How Israel Was Created
On November 2nd, 1917, in a dramatic turn of events, Arthur Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, composed a letter that would set in motion a long-lasting conflict. More than a century later, the British government expressed its fervent support for the establishment of a national homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine, pledging their utmost dedication to making this vision a reality.
In this video, the speaker discusses about the creation of Israel. In 1917, Arthur Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, penned a letter that set the stage for a lasting conflict in Palestine. Over a century later, the British government expressed strong support for establishing a Jewish homeland in the region, promising unwavering dedication to this vision. At the time of Balfour’s letter, the majority of Palestine’s population was not Jewish, with just 10% adhering to the Jewish faith. However, within three decades, most of these non-Jewish inhabitants had been forcibly displaced. This story unveils how British commitments, motivated in part by imperial ambitions during World War I, led to the upheaval in Palestine and the eventual creation of Israel. This narrative also highlights the pivotal role played by the Zionist movement, which gained support from influential British officials and the complexities of British imperialism. The mandate system, established after World War I, further fueled tensions, and a series of commissions and proposals failed to bring a resolution to the conflict, leading to ongoing strife in the region.
At the time Balfour penned this letter, the overwhelming majority of Palestine’s population was not Jewish, with just 10% adhering to the Jewish faith. Yet, a mere 30 years later, most of these non-Jewish inhabitants had been forcibly displaced. This marks the beginning of a tale that elucidates how Britain’s promise led to the upheaval in Palestine and the eventual birth of the State of Israel.
But why did the British find themselves making commitments regarding the fate of another people’s homeland? The answer, in part, can be attributed to the intoxicating allure of empire. During World War I, the British government was making a multitude of promises, including pledging support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In addition to this, they promised Arab leaders independence in exchange for their opposition to the Ottoman Empire, a promise they indeed fulfilled. The lure of empire, at its zenith, was compelling. Hollywood even commemorated this era with a film.
Fast forward to one month after Balfour’s letter, and British troops occupied Palestine, bringing an end to more than four centuries of Ottoman rule. The local populace consisted primarily of Arabs, predominantly Muslims, with smaller Christian and Jewish minorities. In the late 1800s, a small number of European Jews had begun establishing colonies in Palestine. Their motivations were grounded in the severe persecution faced by Jews in Europe. Palestine was seen as a potential refuge, which eventually evolved into the Zionist movement. Initially, this was a fringe idea among European Jews, as many believed that fleeing their home countries to escape persecution shouldn’t be the solution. The pivotal moment for Zionism came with Theodor Herzl, an Austrian visionary, who, in 1896, published “Der Judenstaat” (The Jewish State). Herzl argued that the only way to escape the scourge of European anti-Semitism was not merely to leave Europe but to have a homeland of their own. In 1897, Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, where a comprehensive program was devised. This program aimed to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine and promote Jewish settlement there. The Zionist movement gained momentum from there, establishing funds to facilitate Jewish immigration, purchasing land, and enlisting representatives to champion their cause with various governments. In his diary, Herzl famously noted after the Congress, “At Basel, I founded the Jewish State. In five years, perhaps, and certainly in fifty years, everyone will perceive it.” Remarkably, he was only off by a single year.
The historical backdrop here is crucial, as it sets the stage for the pivotal role played by the Zionist movement in the ensuing narrative. This movement garnered substantial support from high-ranking British officials. For instance, Prime Minister Lloyd George was influenced by religious fervor, believing that gathering Jewish people in Palestine would herald the return of Jesus Christ. Others, like Balfour, saw the relocation of Jewish people from Europe to their own homeland as a positive development. Herzl’s prophecy that anti-Semitic nations would eventually become allies seemed to be coming true. Simultaneously, the Zionists assured Britain that their future state would be a dependable ally. The confluence of European anti-Semitism, Zionism, and British imperialism culminated in the Balfour Declaration – a promise by Britain to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Now, let’s delve into the execution of this promise by Britain during World War II. This era was marked by a struggle between rival empires, where the victors established the League of Nations to redistribute territories once controlled by the defeated empires. This distribution system, known as the mandate system, placed former Ottoman and German territories under the “tutelage of advanced nations” until they could attain independence. Palestine fell under the mandate of Britain, yet the aspirations and wishes of the native population were not taken into consideration. As Balfour himself stated, they had no intention of consulting the present inhabitants of the country. Instead, it was the Zionist representatives who were consulted about their vision for Palestine, ultimately leading to the mandate’s incorporation of the Balfour Declaration and additional clauses requiring Britain to ensure the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. British rule was remarkably accommodating to the Zionist project, leading to a substantial increase in the Jewish population through immigration, the establishment of their educational and industrial institutions, and the formation of a Jewish militia known as the Haganah.
For the Palestinian population, it was evident that Britain wasn’t delivering independence; instead, their land was being delivered to other people. In 1936, they initiated a strike, met with British efforts to suppress it through arrests, torture, mass punishments, and executions. Palestinian leaders were exiled, their weapons confiscated, and their homes demolished. Palestinian fighters, in turn, targeted British and Jewish interests. This situation prompted the British government to dispatch the Peel Commission to find a solution. The Commission’s proposed remedy was conventional: redraw the map, partition the land for Jews and Palestinians, and incorporate a portion into Transjordan. Of critical importance was the suggestion to forcibly remove 250,000 Palestinians to make the Jewish state viable. These proposals were intended to pacify the situation, but instead, they exacerbated the conflict, which persisted until 1939 and resulted in significant casualties among the Palestinian population.
