
In 1956, he nationalized the Suez Canal Company
Means that the canal was taken into egyptian
government hands
◊
®
Nassar said he would use the profits to fund the dam
®
This was wildly popular with the egyptians, but
provocative to foregin powers
Suez crisis - britan, france, and israel were the
most upset about this
Worried about his power, among other
things
}
◊
®
□
These 3 countries planned an invasion
Rare moment in the cold war when the soviet union
and the US agreed on something - US thought the
invasion was outrageous and refused to support the
invasion
This put a stop to the invasion
◊
®
□
§
Egypt now controlled the canal, and got their dam built (High Aswan
Dam)
§
○
•
Nassar became wildely popular - emerged as a strong advocate of arab
nationalism
Urged arabs to look at making arab unity a reality
○
United Arab Republic created in 1958
Joined egypt and syria together as a single country
§
Syria: ba'ath party still remains in power
§
○
By 1961 this failed
Syrians found egypt much too dominant
§
○
As the 1960s unfolded, Nassar seemed to harm arab causes
Six-Day War, 1967
Nassar provoked another war with israel□
Took six days for the israelis to defeat egypt, syria, and jordan□
This was total humiliation for arabs □
Set back the cause of the palestinian arabs because it ended
up with israel occupying several territories, such as the West
Bank
Had been controlled by jordan
®
Question of who owns the west bank is still a big issue
®
□
This war discredited Nassar's brand of arab nationalism□
§
○
•
The Modern Middle East (I) -The Creation of
Israel/Arab Nationalism
Monday, May 7, 2018
3:37 PM
Quiz Monday:
10 questions that deal with the historical background of contemporary
international affairs
○
All multiple choice - 1 pt each
○
All will relate to something in class since spring break
○
Ex: identify such an such a question based on the following info
○
•
Zionism
Movement called Zionism emerged among the jews as a response to anti
semitism
○
Jews were emancipated and given full equality
○
This new freedom enabled them to leave the ghettos and enter the
mainstream of public life
Many began to be successful in their professions
§
○
At the same time, jews faced increasing antisemitism from nationalists in
europe
Many nationalists argued that it was impossible to be a jew and a
german, etc
§
Jews faced persecution as a result of nationalism
Lots of restrictions placed on their lives□
§
○
Persecution and violence became so prevalent in russia that many jews
decided to emigrate
Over 20,000 leaving russia every year, some going to the region of
Palestine
§
○
•
Palestine
As more jews moved to Palestine, it became the focus for the Zionist
movement
○
Zionists promoted the idea of national independence for jews
Zionism was a nationalist movement in response to nationalism
§
○
Zionists thought the jews should have their own state, where they could
then practice traditional jewish life freely
○
•
A key figure in the development of zionism was Theodor Herzel (1860-1904)
While Herzel was in France working as a joirnalist, he saw a great deal of
anti-semitism
○
In 1896 he published a book called The Jewish State where he argued that
Jews shouldn’t expect any reduction in the level of anti-semitism in
Europe, but that they should push for the creation of a jewish state
Suggested this state should be based in Palestine
§
This book was very influential among jews
§
○
Not all jews agreed that zionism was a good idea - many thought
assimilation into another society was possible
○
Over time this zionist movement gained support and became a significant
movement
○
•
One barrier for zionists was that Palestine in Herzel's time was part of the
ottoman empire
Arabs living in palestine were even more opposed to zionism - religious
threat and threat to their land
○
Several thousands jews did emigrate to Palestine before WW1, and during
WW1 the zionists got a boost from the british
In 1917 britain promised to give support to british settlers in
palestine
Balfour Declaration (1917)
In this declaration the British said they would help the
jews to establish a national home in palestine, but
would not do anything about the arabs that already
lived there
®
□
§
○
The palestinian arabs hoped at this time that they would be able to form
their own place now that the ottoman empire was coming to an end
British promised them support too
§
○
Both wanted independence, and both were promised british support
○
•
Arabs and zionists were both frustrated. After WW1 the League of Nations gave
britain the responsibility for governing palestine
Palestine became a british mandate after WW1
○
The british were interested in palestine's strategic importance
So close to the canal and the red sea
§
○
Britain tried to balance the needs of the arabs and the jews - did not work
out well
British wavered between trying to favor jews and trying to favor
arabs
§
○
•
WW2 changed the british situation in Palestine
The war increased he commitment of the jews to have their own state
Holocoust made them feel they could never feel safe if they didn’t
have a state of their own
§
Jewish militants became terroristic against the british in palestine to
try to make them see that they needed a state of their own
§
1)
The war weakened the Palestinians (??)2)
Zionist cause gained further momentum as a result of the US strength
British were quite anxious that the international community should
help come up with a solution
§
○
British announced in 1947 they would withdraw from palestine
British govt asked the united nations to find a solution instead
§
○
•
United nations came up with a partition plan - some of palestine to the arabs,
some to the jews
Jews accepted this, but the arabs rejected it
○
•
May 1948, jews proclaimed the state of Israel
American president truman immediately recognized this jewish state
○
Stalin also recognized israel on behalf of the soviet union
○
Both superpowers supported israel at the beginning
○
The surrounding states were outraged - israel represented the betrayal of
arabs
Felt that the arabs had been sold out
§
Many of these surrounding states immediately went to war with
israel
§
○
Attacks against israel didn’t suceed
○
•
One important effect of this first arab-israeli war is that it led to the exodus of
