Nationalistic Movements in SW Asia/Middle East

Dates of Independence

for Nations of SW Asia/Middle East

Nationalistic issues of Palestinian Arabs remain unresolved

Ottoman Empire Falls Ottoman empire begins to decline in

the 1700’s with the loss of Greece and North Africa

During WWI, Ottomans side with Germans as Central Powers

A million Christian Armenians are killed during an Armenian Genocide launched by the Ottomans in WWI

British and French forces convince Arabs to revolt against the Ottomans

Ottoman Empire is dismantled at end of WWI

Turkey is all that remains under Ottoman control

Fall of the Ottoman Empire British and French forces convince Arabs to revolt

against the Ottomans

The Ottoman Empire collapses by the end if WWI

Turkey is all that remains under Ottoman control

Modernization of Turkey By 1923 the last Ottoman sultan is

driven out of Turkey

Mustafa Kemal becomes President and transforms Turkey into a modern state

President Kemal eliminates Arabic elements from the Turkish Language and adopts the Roman alphabet

Modernization of Turkey Kemal forces people to adopt last names

Kemal outlaws all Muslim customs and traditions

Kemal gives equal rights to women, including the right to vote

Kemal’s changes to Turkey are lasting and profound

The Beginnings of Modern Iran A similar process is underway in Persia

In 1908 oil is discovered in Persia while foreign investors flood the country

However, most of the money is taken by foreigners, fueling a Persian nationalist movement

The Beginnings of Modern Iran In 1921 Reza Khan takes over the government and

becomes Shah (King)

Shah Khan follows Kemal’s example and modernizes Persia renaming the country Iran

During WWII Shah Kahn harbors a large number of Nazi’s in Iran

Arab Nationalism

Arab ethnic group is united by language

Despite promises of independence after WWI, Britain and France end up controlling the Arab mandates of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria

San Remo Agreement gives economic control to Britain and France

This begins the cry for Arab Unity

1932 Saudi Arabia is formed and is very poor

1930’s oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia and it soon becomes very wealthy

The Birth of Modern Zionism–1897

Zionism is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people who sought to restore their independence in their ancestral homeland.

The dream of restoration and return had been at the core of Judaism and Jewish identity for 2,000 years.

Zionists integrated this historic dream with modern political ideals.

Socialist Zionism, Political, Cultural, Religious, Revisionist

All believed in the idea of the new Jew

Palestine Birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Judaism: Israel = Biblical “Promised Land”

Occupied by Moses and Hebrews around 1000 B.C.

Invaded and occupied by Philistines

Greeks and Romans call it “Land of Philistines”, which becomes Palestine.

Region of Jesus Christ’s birth, ministry, and death.

“Ownership” changes hands frequently.

Muslims capture in 640

built Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in 691

Spot where Mohammed stopped on his way to heaven.

Holiest site in Islam outside Saudi Arabia.

Ottoman Turks control from 1500’s-1900’s

The Problem of Palestine

Great Britain controls the mandate of Palestine after WWI

Palestine is ancient home of the Jewish people but few Jews live there

1917 Britain issues the Balfour Declaration which supports the idea of a Jewish homeland

British also promise to protect the rights of non-Jewish people in Palestine

League of Nations

Palestine

Mandate, 1920

International

Support for

Zionism–Balfour

Declaration, 1917

The Problem of Palestine

Palestine at the time was 98% Muslim and they were angry

Jewish settlers begin to arrive as Nazi persecution increases

Tensions between Jews and Muslims also increased in Palestine

In 1939 Britain tries to restrict Jewish immigration to Palestine and places a limit of 75,000 Jews per year—by 1944 Jews were no longer allowed to migrate to Palestine

Conflict escalates between Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Palestine

In 1947 Britain relinquishes control of Palestine to UN

Nazi Holocaust of Jews is exposed with end of WWII

Genocide of the Holocaust has eliminated 2/3 of European Jews by 1945

Britain is no longer able to maintain control in Palestine

Nationalism in Palestine increases, as does conflict between Jewish and Palestinian Arab ethnic groups

UN decree in 1947 partitions Palestinian territory defining the lands of Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Palestine

Both groups

believe

they have

the “God-

given right

to the land”

UN Partition of Palestine 1947 Jews Accept—Palestinian Arabs Reject Plan for Division

May 14, 1948 Jews declare Israel a nation

May 15, 1948 Arab nations declare war on Israel

Egypt, Syria, Transjordan,

Lebanon and Iraq

Fighting continues until Jan 1949.

