Middle East 1919-1991
Notes:
The Breakup of the Ottoman Empire: French and English Mandates
- “The sick man of Europe”: Ottoman Empire breaks up and becomes Turkey
- French and British divide up the former Ottoman territories into mandates
- Suez Canal and oil are the reasons for their interest
- Sykes-Picot agreement, 1916, gave most of the territory to Britain
- Iraq, Trans-Jordan and Palestine to Br.
- Syria and Lebanon to French
- They set up Arab governments in all mandates except Palestine
The Balfour Declaration, 1917
- Agreement by the British to set up a Jewish homeland in Palestine
- The Br. Mandate there remained under Br. Control
- The British had also promised the Arabs independence in the region
- 1918=60,000 Jews; 1939=630,000
- Beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict
- *Sidenote* Turkey defeats Greece in 1920 in a war over Anatolia and a massive citizen shift occurs (1.5 mil)
1920-1936:
1.) Zionist immigrate
- Jewish population increased
2.) Palestinian unrest
- They were mad at the British because they were promised land that they didn’t get.
- Therefore violence toward the British increased
1937: British created the Peel Commission
- The main idea of this was to make everyone happy
- Peel Commission concluded that Jewish and Arabs all have a state and then the British get control of their own area.
- Neither group was happy about this.
-Zionists thought all of the land was theirs
-Arabs also believed this
· Palestinians resort to violence against the British again
- Neither side wants to negotiate
-Zionist reluctantly accept Peel Commission --> Because it’s better then nothing
1939: Conflict still going on
--> British want the conflict over because of the war
· So Winston Churchill created the White Paper
White Paper: designed to appease Palestinians that felt like they were being invaded
- Limited Jewish immigration to 70%-90%
- The paper essentially killed thousands of Jews that had no where to go.
- Called the “Black Paper” according to the Zionists.
1945: West thought something needed to be done
-Population wise 70% Palestinian, 30% Jewish
-British didn’t know what to do
· UN Commission --> Mainly the US were in charge
- Took into account: pop mainly Palestinians with little Jews
--> So they created a Jewish State and Palestinian state with Jerusalem under UN’s control
Views on the creations of the States:
Jewish Palestinians
-They liked it because new home - did not like because their land was being taken away
- You did this not us, so why to we have to pay
1947: UN Commission- Partition plan
1948: British mandate ends
- They cannot afford to help due to food rations
· Mad UN’s problem now
· David Ben Gurion: declared the State of Israel
-Immediate war breaks out --> 2 sided (Israel: exist ; Palestinians: don’t want that)
- Actually one-sided because the Palestinians are outdated in their weapons and they are unorganized compared to Israel that is organized and prepared.
- Israel dominates the war
Because of this war: Israel occupies Jerusalem *creating conflict* because Jerusalem is the capital of 3 different religions
Results of this war:
- Created 2 million refugees --> mostly Palestinians who were forced of their land
· Palestinian refugees form the PLO in Gaza strip
P: Palestinian
L: Liberation
O: Organization
· The PLO is responsible for the rocket attacks ever
The most important place during this time = Egypt
Egypt --> Secular State led by King Faruk (puppet from US)
Israel is seen as an extension of the US, anyone that associates with the US are not very popular
King Faruk not popluar but Gamal Nasser is
There is concern over the funding of Egypt so Nasser creates: Public Work
Public Work: Energy--> Hydro electric dame on Nile river(Aswan Dam)
- The creation of this Dam costs a lot of $
1956: Nasser plans to nationalize the Suez Canal
- Hungarian uprising *Critical
1.) Leader: Enre Nagy --> wants free and fear elections
- Some countries afraid of this because they think it will be a Soviet version of the Domino Theory--> one country goes, they all go
CRUSH THE UPRISING
· Canada invents the role of Peace Keepers
-Israel occupies Gaza Strip
1967: Six Day War
Egypt, Jordan, Syria --> Destroy Israel plan (Winter is coming)- they want a war
But at this time both the US and USSR agree that it is time for a peaceful solution. SO they all get together, but as this is happening Israel air strikes Egypt(destroying all their armies)
Results of the Six Day War:
-Terrorism is formed
--> Hijacking
--> Suicide bombings
--> Terror attacks
These were happening before but now start to become more frequent
1970: Anuar Sadat comes to power in Egypt
1973: Sadat calls this year “the year of decisions”
Sadat joined with Syria and Egypt another war is planned- the Arab forces take Golan Heights
- Israel with the help of the US was able to push Egypt and others back
Results of 1973 war:
-Galvanization of Arab world
- USA--> main problem, best way to harm Israel is to harm the US
-OPEC formed--> places an Embargo on the USA(economic warfare)
--> Shah says the cost of oil is going to increase by 10x- this increase in price can have a giant effect on economies.