hundreds of thousands of palestinian arabs out of israel
Al-Naqba (the castastrophe)
○
Refugee arabs dispersed around the middle east
○
Palestinian refugee problem continues to be a crucial aspect to the arab
israeli confict
○
•
In its early years israel was constantly threatened by its arab neighbors
Received support in money and arms from the US and the soviet union
(only in the beginning from soviet union)
Also received a lot of money from german govt, and jews living
abroad
§
○
These contributions helped israel to defend itself as well as to build their
modern state
○
•
Law of return 1950
In 1950 the israeli government gave all jews the right to return - right of
jews to come and settle in israel from anywhere in the world
Over a million jews came and settled there
§
○
•
Israel spent a lot of money on developing its military capacity
Military service was one way of reducing the divisions in israel
○
Diversity of the jewish people
○
Some orthodox jews exempted from military service - source of tension in
recent years
○
•
Arab thinkers in the early 20th century argued that arab people should
recognize what they have in common with eachother
After the breakup of the ottoman empire at the end of WW1, arabs were
more politically divided than ever
○
Arab nationalists argued that they should come together in a single state
○
Some of these nationalists hoped that Egypt cold provide the leadership
for this movement
○
•
Egypt
Annual flooding of the nile helped agriculture to develop
○
Egypt was attractive to european powers
○
Egypts desire to protect the Suez canal led them to fall under British
control
○
Nationalist movement emerged in Egypt to free them from outside
dominance
Nationalist movement led the british to grant Egypt independence
in 1922
§
In reality, the independence was not complete. The british
continued to control the zone around the canal, as well as kept
control over Egypt's foreign affairs
§
This ongoing british influence and the presence of british troops
caused a lot of tension between the british forces and the
nationalists, especially around ww2
Country was not truly independent□
§
○
Group of young officers in the Egyptian military carried out a coup in 1952
(Free Officer's Coup)
Overthrew the Egyptian govt and siezed power
§
Started carrying out reform
Set a limit on the amount of land big land owners could own□
Promised education for everyone
All these things were well percieved
®
□
§
○
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970)
Part of the egyptian nationalist movement,
and then became part of the Free Officer's Coup□
§
Was part of the military for a time, and fought in the arab israeli
war
Was very unhappy with the arab's performance in the war,
and saw it as an embarrassment
Big reason why he thought the egyptian govt needed to
be changed
®
□
§
After the Coup, he emerged as the leader in power
People really liked him - seemed like a regular person□
Wanted to modernize and build up industry
Favored the form of modernization where the govt
would take the lead, not private companies
®
□
Biggest plan he supported was to build a hige dam on the nile
to regulate the supply of water where most arabs lived to
help agriculture and reduce the problems of flooding and
drought - this was going to be very expensive
Looked as if funds were going to come from the US,
britain, and the world bank
In 1955, these countries and the world bank
withdrew their support for the dam project after
Nassar made a purchase of weapons from
Czechoslovakia
Czech was communist and tied to the soviet
union
}
◊
®
This arms deal alarmed the western powers and israel
®
□
Still wanted to build the wall
In 1956, he nationalized the Suez Canal Company
Means that the canal was taken into egyptian
government hands
◊
®
Nassar said he would use the profits to fund the dam
®
This was wildly popular with the egyptians, but
provocative to foregin powers
Suez crisis - britan, france, and israel were the
most upset about this
Worried about his power, among other
things
}
◊
®
□
These 3 countries planned an invasion
Rare moment in the cold war when the soviet union
and the US agreed on something - US thought the
invasion was outrageous and refused to support the
invasion
This put a stop to the invasion
◊
®
□
§
Egypt now controlled the canal, and got their dam built (High Aswan
Dam)
§
○
•
Nassar became wildely popular - emerged as a strong advocate of arab
nationalism
Urged arabs to look at making arab unity a reality
○
United Arab Republic created in 1958
Joined egypt and syria together as a single country
§
Syria: ba'ath party still remains in power
§
○
By 1961 this failed
Syrians found egypt much too dominant
§
○
As the 1960s unfolded, Nassar seemed to harm arab causes
Six-Day War, 1967
Nassar provoked another war with israel□
Took six days for the israelis to defeat egypt, syria, and jordan□
This was total humiliation for arabs □
Set back the cause of the palestinian arabs because it ended
up with israel occupying several territories, such as the West
Bank
Had been controlled by jordan
®
Question of who owns the west bank is still a big issue
®
□
This war discredited Nassar's brand of arab nationalism□
§
○
•
The Modern Middle East (I) -The Creation of
Israel/Arab Nationalism
Monday, May 7, 2018
3:37 PM
Document Summary
The modern middle east (i) - the creation of. 10 questions that deal with the historical background of contemporary international affairs. All will relate to something in class since spring break. Ex: identify such an such a question based on the following info. Movement called zionism emerged among the jews as a response to anti semitism. This new freedom enabled them to leave the ghettos and enter the mainstream of public life. Many began to be successful in their professions. At the same time, jews faced increasing antisemitism from nationalists in europe. Many nationalists argued that it was impossible to be a jew and a german, etc. Jews faced persecution as a result of nationalism. Persecution and violence became so prevalent in russia that many jews decided to emigrate. Over 20,000 leaving russia every year, some going to the region of. As more jews moved to palestine, it became the focus for the zionist movement.