Israel prevails and gains territory in Galilee to the north and the Negev Desert to the south.

Jerusalem is divided between Israel and Jordan.

Fate of 700k Palestinian refugees is left undecided.

Jewish and Arab Refugees Rescued From The 1948 War

160,000 Arabs accept

Israel’s offer of citizenship.

472,000-750,000 Arabs

sought refuge from the

fighting in neighboring

Arab countries.

850,000 Jews lived in Arab/Muslim lands in 1948.

Persecuted by nine Arab countries after 1948 and

forced to flee, hundreds of thousands found refuge in

Israel.

70,000 Jews were forced out of the Mandate land

occupied by Jordan, Egypt and Syria in 1948.

Map of Jewish refugees

Fleeing from Arab countries

Victims of the Arab War Against Israel

Jewish and Arab Refugees

Israel quickly absorbed Jewish refugees and dismantled the refugee camps.

Arab countries, with the exception of Jordan, refused to absorb

the Palestinian-Arab refugees. Palestinian camps grew into working-class

neighborhoods of adjacent cities.

Palestinian Refugee Camp Typical temporary camps (Ma’abarot)

Israel built for flood of Jewish refugees

Arab States’ Wars Against Israel Change Territorial Boundaries

1949-1967 Jordan annexs area it renames

the “West Bank.”

Egypt occupies Gaza.

1967-1979

Israel defends itself against

Arab states in 1967, it captures

vital buffer zones: Golan Heights,

Sinai, Gaza, and the West Bank.

Israel immediately offers to trade

land for peace.

Arab states reject the offer.

Eight Major Wars Between Israel and Arab World in 62 Years

1948 Israel’s War of Independence

1956 Sinai War

1967–1967 Six Day War

1967-1970 War of Attrition

1973 Yom Kippur War

1982-1985 First Lebanon War

1991 Persian Gulf War

2006 Lebanon War II or Hezbollah War

Six Day War 5-10 JUNE 1967 • Egypt, Jordan, and Syria

begin military mobilization.

• Israel launches surprise pre-emptive strike.

• Destroys most of Egyptian Air Force on the ground.

• Knocks out 350 aircraft in first three hours.

5-10 JUNE 1967 Israel Defeats Egypt, Jordan and Syria

• Armored forces supported by air and infantry quickly take Sinai, Golan Heights, West Bank (including Arab portion of Jerusalem and Gaza).

• Destroyed over 200 tanks in two days.

• UN arranges cease-fire, but terms did not specify exactly what land Israel was required to give up.

Trading Land for Peace 1979-2008

1979–Israel ceded the Sinai for peace with Egypt 2000–Israel withdrew from security zone in southern Lebanon 2005–Israel completed a 100% withdrawal from Gaza

Israel is 1/8 of 1%

of the Middle East

290 miles long, 418km long (6-hour drive)

85 miles wide, 137km wide (90-minute drive)

9 miles wide, 14.4km wide (narrowest point)

Israel’s Size

80% of Israelis are Jews of different ethnicities and races from over 80

countries

Israel officially recognizes over 15 religions, from Islam and Christian

denominations to the Baha’I Faith

Refugees from Muslim countries and their descendants make up about half

of Israel’s Jewish population. 20% of Israelis are non-Jews, including Druze, Bedouin, Muslims, and

Christian Arabs.

Ethnic and Religious Groups of Israel