- Published: January 3, 2022
- Updated: January 3, 2022
- University / College: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
- Downloads: 21
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is an expedient history of the Israel- Palestinian conflict. This history has greatly changed over the years, but most importantly, it is imperative to note that the historical aspects were fueled by other major objectives. It has always been clear that the main reason for the conflict has been the demographic composition of these two regions. The conflict started before WWI, and it can be traced back during the First Aliya which was the wave of migration of the Zionist Jews in Palestine. However, the events of 1917 are thought to have instigated the conflict. This is the time when there was rise in national consciousness among the Israelites and Palestinians. It is therefore, important to understand not only the causes of the conflict, but also the different ways it affected these countries during the First World War between 1914 and 1918.
The conflict stems from a competition of land in Palestine. The beginning of the WWI in 1914 brought about the Ottoman Empire entering either side of the conflicting central powers. Therefore, both the Zionists and Jewish Nationals were encouraged to purchase land in the region. The conflict made the two countries more suspicious of each other since the British wanted to control the region under disagreement. The Arabs in 1915 vow to support British in the War after letters were exchanged between Sharif of Mecca and Medina with the British administration. This fueled the tension between Israel and Palestine. However, the Sykes_picot Agreement in 1916 further enhances the feud when three states agree to share the piece of land in question among themselves. Additionally, Sharif Husein self proclaims himself as the King of the Arab countries and the British recognises him as so. This affected Israel in a huge manner because they d not have a leader that is widely recognised by the British Government.
1917 was a major twist in the conflict. This is because the British wanted to have the U. S. as their allies. This made them rally behind the American Jews which was a major blow to their relationship with the Palestinians. This was not only confusing to both sides, but also further fueled the conflict. Conflicting promises were made to the two populations. The Balfour Declaraion, as well as, Hussein-McMahon Correspondence was made. This affects the stand of the two countries because each believes to have been promised different aspects of their existence. The U. S. president and the French Prime Minister present different ideologies stating that, togetherness was a major objective of the War. However, this was not the case between Israel and Palestine where people were divided.