The origin of the Arab Israeli Conflict

Question 0

Who became involved in the Middle East in 1915 and what did they do?

Answer 0

Britain. They encouraged Arab nationalism so that they could have the support of the Arabs against the Turkish.

Question 1

What was the origin of the Arab Israeli conflict?

Answer 1

The conflict was over the right to live in and rule an area of the Middle East called Palestine.

Question 2

Who promised an independent state to the Arabs if they helped Britain against the Turks in WW1?(1915)

Answer 2

The British agents: sir Henry McMahon and TE Lawrence.

Question 3

In 1917, who was the British Foreign Secretary?

Answer 3

Arthur Balfour

Question 4

What promise did Arthur Balfour make?

Answer 4

He made a promise of support to the Jewish nationalists which conflicted with their promise to the Arabs. The British supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Question 5

Why did Balfour and Britain make the promise to the Jews?

Answer 5

This was so that Britain would gain the support of the Jews throughout the world for the allied cause in WW1.

Question 6

What was the Sykes Picot Agreement?

Answer 6

This was an agreement which took place between Britain and France,secretly where they agreed to divide up the Middle East amongst themselves.

Question 7

How did the Arabs feel about the Sykes Picot Agreement?

Answer 7

They felt betrayed.

Question 8

After WW1 which countries did France take over?

Answer 8

Syria and Lebanon. These countries became mandates of France.

Question 9

Which countries did Britain take over?

Answer 9

Iraq, Jordan and Palestine.

Question 10

Which country was an independent Arab state which give hope to the other Arab countries?

Answer 10

Saudi Arabia

Question 11

In 1920, when Palestine became a British mandate, out of the 700000 population, how many were Jewish?

Answer 11

Only 60000

Question 12

However, in 1920 large amounts of Jews started arriving in Palestine, especially during the 1930’s. Why was this?

Answer 12

This was a result of the Nazi persecution of Jews in Germany after 1933.

Question 13

How did the Arabs feel about the immigration if the Jews to their land?

Answer 13

They were angry, tensions began to rise and Arab opposition to Jewish immigration began.

Question 14

What did the Arabs organize in 1936? What was the result of this?

Answer 14

The Arabs organized a general strike calling on Britain to limit immigration. The result: three year Arab uprising which the British suppressed brutally killing up to 3000 Arabs.

Question 15

How did the British feel about Palestine?

Answer 15

They felt that it was difficult to keep control in the country.

Question 16

What were they unable to do?

Answer 16

They were unable to satisfy the demands of both the Arabs and Jews.

Question 17

However, by 1939 a war against Germany seemed likely. Why did the British want to get the Arabs on their side for this war?

Answer 17

The British wanted the support of the Arabs as they wanted to make sure that the Suez Canal and the oil supplies in the region did not fall into the hands of the enemy.

Question 18

What did the British do to get the Arabs support?(1939)

Answer 18

They announced that in 1939 there would be strict limits on Jewish immigration.

Question 19

How did the zionists feel about this?

Answer 19

They were angry about this change in policy and some wanted to fight to force Britain to withdraw and then seize power and establish a Jewish state.

Question 20

Why were the Jews plans postponed?

Answer 20

World War Two broke out in September 1939.

Question 21

At the end of WW2 there were thousands of Jews in Europe who wanted to move to Palestine. What policy did the British reinforce?

Answer 21

The British government continued to apply its policy of strict limits of immigration.

Question 22

How did people around the world feel about the Jews after the horrors of the holocaust?

Answer 22

People felt sympathy and they criticized the policy of Britain especially when the British prevented ships carrying refugees from landing in Palestine.

Question 23

What did the zionists do to establish a Jewish state?

Answer 23

They increased their efforts by smuggling immigrants into Palestine. They also launched a propaganda campaign in the US to get support for the zionist cause.

Question 24

Name two Zionist groups, their cause and what they did.

Answer 24

The Irgun and Stern Gang which used terror tactics to force the British to give up the mandate.

