Creation of Israel

1. Creation of Israel By Amelia Henderson and Stephanie Grah

2. Background Information • Zionism is a movement seeking to establish a Jewish home in Palestine. • The first call for a “Jewish” state came from Imperial France for imperialistic reasons. • Jews want a separate state because of religious prophecies.

3. Bibliography • "Creation of Israel: an Imperialist-Zionist Joint Venture." Al-Awda. 2008. Al-Awda/PRRC, Web. 4 Dec 2009. <http://www.al-awda.org/zionists2.html>. • Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, . "Background Note: Israel ." U.S. Department of State. Nov 007. Office of Electronic Information, Web. 13 Dec 2009. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3581.htm • "Creation of the State of Israel." Anti Deformation League. 1999. Anti-Defamation League , Web. 13 Dec 2009. <http://www.adl.org/ISRAEL/record/creation.asp>.

4. Important People • The “ three prophetic harbingers of political Zionism” are Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, and Moses Hess. • Moses Hess was a German ideologue. Wrote the book: “Rome and Jerusalem: The Last Nationality Question” His opinion was that anti-Semitism would never allow Jews and Christians to assimilate, and Jews, therefore, needed to establish their own stat in Palestine. • Moses believed that the establishment of a Jewish state would benefit Western Imperial interest and bring Western civilization to the “backwards” East.

5. A Jewish physician from Odessa, Leo Pinsker, urged the Jewish people to settle in Palestine as farmers and artisans, in his book “Autoemanicipation.” • Pinsker founded the Hovevei Zion society to help facilitate this . • Ahad Ha’am was another founder of the Hovevei Zion society • Theodore Herzl was a leader in creating the Zionist Organization, which formed a network of institutions in Palestine for the purpose or forming a Jewish state in Palestine • Herzl also proposed the idea of the creation of corporation called, The Society of Jews, and the Jewish Company, to help with social and economic transitions.

6. Basle Program • The Basle program was the plan for putting these organizations into effect: • Gradual immigration as to not cause problems with the Palestinian natives • Had to get approval of the rulers of the country and the Great powers. • To get the approval of the rulers: offer them all the advantages • To get the approval of the Great powers: offer them “special services” • Herzl’s plan almost failed, but the British plans for the destruction of the Ottoman Empire during WWI and its control of the Eastern parts of the Arab homeland, saved it.

7. Increased Role of France and Britain • France had similar ideas to Britain, it was more interested in Syria with the mount Lebanon coast. • The British and French ideas were put together in the Sykes-Picot agreement, signed May 16, 1916, which created the Fertile Crescent that was divided between Britain and France. • The British played a significant role in facilitation the Zionist project because Palestine was under British control after World War I. • Chaim Weizmann was the architect of the Zionist-British relationship. • The British reasons for wanting a Jewish state was as a guard for the Suez Canal • Herbert H. Asquith was the Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time.

8. Balfour Declaration • The Balfour Declaration was issued on November 1917 • Express an intention to make a “Jewish National Home in Palestine.” • Resurrected the “Zionist Dream” • Formed a corporation between the World Zionist Organization and the Imperialist powers. • Balfour call for Jewish homeland, facilitates Jewish Immigration, encourage Jewish settlement

9. US Involvement • U.S. involvement began as early as WWI • Woodrow Wilson advocated self-determination to all ethnic groups • This developed into led to support of the Britain’s plan after the discovery of oil. • This continued to develop into supporting Zionist plans in Palestine that led to an strategic allegiance between the U.S. and Israel.

10. Peel Commission • Arabs attack Jews because they were opposed to Jewish immigration into Palestine. • 1936, British establish the Peel Commission • Recommend partition of the Palestine between Arabs and Jews • Jew in favor of partition. • Arabs against partition.

11. World War II • Holocaust • Discrimination • British imposed immigration restrictions that kept Jews from seeking refuge from persecution in Palestine—can’t defend themselves. • Jews smuggled into Palestine by The Jewish Agency and Haganah. • Made establishment for Jewish homeland inevitable – Jews want a way to defend themselves from future attacks.

12. Time to Make Israel! • British can’t manage Palestine and give the issue over to the UN • Nov 29, 1947 recommends partition • Jews for partition • Arabs against partition • Israel already has a pre-state government • Zionist leader David Ben-Guiron • Pre-established political parties

13. May 14, 1948 British mandate over Palestine Terminates • David Ben-Guiron proclaimed the creation of the state of Israel. • David Ben-Guiron becomes the first prime minister of Israel. • Chaim Weizmann, who had been acting as an advocate of Zionism in Britain, became Israel’s first President. • May 15, the US recognized Israel as a state. • Immediate Problems • Arab attacks • Absorbtion of Refugees

14. Yay For Israel!Now get one question right on the following quiz for a cookie.