Palestine Arabs and Zionist Jews Essay

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zionist state-building efforts and political institutions with those of palestinian arabs for the period from the frist aliya to 1949 and why the zionist enterprise was ultimately more successful

The objective of this study is to conduct a comparison of Zionist state-building efforts and political institutions with those of Palestinian Arabs for the period from the first Aliya to 1949 and why the Zionist enterprise was ultimately more successful.

As this study will clearly show, the British Government was highly in support of Palestine being established as a homeland for the Zionist Jewish people. Lacquer and Rubin (2008) relate in regards to British policy following the years of war that it "became gradually committed to the idea of the establishment of Jewish home in Palestine. After discussions on cabinet level and consultation with Jewish leaders, the decision was made known in the form of a letter by Lord Arthur James Balfour to Lord Rothschild." (p. 30) Lord Arthur James Balfour writes in his letter to Lord Rothschild that it is pleasure to inform him and it is stated on the behalf of "His Majesty's Government" a statement of sympathy with the aspiration of the Jewish Zionist and specifically that the government held a favorable view of the Jewish establishing Palestine as a "national home for the Jewish people" and that the British Government would "use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object." (Laquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 30) However, stated as well is that there would be nothing done that would serve to prejudice "the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 30)

I. The Zionist Movement

The First Aliya known as the Farmer's Aliya began the modern wave of migration of Zionist Jews to Palestine with most of them arriving from Yemen and Eastern Europe. This movement began sometime n 1882 and lasted through 1903 with more than 30,000 Jews immigration to Palestine during this movement. Later many more Jews immigrated to Palestine and this resulted in a great deal of conflict. Emir Feisal, the son of Hussein and Sherif of Mecca, met, during the peace conference with some Jewish leaders and entered into a signed agreement with Dr. Chaim Weizmann who was the leader of the Zionist movement. Feisal became Iraq's king in 1921 and denied having entered into the agreement. The agreement states that Feisal, in his capacity of authority in the Arab Kingdom of Hedjaz and Dr. Chaim Weizmann, in his capacity of authority for the Zionist Organization, "mindful of the racial kinship and ancient bonds existing between the Arabs and the Jewish people, and realizing that the surest means of working out the consummation of their national aspirations is through the closest possible collaboration in the development of the Arab State and Palestine, and being desirous further of confirming the good understanding which exists between them…." entered into several articles of agreement. The first Article of agreement set out the establishment of Arab and Jewish agents in the territories and the third Article of agreement ensured that the British Government's declaration would be carried out. Article IV set out the requirement that all actions would be taken that would provide encouragement and stimulation of Jewish immigrants into Palestine and that this was to be on a large scale and was to happen "as quickly as possible to settle Jewish immigrants upon the land through closer settlement and intensive cultivation of the soil." (Laquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 31) Article V set out that there would be no law or regulation that would in any manner cause inference with religion being freely exercised and that religious worship and profession would not be in any way interfered with and that no religious testing would be required at any time in order for individuals to exercise their political or civil rights. Article VI set out the control of Mohammedan Holy Places to be under Mohammedan control. Article VII states that it was proposed by the Zionist Organization to "send to Palestine a Commission of experts to make a survey of the economic possibilities of the country and to report on the best means for its development." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 31) Article VIII sets out the agreement of the parties to "act in complete accord and harmony on all matters" set out in the Articles of agreement.

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(Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 32) Feisal (2008) wrote to the Delegation Hedjazienne, Paris, on March 3, 19191 addressing Mr. Frankfurter and stating that there are feelings that the "Arabs and Jews are cousins in race, having suffered similar oppression at the hands of powers stronger than themselves" and that it is a great "coincidence [that they] have been able to take the first step toward the attainment of their national ideals together." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 34) This correspondence relates that the educated Arabs view the Zionist movement with great sympathy. The Jewish movement is reported in this correspondence to be such that is "national and not imperialist" and stated is that there is "room in Syria" for both Zionist Jews and Arabs and in fact that neither can realize success without the assistance of the other. The correspondence goes on to relate that less informed individuals and individuals who are not as responsible as are the leaders of the Arabs and Zionist Jews fail to recognize the requirement of cooperation between Zionists and Arabs and have moved to cause exploitation to the difficulties that are sure to occur in Palestine during the first stage of the movements. The correspondence reports that this exploitation included misrepresentation of the objectives of the Zionists to the poorer Arab social classes and as a result "interested parties have been able to make capital out of what they call our difference." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 34) Frankfurter responded by thanking Feisal for his correspondence and stated that the Zionists from the United States "have already been gratified by the friendly relations and the active cooperation maintained between you and the Zionist leaders, particularly Dr. Weizmann." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 35) Also stated in Frankfurter's correspondence is how the leaders of the Zionist movement and the Jewish people have satisfactorily watched the "spiritual vigor of the Arab movement." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 35) It is reported that the Zionist movement is "seeking justice, and they are anxious that the national aims of the Arab people be confirmed and safeguarded by the Peace Conference." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 35) Frankfurter states that it is acknowledged from the acts and words of the Zionist movement that the objectives of the Jewish people were supported by the Arabs. (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, paraphrased) While it is related that Palestine is the holy land for Christians, Jews and Moslems and that Christians and Moslems have concern just as do the Jews with Palestine that the "matters in Palestine are the most delicate and difficult." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 41) This is because no group holds any of the other groups to be the best guardians for the Holy Land "as a whole" and the reason stated is that the places "which are most sacred to Christians -- those having to do with Jesus -- and which are also sacred to Moslems, are not only not sacred to Jews, but abhorrent to them." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008, p. 41) Because of this, the Christians and Moslems are not comfortable with these places being under the control of the Jews. It is stated that since the Moslems hold the Jewish and Christian places as Holy that they might make the better custodians of these places. Clearly, ally's support of the Zionist movement in Palestine provided the needed momentum to provide success to the Zionist movement politically and in other respects. One reason stated by the King-Crane Commission Recommendations was the literature that the Zionist movement had provided on their objectives and goals. The Balfour Statement setting out the "establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" making it clear that the Zionist program would have to undergo modification. However, establishment of a home for the Jewish people in Palestine fell short of making Palestine a Jewish State. President Wilson stated in his July 4, 1918 address certain principles and specifically stated "The settlement of every question, whether or territory, of sovereignty, of economic arrangement, or of political relationship upon the basis of the free acceptance of that settlement by the people immediately concerned, and not upon the basis of the material interest or advantage of any other nation or people which may desire a different settlement for the sake of its own exterior influence or mastery." (Lacquer and Rubin, 2008,.....

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