Question 25

What was the most daring attack that these extreme Zionist groups performed?

Answer 25

The most daring attack was performed by the Irgun commandos who blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

Question 26

What was so important about that hotel?

Answer 26

It was the British military headquarters in Jerusalem.

Question 27

At the same time, who encouraged Britain not to change its policy?

Answer 27

The Arab league.

Question 28

What was the Arab league?

Answer 28

It is an organization of independent Arab states formed in 1945.

Question 29

As the violence increased, what did the British government decide to do with the Palestine issue?

Answer 29

They decided to hand it over to the newly formed United Nations.

Question 30

What did the United Nations do and recommend about the issue?

Answer 30

They established a committee to investigate the issue and recommend the partition of Palestine into two separate states, one for Arabs and one for Jews.

Question 31

What did the Arabs and Jews say about this?

Answer 31

The Jews agreed to this plan while the Arabs rejected it.

Question 32

What happened in November 1947?

Answer 32

The UN formally accepted the partition plan.

Question 33

What did Britain announce in May 1948?

Answer 33

They announced that they were withdrawing from Palestine.

Question 34

When the last of the British forces withdrew from Palestine on the 14th of May, what did David Ben Gurion proclaim?

Answer 34

He proclaimed the establishment of the state of Israel.

Question 35

Who was appointed president?

Answer 35

Dr Chaim Weizman.

Question 36

Who was appointed prime minister?

Answer 36

David Ben Gurion.

Question 37

What happened within 24 hours of the proclamation of the state of Israel?

Answer 37

There was a combined attack on Israel of the Arab countries which included Lebanon, Syria,Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.

Question 38

Till when did the war drag on to and how did it end?

Answer 38

It dragged on until 1949 until Israel signed separate armistice agreements with each Arab state.

Question 39

What was the result of the war?

Answer 39

Israel defeated the Arab armies and had occupied 78% of Palestine instead of the 56% allocated as Jewish state in the UN partition plan.therefore the Jews not only defended their land but also expanded their territory to include most of the land the Palestinians had been offered but rejected.

Question 40

What happened to the Arabs at the end of the war?

Answer 40

Almost 760000 Arabs fled Palestine to neighboring countries as refugees.they were placed in camps run by the UNRWA. Most of them ended up in Gaza and the West Bank under Egyptian or Jordanian control respectively.

Question 41

What was the result for Israel?

Answer 41

Their morale was boosted.

They gained 25% more land.

Question 42

What happened to the land that Palestine had lost? Who took over what parts?

Answer 42

The land was divided amongst the Arab neighbours leaving Palestine with nothing.
Jordan took over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip went to Egypt.

Question 43

What year did the Suez Canal crisis arise?

Answer 43

1956

Question 44

How did Arab nationalism after WW2 express itself?

Answer 44

It expressed itself in a Pan-Arab movement called the Arab League.

Question 45

By which country was the Arab League led?

Answer 45

Egypt who was the champion of Arab nationalism.

Question 46

Despite having a common enemy of Israel, the Arab states were disunited. Why was this?

Answer 46

This was because none of the Arab states were prepared to sacrifice its own sovereignty( supreme power and authority), sentiments( view or attitude towards a situation) and interests.

Question 47

Therefore what was the impact of the Arab League?

Answer 47

They were largely ineffective.

Question 48

What happened in 1952 in Egypt?

Answer 48

There was a revolution where the Egyptian monarchy was overthrown.

Question 49

What was Egypt declared to be in 1953?

Answer 49

Egypt was declared to be a republic.( the power is held by the people who elect who they want to represent them.)

Question 50

By 1954, who was president?

Answer 50

Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Question 51

What happened to Arab nationalism under the leadership of Nasser during the 1950’s and 1960’s?

Answer 51

Arab nationalism became a powerful political force and Nasser was seen as the symbol of Arab nationalism.

Question 52

What did Nasser believe in?

Answer 52

He believed in Arab unity and independence, including the liberation of Palestine from the Jews.