The Untold History: Zionist-Arab Conflict that Shaped a Century

Throughout the course of history, there have been countless conflicts that have shaped nations and changed the course of humanity. One such conflict, often overlooked and misunderstood, is the Zionist-Arab conflict that emerged in the late 19th century and continued well into the 20th century. This conflict, deeply rooted in religious, political, and territorial tensions, has had profound implications on the Middle East and beyond. In this article, we delve into the history of the Zionist-Arab conflict from its origins in 1881 to the turning point in 1998.

Origins of the Zionist-Arab Conflict

The Zionist movement, led by Theodor Herzl, sought to establish a national homeland for the Jewish people, who faced persecution and anti-Semitism in Europe. In the late 19th century, a growing number of Jews began migrating to Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, sparking tensions with the local Arab population.

The conflict intensified as the Jewish population in Palestine increased. Arab leaders felt threatened by the influx of Jewish immigrants and feared their political aspirations would be compromised. Rioting, land disputes, and clashes between the two communities became a regular occurrence.

Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-1998

by Benny Morris (Reprint Edition, Kindle Edition)

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Language	:	English
File size	:	397 KB
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British Mandate and Its Consequences

Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate to administer Palestine. As Jewish immigration continued, tensions soared between the Zionist movement and the Arab population.

Arab discontent materialized in the form of revolts against the British Mandate, demanding independence and self-determination. The Great Arab Uprising of 1936-1939 and the subsequent British White Paper of 1939, which limited Jewish immigration to Palestine, marked a significant escalation of the conflict.

Post-World War II and the Birth of Israel

The horrors of the Holocaust during World War II prompted increased international support for a Jewish homeland. The United Nations General Assembly passed the historic resolution in 1947, calling for the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. However, the Arab states rejected this proposal, leading to widespread violence.

On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel declared its independence, igniting a war with neighboring Arab countries. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the War of Independence, ended with an armistice but not a lasting peace. This marked the beginning of an era characterized by numerous conflicts and disputes between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

The Six-Day War and Its Aftermath

In June 1967, tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors reached a boiling point, leading to the Six-Day War. Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, resulting in a swift Israeli victory. This war reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East as Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.

The occupation of these territories led to increased resentment among the Palestinians and strained relations with neighboring Arab states. Efforts for peace, such as the Camp David Accords and the Oslo Peace Process, showed promising signs but ultimately failed to bring a lasting resolution to the conflict.

The Oslo Accords and Hope for Peace

In 1993, the Oslo Accords were signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), raising hopes for a peaceful resolution. These agreements aimed to establish a framework for self-governance of Palestinians in the occupied territories, but implementation faced many obstacles.

The assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 by an extremist Jewish individual dealt a severe blow to the peace process, causing further tensions and setbacks.

1998 - A Turning Point?

By 1998, the Zionist-Arab conflict had endured for over a century with seemingly no end in sight. However, the signing of the Wye River Memorandum in that same year offered a glimmer of hope. This agreement provided a roadmap for further Israeli withdrawals from Palestinian territories and raised expectations for future negotiations.

Although the Wye River Memorandum did not produce lasting peace, it symbolized the willingness of both parties to engage in dialogue and find common ground in order to achieve a peaceful resolution.

The history of the Zionist-Arab conflict is a complex tapestry of competing national aspirations, territorial disputes, and religious differences. From its origins in the late 19th century to the challenges encountered in the late 20th century, this conflict has had a profound impact on the lives of millions of people.

While peace remains elusive, the story of the Zionist-Arab conflict underscores the importance of understanding historical context, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and embracing compromise to pave the way for a brighter, more peaceful future in the region.

Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-1998

by Benny Morris (Reprint Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	397 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	150 pages

FREE

Righteous Victims, by the noted historian Benny Morris, is a comprehensive and
objective history of the long battle between Arabs and Jews for possession of a land they both call home. It appears at a most timely juncture, as the bloody and protracted struggle seems at last to be headed for resolution.

With great clarity of vision, Professor Morris finds the roots of this conflict in the deep religious, ethnic, and political differences between the Zionist immigrants and the native Arab population of Palestine. He describes the gradual influx of Jewish settlers, which was eventually fiercely resisted by the Arabs during the decades of  British Mandatory government following World War I.

The establishment of the State of Israel in 1947 - 48 gave the Jews a homeland in the wake of the Holocaust, but the ensuing flight of the Palestinian Arabs shattered their society and led to the birth of a festering refugee problem. Morris describes these epic events and the Arab onslaught that followed, as he does each of the subsequent wars (in 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982 - 85); the Intifada of 1987 - 91, when the Palestinian populace of the West Bank and Gaza Strip rebelled against Israeli rule; and the rise of fundamentalist religious movements on both sides of the barricades. Tracing the successes and failures of politicians, generals, and diplomats in both camps, he regards their actions and plight with accuracy and empathy, drawing on archival materials, memoirs, and secondary works to give a vivid account of each major military encounter--and of the vicissitudes of peace efforts from the post-1948 negotiations through the Camp David (1977 - 79), Oslo (1993 - 95), and Wye River Plantation (1998) accords. Mr. Morris offers sharply etched portraits and illuminating anecdotes about the charismatic leaders who have been the chief protagonists of this contentious history, including Theodor Herzl, Hajj Amin al-Husseini, David Ben-Gurion, Anwar Sadat, and Menachem Begin, to name only a few.

Righteous Victims ends with Mr. Morris's analysis of the current state of play, when the election of Ehud Barak as prime minister (May 1999) has opened the door to a renewal of negotiations between Israel and its Palestinian and Syrian neighbors. As the denizens of the Middle East set out to write the next chapter in this long and difficult struggle, Righteous Victims is essential reading: a monumental work of narration and explication for all who seek to understand the history of the conflict and the prospects for peace.