Zionism In The 19th Century

The forces that eventually gave rise to organized political Zionism were spawned by conditions in nineteenth century europe.

Pinsker wrote in 1891 the Autoemancipation, which argued that antisemitism was so deeply embedded in european society that no matter what the laws said, jews would never be treated as equals. He was more interested in the issues of national identity than religion.

The Jewish State, written by Herzl, claimed that Jews constituted a nation but lacked a political state in which they could freely express their national culture.

Balfour dilatation. For many reasons, Weizmanns persistence, certain sympathies within the British cabinet towards the religious aspects of Zionism, and most importantly, the chance to secure british strategic interests, the british declared support of the zionist objective in pale sine.

To clarify its future plans for palestine, the british Govenrment issued a White Paper, served as the basis for policy during the 20’s. Stated the development of a jewish national home did not mean an imposition of jewish nationality upon inhabitants of palestine. The Arab and Jewish communities, rather than jointly participating in

the development of national institutions, became increasingly hostile to one another. Gap got bigger.

The arabs of pale sine recognized that the goals of zionism represented a threat to their existence, they opposed them by attempting to negotiate with britian to restrict immigration and land transfers, this failed so they turned to armed revolt.

Jewish immigration to pale sine occurred in waves called aliyahs. In less than 15 years the population of palesitne increased by more than 500,000. In a land of limited agricultural potential, arable land ownership became a mater of contention. Jewish National fund purchased 10% of cultivable land in 1939. The Cumulative effect of land transfers and births policy, Palestinian arab peasantry, alienated from their own political elite, from the british, and from zionists, were forced to express their discontent in outbreaks of violence against the three

parties.

Three phases of conflict that brought the state of is real into being. First was the Yishuv’s campaign of sabotage against the british administration in Palestine. Second was the brief inter communal war between arab and jewish communities of Palesine in 1947 and 48, and the third was the 1948 war between is real and the invading forces of the arab state. Each was accompanied by diplomatic activity that consistently failed to produce an agreement acceptable to both arabs and jews. Jewish agency joined the conflict in 45. Over the next 2 years, combined pressure between the Haganah sabotage, Irgun Terror, and US opinions placed britian in an impossible position. In feb 47, Britian recognized they had lost control of the situation and referred the matter to the UN.
UNSCOP was formed. after motnsh of negotiations, Britain declared the palestine mandate terminated. This plunged them into chaos. Inter communal war commenced. May 14, 1948 Alan Cunningham quietly departed from Haifa, leaving with no formal transfer of power, leaving the arab and jewish communities to struggle for supremacy, from which the jewish community emerged victorious, claiming the independence of the state of Israel. On may 14th, 1948, on the day the last british forces left from Haifa, the jewish peoples council gathered and proclaimed the establishment of the jewish state of Israel.