Global II: Spiconardi


At the onset of World War I both Britain and Germany wanted Arab support
 Promised Arabs national independence in exchange for their help
 Also promised Zionists a homeland in exchange for their help
 Arabs make deal with the British known as the
McMahon Agreement

Zionism  movement dedicated to building a
Jewish state in Palestine


Persecution of Jews in Europe
 Dreyfus Affair

A Jewish officer was falsely accused of selling French military secrets to the Germans

False evidence convicts Captain
Dreyfus

Controversy abounds
 Army cover up divides France
 Muslim Arab press criticized
French judicial system and was sympathetic to European Jews

Journalist Theodore Herzel covers the trial and starts the
Zionist movement

 Pogroms

Organized campaigns of violence against Jews permitted by the Russian government
 Many Jews fled Europe and came to America
 Many wanted a homeland in biblical Israel to avoid persecution


The Ottoman Empire entered WWI on the side of the Central
Powers

During the war many nationalities within the empire rebelled against the Ottoman
Empire with British help


Britain and France make a secret deal to divide the Middle East into 5 districts after
WWI
 Renege on the
McMahon Agreement

Those lying #@$%


Why did Brits and French go back on their word?
 Didn’t believe Middle East was ready for independence due to religious and ethnic rivalries

Palestinians & Jews  Fights over historical claims to the land

Shiite & Sunni Muslims  Muslim sects disagree over leadership and practices

Druze Muslims  seen as a cult by other Islamic sects; not seen as true believers of Islam

Kurds  ethnic group persecuted by Turks, Iraqis, and
Persians

Armenian Christians  WWI genocide

Christians and Muslims  hard feelings traced back to the
Crusades


Due to persecution in Europe, many Jews returned to Palestine

Many returning Jews called for a homeland

Palestinians opposed the creation of a
Jewish state

Europeans see this as an opportunity to rid Europe of Jews


Lord Balfour of Britain sends a letter to Zionist leaders
 “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the
Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object…”

Despite increased migration to Palestine,
Zionist Movement fails
(until after WWII)

Increased rioting against
Jews