Arab-Israeli Conflict

Question 1

Recall the Holy text of the Jewish people and the reason for which they wished to occupy the land of Israel

Answer 1

The Torah - religion has close links to Abraham’s son Isaac

The Torah has several references made of God promising the land to the Jews

Question 2

What was the Jewish diaspora?

Answer 2

Jewish people forced into exile in 586BCE after Kingdom of Judah conquered by neo-Babylonians

Question 3

When were Jews allowed to return to Israel (then Palestine)?

Answer 3

63BCE area ruled by Romans - Persian king Cyrus conquered Babylonia and allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem

Question 4

When was Palestine conquered by the Islamic Empire?

Answer 4

636BCE

Question 5

Why do Muslim people also believe they have rights to the land of Israel?

Answer 5

They also believe that Abraham was a founding father of their religion. Their faith has close links to Abraham’s first son, Ishmael. Ishmael’s son is the Prophet Mohammed

Question 6

What is Zionism?

Answer 6

is a movement for (originally) the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. It was established as a political organization in 1897 under Theodor Herzl, and was later led by Chaim Weizmann.

Question 7

Where did Jewish people live prior to 1915?

Where did Palestinians live?

Answer 7

Europe and the USA

Palestine but were ruled by Ottoman (Turkish) Empire

Question 8

What were the McMahon Letters or Plan?

Answer 8

1915
Series of letters from British High Commissioner in Egypt to the King of Arabia, Britain promised to help the Arabs gain independence from Turks in return for support in WWI

Question 9

What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement?

Answer 9

1916
Britain negotiated a treaty with France dividing the Middle East between them in order to retain their Empires and access resources

Question 10

What was the Balfour letter?

Answer 10

1917
British Government sent letter to prominent Zionists to gain Jewish support in the War and bring America in
It contradicted both the McMahon letter and Sykes-Picot Agreement

Question 11

What were Britain granted at the end of WWI?

Answer 11

Mandate for Palestine by the League of Nations which protected their interests in the area

Question 12

Why did terrorist attacks pop up on both sides?

Answer 12

1920-1939
Britain tried to suppress nationalist calls of both the Arabs and Jews
Jews attacked British and Arabs, Arabs attacked the Jews and British
In response, Britain becomes increasingly brutal

Question 13

What did Britain realise after 1939?

Answer 13

It could not afford to lose the Middle East as it supplied a large proportion of their oil

Question 14

What did Britain do in response of their realisation in 1939?

Answer 14

White Paper
Changed policy to one of more outright support for an independent, predominantly Arab state in Palestine (within 10 yrs)
Jews would be 1/3 minority

Question 15

Why did both the Jewish and Arab people reject the White Paper?

Answer 15

Jews disliked it because it suggested that a true Jewish homeland would not occur (it had already been promised to them)
Arabs rejected it because it postponed independence and allowed 5 yrs of further immigration

Question 16

Define nationalism

Answer 16

Desire of a people to be independent of foreign domination, and a love of one’s own country

Question 17

Define nationalist

Answer 17

someone who loves and defends his or her country

Question 18

Define nationalistic

Answer 18

describes an advocate of national independence

Question 19

define nation

Answer 19

a grouping of people who share common history, culture, language or ethnic origin, and their own government

Question 20

What were pogroms?

Answer 20

acts of organised state-approved violence

Question 21

What occurred in August 1897?

Answer 21

First Zionist Congress convened

Question 22

What did the Zionist Congress agree to do?

Answer 22

promote the settlement of Palestine by Jewish farmers and artisans, attempt to strengthen the national consciousness of all Jews, and seek approval from whatever governments were necessary to achieve the goals of Zionism

Question 23

What was interesting about the conflict during WWII?

Answer 23

Both sides were united in support against racist regime of Hitler and fought on Britain’s side
(ended 1946)

Question 24

When did Britain withdraw from Palestine?

Answer 24

1947

Question 25

How did the UN divide Palestine?

Answer 25

Jews were given a greater share and Jerusalem placed in hands of UN with access controlled by the Arabs