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History of Palestine: Two Claims To the Land Ancient Palestine (home to Jews and Palestinians) a. Jews i. Related to Arabs ii. Arrived in 12th century BCE from present-day Iraq (ancient Mesopotamia) b. Palestinians i. Descendants of Greeks, originally Philistines ii. Arrive in 12th century BCE Kingdom of Israel and Diaspora a. 10th century BCE Jews establish Kingdom of Israel b. Diaspora: event during Roman occupation in which the majority of Jews left Palestine and scattered throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean c. Palestinians remained in the region and intermixed with the Arabs who arrived in 7 AD d. Arab arrival begins the Palestinian conversion to Islam Zionism a. Def: 19th century political movement aimed at moving back to Palestine— return to the homeland b. Main Goal: create a secular Jewish state in Palestine
*** Remember: Ottoman Empire is still in existence and the majority population is Palestinian.
IV. Jewish Immigration to Palestine a. 1882 Jews began immigrating to Palestine b. 1914 Jews are 10% of the population c. Other’s Fears i. Christian Palestinians: Have no connection to Muslim rulers and fear Zionism as an extension of European colonialism ii. Muslims: especially peasants working the land they don’t own are fearful because their land is being sold to Zionist immigrants British Mandate of Palestine a. 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement: Secret agreement allowing for the break up of the Middle East region: Britain gains control of Palestine b. 1917 Balfour Declaration: British support for “establishment in Palestine of a National Home for the Jewish people.”
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*** Remember: Palestinian Arabs not consulted yet they make up 85% of the population and consider the Balfour Declaration a violation of their rights.
c. Immigration increases d. 1918 British officially take over Palestine
VI.
Palestinians not consulted Jewish immigration continues By 1929, 133 Jews and 116 Arabs have been killed in riots and terrorist acts. Increasing Arab/Jewish Tensions a. Overtime Jews who initially were poor in Palestine gain wealth through the kibbutzim (collective communities) b. Arabs displaced by the sale of their land move into already overcrowded cities and become poor. c. Britain becomes concerned that the policy of Jewish immigration is hurting the Arabs. Arab Revolt a. 1936-1939--Tensions rise and violent conflict continues for 3 years. b. British suggest the partitioning of Palestine. c. Plan withdrawn due to pressure from the Zionists British Mandate Ends a. WWII, Holocaust and murder of 6 million Jews creates increased interest and support world-wide for the Zionists b. Jews flee—Europe to Palestine seeking refuge, but Britain has a strict policy on the number of immigrants allowed in c. 1947 British turn over mandate to United Nations i. No longer able to control Jewish/Arab violence ii. Tired of fighting the Zionists
i. ii. iii.
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*** Remember: 1,300,000 Palestinians and 600,000 Jews in Palestine
Current Problem:
Palestinians:
1. They are the majority population 2. Have been in the area for thousands of years 3. Demand: Palestinians govern and there is no division of the land.
Jews:
1. Favor division 2. Point to Balfour Declaration and Holocaust as their reason for the right to a “homeland”.