Mid 1970's: Detente
Nixon+ Brezhnev--> Nixon goes to Moscow to talk to Brezhnev face to face
Love triangle: Nixon, Brezhnev, Mao
Nixon goes and visits Mao as well
Soviets and China-> hate each other
Therefore, during this time relationships are calming down= everything more peaceful
All in all, the USSR + US make an oil agreement (US will buy Soviet oil)
- The US also went to Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico for oil because the Shah increased oil prices= Shahs plan backfired to the max. (OPEC)
1979: Shah--> Seen as an American puppet
1) Therefore people don't like the Shah
2) Economy (Iranian suffer)
--> Because of this people begin to suffer, the turn desperate, they make desperate decisions
FUNDAMENTALISM
- Ayatollah Khomeini--> against Shah
- Therefore Shah is ousted
- He goes to the US or Egypt
1979: Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Afghanistan --> communist gov
--> Anti-religous
--> communist gov vs. militia
US $ goes into Militia and Osama Bin Laden
Osama Bin Laden: allies with Militia
--> he comes from wealth
--> he was kicked out of family
US$ for Bin Laden going into Al Qaeda
1980: Americans boycott Moscow Olympics
Ronald Reagan calls USSR "Evil empire"
TENSE TIME
1989: Things begin to calm down
--> Berlin wall pulled down
--> Soviets pull out of Afghanistan
1990: Saddam Hussein asked to pay debts. $$ back to Kuwait
--> Because he didn't have the money he decides to go and attack
--> therefor Iraq invades Kuwait
1991: Gulf war breaks out
--> total US success
During this time the presence in the Middle East had grown
Soviets gone home and the US were the only ones left
1993: Al Qaeda tries to blow up World Trade Center
--> car bomb drives under WTC and into a parking lot the bomb didn't go off
--> Original Militia group against Afgahn gov re-named Taliban
Sept 11 2011: Bin Laden attacks WTC
--> Bush Doctrine: Any country with terrorist or practising, means we (US) can attack
Afghanistan
Iraq: Bush like "they got terrorist too" but Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden hate each other
Bush also claims that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction
FREEDOM FRIES
2003: Invasion of Iraq
--> Reputation of US in first 10 yrs of 21st century was the worst its ever been
--> In 2001 whole world sympathetic with US
US going after Saddam Hussein
--> When Hussein eliminated there is no power there is no power, so ISIL rises again.
--> ISIL also ISIS comes back which is still around to present day.
--> ISIS was being repressed with Hussein in power so when he is gone it creates a vacuum
Middle east essay: The conflicts that rage across the Middle East entire are conflicts over oil and not about Nationalism or statehood.
The Middle East is a constant topic in global news today, just as it was years ago. Though many believe the growing issue of oil to be a primary factor in the endless incongruities, independence and self-determination were central factors of conflict that arose from the Peel Commission, the Partition Plan, and the creation of Israel.
Firstly, the continued violence that occurred through 1920 to 1940 was the result of repercussion against Zionism and the Peel Commission, by the Arabs. The growth of the Jewish population in what was believed to be Arab land infuriated the Arab inhabitants; from their point of view it was seen as if the Jewish people were invading their territory that was promised to them. To end this controversy over land, the Peel Commission was designated to split up the area; however, the idea to ‘make everyone happy’ vanishes instantly when negotiation is negated. Unenthusiastically the Jewish people, unlike the Arabs accepted the Peel Commission, realized they had to be content with any property that they would be able to finally call their own. The Peel Commission once again resulted in the Arabs taking violent action against the British.
