Roles of USA, France, and Britain in the Creation of the State of Israel
MODERN HISTORY ESSAY – Monday 19th March 2012
Evaluate the roles of the USA, France and Britain in the creation of the State of Israel.
Since 1915, the Middle East has been a place of significant world attention – specifically the land of Palestine, which has caused many conflicts between the Jews and the Arabs who both claimed it to be the land of their ancestors. Over the last century, foreign powers have become involved in the conflict and therefore played a significant role in the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. These foreign powers include Britain, France and the United States of America and the role they played in the creation of Israel varied in significance and impact.
French interest in Palestine became clear as early as 1903, when Jews began to return to Palestine, the land of their ancestors. This happened as a result of the growing support of Zionism, which was the belief that the Jews would be persecuted wherever they went and needed an independent Jewish state to survive. It was believed that the most effective way to set up a Jewish state was to purchase land in Palestine and start a new life there. By 1903, the Jews had bought 36 400 hectares of land in Palestine and had set up 23 farming villages, but they were struggling. Baron Rothschild, a rich French businessman, assisted in their efforts by financing 19 Jewish settlements with 250 families and 27 000 hectares of land, and this pattern of Jewish development in Palestine would last for many years.
Furthermore, the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916 added to French involvement in Palestine. Both the French and British governments were fearful of Russian control in the crumbling Turkish Empire, of which Palestine was a part of. As a result, a secret agreement was made with each other about dividing up the Turkish Empire between themselves; Britain would take Palestine and Transjordan, while France would gain control of Syria and Lebanon. This was significant to the conflict as the
Evaluate the roles of the USA, France and Britain in the creation of the State of Israel.
Since 1915, the Middle East has been a place of significant world attention – specifically the land of Palestine, which has caused many conflicts between the Jews and the Arabs who both claimed it to be the land of their ancestors. Over the last century, foreign powers have become involved in the conflict and therefore played a significant role in the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. These foreign powers include Britain, France and the United States of America and the role they played in the creation of Israel varied in significance and impact.
French interest in Palestine became clear as early as 1903, when Jews began to return to Palestine, the land of their ancestors. This happened as a result of the growing support of Zionism, which was the belief that the Jews would be persecuted wherever they went and needed an independent Jewish state to survive. It was believed that the most effective way to set up a Jewish state was to purchase land in Palestine and start a new life there. By 1903, the Jews had bought 36 400 hectares of land in Palestine and had set up 23 farming villages, but they were struggling. Baron Rothschild, a rich French businessman, assisted in their efforts by financing 19 Jewish settlements with 250 families and 27 000 hectares of land, and this pattern of Jewish development in Palestine would last for many years.
Furthermore, the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916 added to French involvement in Palestine. Both the French and British governments were fearful of Russian control in the crumbling Turkish Empire, of which Palestine was a part of. As a result, a secret agreement was made with each other about dividing up the Turkish Empire between themselves; Britain would take Palestine and Transjordan, while France would gain control of Syria and Lebanon. This was significant to the conflict as the