The Israeli Response

The Israeli Response

Israel was established as a result of an unfair UN partition plan, using the Holocaust as justification

The Israeli Response

  • The Jewish quest for an independent homeland is fueled by worldwide persecution for over a millennium:
    • Spanish inquisition (15-16th century) - thousands of Jews were killed
      • Lisbon Massacre (1506) - 4000 Jews were killed
        • Pogroms in Eastern Europe (19th century) - thousands of Jews were killed
          • The Holocaust (1939-1945) - 6 million Jews were killed
            • Expulsion from Arab countries (20th century) - 960,000 Jews were forced to leave their homes
            • What marked the beginning of the Zionist movement?
              • The Zionist movement, led by Theodor Herzel, was established in the 19th century amid widespread antisemitism and the desire for Jewish self-determination.
                • In November 1917, Haim Weizman, one of the prominent leaders of the Zionist movement, received formal recognition from the British government, a significant world power.
                  • The Balfour declaration stated that Britain supports the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in the land of Israel (then called Palestine under the ruling of the Ottoman Empire).
                  • This was the result of his diplomatic efforts and due to Britain’s interest in WWI.
                  • The requirement to fulfill the Balfour Declaration is binding by international law and valid until today!
              • What were the steps that resulted in the creation of the state of Israel?
                • The United Nations San Remo Conference in 1920:
                  • It included the the Allied Supreme Council - which included Britain, France, Italy, Greece, Japan, and Belgium.
                  • They upheld and expanded the Sykes-Picot Agreement, dividing the Ottoman Empire's territories between France and Britain.
                • In April 1920, the conference decided to hand over the rule of the Land of Israel to Great Britain in a mandate.
                  • The conference decided to include the Balfour Declaration in the mandate and assign Britain the responsibility for implementing the declaration.
                  • The League of Nations mandate had a binding international legal status.
                  • Thus, the legal rights arising from it are still valid until today.
                • In 1937, Great Britain formed the Peel Commission in response to the Great Arab Revolt during the British mandate.
                  • The commission aimed to investigate the reasons for the revolt and address the Arab-Jewish conflict.
                  • The commission recommendation was to divide the land of Israel into a Jewish and an Araba state, But this offer was rejected by the Arab leadership.
                • In June 1947, UNESCO convened the UNSCOP commission to end the British Mandate in the Land of Israel.
                  • It recommended dividing the land into two states, to be joined by economic union - marking the first proposal for an Arab state within Israel's territory, without it being annexed to neighboring Arab countries.
                    • On 29 November 1947 the UN General Assembly voted on the partition plan, adopted by 33 votes to 13 with 10 abstentions.
                      • The Jewish side accepted the UN plan for the establishment of two states.
                      • The Arabs rejected it and launched a war of annihilation against the Jewish state.
                      • It was this war that led to the establishment of Israel in the territories that it claimed during the war.

                  From the media

                  Balfour Declaration
                  Balfour Declaration
                  UN Partition Plan
                  UN Partition Plan
                  History of the land of israel
                  History of the middle east conflict: The Middle East Problem

                  Resources

                  People Involved

                  Conclusions

                  The Jewish desire for self-determination predates Israel's 1948 independence and the Holocaust. The Zionist movement's diplomatic efforts leading to Israel's establishment are rooted in the fundamental right of the Jewish people to self-determination, like any other nation. This foundation in international recognition and law dates back well before 1948.

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