STEP TWO
Re: Israel vs Palestine. The last time we talked about this continuing confrontation we mentioned the Allya of 1881, a time when there was a noticable movement of Jewish people from three places, in particular: Russia, Romania and Yemen to the area we refer to as the Holy Land. We have all had time to read up on that subject a bit so we have some basis for such a remarkable change.
My special thanks to Katie M., Los Angeles,CA for her prompt reply in suggesting a book which would offer an outline of events on the Palestinian side for essentially the same time periods about which will be talking.
Today, briefly, we move to 1892. That is year of publication of Judenstadt (The Jewish State) by Theodor Herzi. It is said to have founded The Zionist Movement . The idea met with mixed reactions at the time and was ridiculed by some. Those Jews residing in the western nations of Europe thought little of the idea and even ridiculed it. Those who lived who in the Eastern European nations were more serious and lived under outward manifestations of hatred and vilification.
The First Zionist Conference was held at Basel, Switzerland. Delegates attended from many areas and they left convinced that such a new Jewish state was essential.
It took years and it was not until 1916 that the pact called the Sykes-Picot Agreement was put together by France and Great Britain. That
was during he serious times of the first World War when there was a tremendous toll offdd human life The so-called “empire nature”of the two large powers urged them to make preparations for the future. They agreed on the establishment of a pattern for dividing the entire Middle East between them when the conflict ended. They set up zones of influence. It may seem heartless to us today to see them doing this when a war was in progress but it would not take affect until later, of course. This plan affected the Jewish homeland dream in the years which followed.
One year later came The Balfour Declaration which has been called “ a masterpiece of political obfuscation”. That document was written by the British Foreign Minister, Lord Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothchild of the World Zionist Organization. Balfour has been accused of “offering all things to all men” in the declaration. We would, even today, be advised to re-read the paper with special care.
He said: “His majesty's government view the establishment in in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish and will use their best endeavors
to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil rights of existing non – Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”
Whew! Quite a diplomatic mouthful! Right? Small wonder, isn't it, that many people have taken exception to the Jewish state in recent years.
Next time, we will examine the “Fermentation Years”- 1917-1921.
A. L. M. October 9, 2002 [c556wds]
