HISTORY REVISION1945-1949

By: Juliana, Nicholas, Nicole

The Last Years of the British Mandate• There was a committee created to try to solve

the Arab/Jewish conflict.– Atmosphere of terror – Jews could not continue in

that way.– Holocaust going on (WW2)

• Jewish Terrorism– June 1946 – operation Agatha: control/reduction of

military capacity to Jews (British).– July 1946 – Irgun operation on King David Hotel

• Jews get tired of helping Britain in WW2.• Zionists come in.

• International pressure– US wants more Jew refugees to go into Palestine; at first

Britain does not agree.• Soon they entered World criticism

• Morrison-Grady plan: failure.• October 1946 – Truman announces support for a

Jewish statehood.• Arabs & Jews did not want to accept any proposals.• October 1947 – British decide to hand the case to

the United Nations (end of mandate)– Could not afford it after WW2– After 30 years in charge…

UN Partition Plan• UNSCOP = United Nations Special Committee on

Palestine.• November 1947 – UN votes for partition– Division of Palestine: 1 side for the Jews, another for the

Arabs.– Criss-cross arrangement (they believed it would work)• Arabs rejected the idea – Jews had most of the land

– Western powers should find another area for the Jews.

• Jews accepted it– Many were still unhappy because they didn’t have the Holy city of

Jerusalem.

UN Partition Plan

The Break of Civil War• After partition, there were many Arab/Jewish

confrontations.– Massacres– Syria and Iraq interfering– Haganah – organized Jewish defense forces

• April 1948 – Dier Yassin Massacre• Many Arabs fled Palestine because of the fear.• May 1948 – British final withdrawal.

Establishment of Israel & Arab Response

• “Final” decision: Partition.• May 14th 1948 – Israel State Proclaimed• Arabs immediately declare their opposition (Jordan,

Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq)– Declared holy war (jihad) – Wanted to create the United state of Palestine– Started with village attacks and terrorism.

• However, the Arabs were very disorganized and unprepared.– Only Arab Legion was efficient

1948-1949 War• Israelis were more well prepared– Fought for years– With the UN truce, they were able to get more weapons

(1948)• Arabs had gained some territory and the Old City of Jerusalem

– but soon lost it again.

• Fighting resumed on August and halted in the end of 1948.

• Israelis advanced, isolating Egyptian forces on 1949.– They would not return the conquered territory

• Ceasefire; armistice done, but not peace.

Vocabulary to keep in mind…

• Irgun• Zionists• Holocaust• Refugees• Partition• Haganah

Bibliography

• Morris, Benny. Righteous Victims. New York: Vintage Books, 1999.

• Scott-Baumann, Michael. Conflict In The Middle East: Israel And The Arabs. London: Hodder Education, 1998.