Furthermore, the UN Commission- Partition Plan- was established by the United Nations in 1947. The foundation of this plan related around the idea of splitting Palestine into two separate states, a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Palestinian Arabs, who believed it was prejudiced that the Jewish people would be allocated more land than them, instantly rejected this proposal. In 1948, the creation of Israel immediately increased the already evident violence in the area. This outbreak in war involving the Israelis and Palestinians, who never accepted the state of Israel, was merely a one-sided fight; the Israelis, who were prepared and organized, easily shattered the disorganized Palestinian approach.
On the other hand, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) also played a role in creating tension and other struggles for the Middle East during this time period. For instance, the United States would buy oil from OPEC, reconstruct it and sell it back to the Middle East at higher prices. Because of this, the Shah increased the price of oil, which lost OPEC the ability to sell to the United States. This loss of income had a huge effect on their economy at the time, raising tension and turning people to desperation.
Throughout the 1900’s and to this present day there is, and has been, an extreme amount of conflict in the Middle East. From the diverse disagreements over oil to the fights that continue to arise based on territorial issues, the Middle East has not been a serene area. The constant inability to compromise over space issues and a matter of pride in oneself shows how Nationalism and ‘statehood’ have played a dominant role in the conflict seen within the Middle East.
Firstly, the continued violence that occurred through 1920 to 1940 was the result of repercussion against Zionism and the Peel Commission, by the Arabs. The growth of the Jewish population in what was believed to be Arab land infuriated the Arab inhabitants; from their point of view it was seen as if the Jewish people were invading their territory that was promised to them. To end this controversy over land, the Peel Commission was designated to split up the area; however, the idea to ‘make everyone happy’ vanishes instantly when negotiation is negated. Unenthusiastically the Jewish people, unlike the Arabs accepted the Peel Commission, realized they had to be content with any property that they would be able to finally call their own. The Peel Commission once again resulted in the Arabs taking violent action against the British.
Furthermore, the UN Commission- Partition Plan- was established by the United Nations in 1947. The foundation of this plan related around the idea of splitting Palestine into two separate states, a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Palestinian Arabs, who believed it was prejudiced that the Jewish people would be allocated more land than them, instantly rejected this proposal. In 1948, the creation of Israel immediately increased the already evident violence in the area. This outbreak in war involving the Israelis and Palestinians, who never accepted the state of Israel, was merely a one-sided fight; the Israelis, who were prepared and organized, easily shattered the disorganized Palestinian approach.
On the other hand, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) also played a role in creating tension and other struggles for the Middle East during this time period. For instance, the United States would buy oil from OPEC, reconstruct it and sell it back to the Middle East at higher prices. Because of this, the Shah increased the price of oil, which lost OPEC the ability to sell to the United States. This loss of income had a huge effect on their economy at the time, raising tension and turning people to desperation.
Throughout the 1900’s and to this present day there is, and has been, an extreme amount of conflict in the Middle East. From the diverse disagreements over oil to the fights that continue to arise based on territorial issues, the Middle East has not been a serene area. The constant inability to compromise over space issues and a matter of pride in oneself shows how Nationalism and ‘statehood’ have played a dominant role in the conflict seen within the Middle East.
Subjunctive Question : |
Quote: |
Had the Treaty of Versailles never existed what would be different about all the problems that have happened since it?
|
“A truce between Israel and Palestine? Imagine walking into a doctor’s office. You sit down, pick up a magazine, and begin to read. A few minutes later, a man walks in, the man who killed your wife, the man whose son you murdered. He sits down, picks up a magazine, and begins to read.
A two-state solution to the problem between Israel and Palestine? Imagine walking into a doctor’s office. You sit down, pick up a magazine, and begin to read. Next door, a man walks into the restaurant, the man who killed your wife, the man whose son you murdered. He sits down at a table, orders a meal, and begins to eat. In either case, there is an intolerable tension that has resisted resolution by diplomacy, combat, sanctions, or segregation. Forgiveness is the only reasonable solution.” ― Ron Brackin |
Cartoon : |
Image : |