(Japanese Version)
(Arabic Version)
Chapter 1 Wave of nationalism and socialism (1945-1956)
3. Israel independence(1): Construction of Jewish motherland
Jewish people were expelled Palestine about two thousand years ago and had to scatter in Europe, so-called diaspora (discrete). They suffered persecution in every cities and towns in Europe and had bitter taste of life until 1946. They finally constructed motherland in Palestine. The epic long history has already been written in many books. So it would be enough to mention the history in short how Israel was established.
In the late nineteenth century, anti-Semitism campaign caused storm in Europe. The Sem is a generic name of ethnic groups that use Semian languages originating in the Middle East, such as Arabic and Hebrew. Anti-semitism in Europe at that time was anti-Jew itself. People of Diaspora were trapped in residential districts for Jewish-only called "ghetto". They have been discriminated and lived in obscurity. The crimes targeted for Jews took place one after another in the heightened anti-Semitism movement.
The most famous one was "Dreyfus affair" in France. In 1894, Jewish captain of French Army Alfred Dreyfus was arrested for spying against Germany. He sentenced a notorious judgment in 1906. The 12-year-long trial conflict became a major incident that shook France. Emir Zora, great writer, disclosed the letter of impeachment of the government. It was a socio-political scandal. The case was later proved to be a false charge. At the end of the 19th century, there also was another sample of anti-semitism in Russia. Jewish genocide "Pogrom" was widely spread in Russia. Pogrom was a terrible affair together with "Holocaust" in Germany during the World War II. At that time most of Europeans used to hate the Jews so much.
In such circumstance, it is impossible for Jews to get their homeland inside Europe. They have no choice except to settle in abroad. Many Jews migrated to the "New World" – United States of America. But some of them insisted to construct their own homeland. The politicians in Europe believed that it was an excellent idea to give Jewish their homeland outside Europe to avoid social unrest in Europe. This was a favorable policy to oust Jews from European continent. They backed Jewish idea.
In 20th century, however, it was quite difficult to find unmanned land that could be cultivated and could build a new colony on the earth. British government proposed them UK’s colony in Central Africa. Though natives were living there, UK could bring them expel by force. But Theodor Herzl, the leader of the homeland construction movement, insisted on the revival of his country in Palestine where his ancestors were exiled 2,000 years ago. He advocated "Return to Israel (Zionism)”. Zionist spoke the slogan loudly; “People defunct land to landless people” Zionism movement grew up year after year.
The British government was in trouble. Palestine have been under the control of Ottoman Empire. In Palestine many Arabs have been lived for 2,000 years and more. It was absolutely not “People defunct land”. It was obvious that conflict would arise with indigenous Arabs if forced to settle by Jews.
Fortunately, at that time a tailwind blew for the Jews. It was the outbreak of the World War I. Britain suffered from shortage of money for the war. UK asked financial assistance to rich Jewish, Lord Rothschild. Lord Rothschild accepted UK’s request and in return he asked UK to build Jewish homeland in Palestine after World War I. That was the Balfour Declaration (see Prologue Section 6).
The UK had a victory in the war by the financial support of the Jews. And the UK colonized Palestine through the Sykes-Pico Agreement (see Prologue Section 5). Obstacles to construct Jewish homeland have been lifted.
(To be continued ----)
By
Areha Kazuya
E-mail:
areha_kazuya@jcom.home.ne.jp
Home Page: OCIN INITIATIVE
(Table of contents)
No comments:
Post a Comment