israeli expansionism cause of violence

Israeli expansionism cause of violence


In the midst of all the violence and hatred boiling over in the Middle East, at the sight of blood being senselessly shed and lives being lost in futility, one often wonders what the root cause of this conflict actually is. What was it that ignited such a rancorous dispute in the first place, and fuelled it for over eight decades?

Certain observers simply put it down to mutual spite in either community for the other, ingrained in their respective theologies. However, a careful scrutiny negates this assumption.

There is no history of anti-Semitism in Islamic theology. In fact, if anything, Islam views Jews and Christians more favourably as "people of the book" as compared to "infidels".

Moreover, the Islamic empire of Umar, the second Caliph, is perhaps the only one to have granted equal rights of life and worship to the Jewish populace upon the conquest of Jerusalem in the seventh century.

Similarly, there seems to be no particular venom directed towards Muslims in ancient Jewish culture either. Therefore, claims relating the current mutual detestation of the two communities to religion hold no water.

A number of analysts blame it on the maximalists on both sides of the fence, bent upon eradicating the other community through the use of brutality. However, such spectators are to be reminded that there must have existed circumstances inciting extremism from both quarters. Just as no individual is born a fanatic, no situation exists as a problem per se from its very inception.

The real origin of the Palestine problem can be traced back to a declaration approved by the British cabinet in October 1917. It is called the Balfour Declaration, named after Sir Arthur James Balfour, the then British foreign secretary and among the foremost advocates of the document. It states:-

"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

For a fair analysis of the above document, certain facts must be stated. Around 1915, an epistolary correspondence transpired between Sir Henry McMahon, the then British high commissioner to Egypt, and Sharif Hussain, the Emir of Makkah representing the entire Arab community.

McMahon sought active Arab support against the Axis in the World War. In return, he promised the independence of Arabs in all regions, including Palestine, upon culmination of the conflict.

This correspondence was particularly active at the time when the Balfour Declaration was approved by the British government. In a message on behalf of the British government, McMahon wrote: "...so far as Palestine is concerned, we are determined that no people shall be subject to another." January 4, 1918.

At that time, the country had a population of around 700,000, out of which 90 per cent (around 600,000) was Muslim Arab, which also owned 97 per cent of the land, while the remaining 10 per cent (almost 70,000) largely comprised Jews.

The Balfour Declaration was the fruition of the interminable efforts of the Zionist organization, an establishment with the concrete aim of Der JudenStaat, a Jewish state in Palestine. As Theodore Herzl, founder of the Zionist movement, wrote: "The Idea which I have developed...... is a very old one: it is the restoration of the Jewish State." Der Judenstaat, 1896.

Thus, the British government, through the Balfour Declaration, had effectively agreed to patronise the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine and all measures required therein, including unlimited Jewish immigration.

For the indigenous overwhelmingly Muslim population of Palestine, this was a harrowing development but for the fact that it was deviously kept concealed from them until its public proclamation in Palestine in 1920.

The Balfour Declaration itself was patently invalid for three main reasons. First, it was in stark contrast to the assurances of independence that had been pledged to the Arabs in the McMahon-Hussain correspondence. In light of the promises made to solicit Arab support for the war, the declaration was nothing short of the proverbial stab in the back.

Secondly, the declaration had been drafted in close consultation with an organization whose avowed aim was the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine through the forcible immigration of non-Palestinians to the country.

This in itself was a gross violation of Palestinian rights and also went contrary to the resolve of the victorious powers (United States, France and Britain) to uphold the fundamental right to self-determination of the local inhabitants of the conquered regions.

Lastly, and significantly, the declaration was issued when Palestine was officially still part of the Ottoman empire. The British had no right to enforce a declaration regarding a region which was not even under its governance. For that reason, the declaration stands legally void.

It is also important to note that the designs of the Zionist movement were not supported by Jews all over the world. When it was approbated by the British cabinet, the Balfour Declaration was bitterly opposed by Sir Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State to India and, incidentally, a Jew.

Nonetheless, despite all the incongruities painfully obvious therein, the Balfour Declaration was incorporated into the Palestinian Mandate, according to which the British government was to act as an adviser to the country.

The Zionist Organization was thus given a free hand to indulge in large-scale immigration of Jews from all over the world, artificially altering the distribution of population in Palestine.

Land holdings also changed dramatically and brought about economic discontent amongst the local Arab community, amplified by the Zionist policy of denial of employment to Palestinian Arabs.

By 1947, the Jewish population had increased to 600,000, one-third of the total population of Palestine, an increase of 725 per cent. Such is the root cause of the Palestine problem; British myopia coupled with a brazen disregard for the wishes of the local people.

However, it is imperative for a solution of the issue at hand that each side recognizes and accepts the presence of the other. Only then can the bloodshed cease, only then can peace endure.

The writer is a professor of political science at California State University, Los Angeles, US.