Balfour Declaration Dbq

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SECTION B
Introduction
The prolonged presence of the British Mandate for Palestine and its subsequent downfall played an essential role in the establishment of Israel in 1948. Britain’s role in the fragmentation of peace is relatively undisputed. However, circumstances independent of British intervention such as illegal Jewish immigration, Arab nationalism, and Britain’s economic and international standing had significant influence on the United Nations’ determination that partition of Palestine was their only viable option.

Perspectives on British Intentions
Broadly speaking, Britain’s conflicting promises and attempts to contain two nation-states under one mandate led to its fragmentation. Conflicting perspectives arise from views on Britain’s …show more content…

La Guardia regards the Balfour Declaration as a British instrument used for their own gain, affirming that they wanted to exploit the Jewish people and gain notoriety as supporters of the Zionists while simultaneously maintaining economic interests in the Arab world. Sachar concurs with La Guardia on the subject of Britain’s intentions to control Palestine in order to secure military interests in the Middle East through a Jewish state rather than an Arab state, reinforcing the idea that Britain saw a Jewish state as a strategic boon. Historian Reynold uses the Balfour Declaration to support his subjective argument that the failure was due to the lack of “genuine interest or initiative on the British side to make [the Mandate] work”. Additionally, he discounts the intricacies of the Zionist movement and …show more content…

Historian Goldscheider proposes that problems caused by illegal immigration of Jews into Palestine forced Britain to choose between Arab and Zionist interests. Goldscheider’s suggestion that Britain was compelled by Arabs to take a stance against Jewish immigration represents a close-minded perspective that fails to incorporate the complexities of the issue. While presenting a subjective perspective similar to Goldscheider’s, Ravndal views immigration as the cause of international intervention, citing the significance of the international outcry against the British as a result of the restriction of Jewish immigration due to the 1939 White

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