History of Israel/Palestinian Conflict - Cliff Notes (Pt 1)

First, a disclaimer: I'm lucky to have many well-educated friends and family members, so if you follow this blog there is a really good chance that you know more about this topic than I do.

Second, a confession: Before going to the Holy Land 5 years ago, I was pretty uninformed about Israel/Palestine. I had to experience it to understand it. And I don't completely. We receive a pretty skewed view of world events in the US media, and there are many other situations that clamor for our attention. In addition, the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has a convenient elasticity; it changes dramatically depending on who is telling it and where they start the story. 

In the interest of sharing information, with the intent of remaining non-partisan, and in full humility that I don't know all there is to know, I offer this 'cheat sheet'. May it illuminate, educate and inspire so that perhaps you feel a little more knowledgeable and connected to our brothers and sisters in the region who are working for a just peace and end to conflict.

1880–1914 The Zionist movement was founded in response to the worsening persecution of European Jews, thousands of Jews began immigrating to Palestine, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire.

1915 In an exchange of ten letters between Sir Henry McMahon, Britain’s high commissioner in Egypt, and Sharif Hussein bin Ali, Emir of Mecca and King of the Arabs, Britain pledged to support Arab independence if Hussein’s forces revolted against the Ottomans. The exchange of letters became known as the Hussein-McMahon correspondence. Hussein envisioned a unified Arab state stretching from Aleppo (Syria) to Aden (Yemen).

November, 1917 The British government, in the Balfour Declaration (signed by their Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour and drafter in part by U.S. President Wilson), stated its support for “the establishment in Palestine of a National Home for the Jewish people.” Issuing of the statement was motivated by both sympathy for the Zionist cause and by British desire to rally Jews to the side of the Allies. 

1918 As a result of World War I, Britain wins control over the area of Palestine from the Ottoman Empire. The area becomes known as British-mandate Palestine. [A mandate is an authorization to govern over conquered territory]. 

1918-1948, Britain governs over the Jews and Arabs living in this territory. 

1921 Britain gives the area of British-mandate Palestine east of the Jordan River to Emir Abdullah, to form the country of Jordan. The first major intercommunal violence erupts along the Jaffa-Tel Aviv border on May Day, leaving scores of Jews and Arabs dead. Jews consider it a pogrom, Palestinians consider it a revolt. 

Violent interactions and instability continue...