How Jeremy Bowen explains how Britain and France,especially us Brits, are wholly to blame, for the tragedy of Israel and the catastrophe for the Palestinian Arabs.
This summarised history is taken from Jeremy Bowen's book, 'The Making of the Modern Middle East' and, in particular the chapter, 'Mission Impassable'. You can't do better than read those few eye-opening pages from 17-25.
The catastrophe was 750,000 Palestinians being forced out of their homes or fleeing in terror in 1948. The tragedy for Israel is their isolation in world opinion, their many wars with some initiated by them and all won by them and, their 77 years of fear of attack from their opponents and enemies that they have never been able to get on top of, let alone seen off for good. Tragic Israel, in feeling that they have to murder the angry, revengeful Arab fighters over 77 years who also believe in violence and the same Jewish ethic of an eye for an eye - lex talionis. However, many exhibit the pragmatism and higher morality of peaceful co-existence with their neighbour, despite the control and domination of our firm friends and allies, the Israelis.
What follows, I think, is the shocking, shameful truth of how our top decision-makers have behaved. From the First World War and throughout the British Mandate to 1948, favouritism was shown towards the Zionists/Jews but, much stricter treatment meted out to the Arabs. It ended with our hasty retreat in 1948 back to these shores in the face of Jewish terrorism.
We also have the despicable record of promises or undertakings all broken given to the Arabs for helping us defeat the Ottoman Empire.
Bowen writes, "The Middle East attracts outsiders and the desire to control it has led to suffering and slaughter ... In the 21st century, the decisions of these powerful outsiders have made lives in the Middle East dangerous, difficult and short." p 18
The First World War finally broke the Ottoman Empire and allowed hungry European Christian powers with a banquet of delights to exploit. Russia, France, Germany and Britain all feasted at the table and the carve-up was approved by the new League of Nations. However, it gave Britain and France so much territory they were overstretched and struggling by the 2nd World War. In addition, "Too many people were fed up with being told what to do by foreigners." p 19
Bowen mentions two imperial grandees, Mark Sykes for us and Georges-Picot for France and their agreement in 1916 to split the Middle East between the two nations. This was top secret diplomacy "to win the war in the Middle East and get their empire into the strongest position possible."
In London, the power brokers spent months talking to Zionists who wanted a homeland for the Jews. The Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, "had an instinctive sympathy for Zionism". In his Welsh school, he wrote that he learnt more about the history of the Jews than his own land. "I could tell you all the kings of Israel. But I doubt if I could have named half a dozen of the kings of England and not more of the kings of Wales."
"The Jews were regarded as desirable allies", Bowen wrote. The leading Zionist in Britain, Chaim Weizmann had already impressed Lloyd George by finding a new way to make acetone, a vital ingredient for making explosives. The PM believed that helping the Zionists would help to keep Russia on our side in the war and help to persuade America to join in.
Bowen wrote, "As they tried to tap into what they believed was the power of the Jews, the British were also looking for an ally to undermine the Ottomans." p 21.
A direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed, Hussein bin Ali was the man who kept his side of the bargain but we did not. We had to win the war at all costs, by hook or by crook. And we chose the dishonourable path of helping the side we had most in common even though it meant breaking our agreement with the Arabs.
For all the fine words from General Allenby after he entered Jerusalem as the great victor, all that counted for nothing as we showed favouritism and partiality. Strong against the Arabs when they massacred Jews but much less harsh against the Jews when they massacred Arabs.
