Simple PPT summarizing Jewish movement to Europe and the creation of Israel in 1948.

1. Modern Jewish
History

2. Zionism
• By the late 1800s/ early 1900s Jews are starting to want out of
Europe and Europe is more than willing to help them get out.
• Political Zionism begins during this era; the goal is to create a
Jewish State. Palestine is the preferred location because that
is the historical home of the Jewish people.
• Jewish Colonial Trust formed in 1901
• Jewish National Funded formed in 1903
• Both organizations were buying up land in Palestine for Jewish
settlements.

3. Zionism continued
• Political Zionists also push for Jews to start using the Hebrew
language for more than just religion.
• Jews from all over the world speak different languages, this
will give them a common language and unify the global Jewish
community.

4. Global Politics
• By the start of World War One:
• The Middle East is either part of a European empire or ruled
by the Ottoman Empire.
• The nationalism that has been building up in Europe has
started to trickle into the Arab world.
• Arabs start thinking: why can’t we rule ourselves?
• Various nationalistic movements begin to emerge in the
Middle East.

5. WWI
• During World War One France and Britain were very active at
encouraging Arab National Organizations to rebel against the
Ottoman Empire.
• They make a lot of empty promises to the Arabs.
• Once WWI is over, the Ottoman Empire is dismantled and the
French and British essentially take over the Middle East.
• Britain ends up with Palestine.
• The Arabs feel betrayed.

6. The British
• From the end of World War One, to the start of World War
Two, the British were in a tough spot in the Middle East.
• They made many promises and declarations to the Arab world
about giving them self-rule; but dragged their feet to produce.
• They were also actively engaged in helping Zionists set up
Jewish settlements in Palestine.
• From 1917-1922; Jews begin to migrate in mass numbers to
Palestine.

7. Balancing Act
• From 1917-1936, Britain is in an endless balancing act
between making Arabs and Jews happy.
• It’s a losing effort.
• In 1928, Arabs committed their first pogrom against Jews(the
Wailing Wall Incident) .
• From 1936-9 the Palestinian Civil War is fought.
• Essentially Jews vs. Palestinians/Arabs.

8. World War Two
• Nazi Germany and the Holocaust were very strong push
factors at driving Jews out of Europe.
• Even after the war was over, the majority of Jews wanted
nothing to do with Europe.
• After centuries of persecutions and scapegoating they finally
had enough.
• European leaders had Holocaust guilt and Zionists used that to
push for acceptance of a formal Jewish State.

9. Never Again
• The Holocaust was/is the last straw for the Jewish people.
• Never Again will they let themselves by victims or allow
pogroms to be carried out against their people.
• Gun Zionism, had been evolving since the early 1900s. They
would use violence to protect Jewish interests and people.
• These Zionists will become the military backbone of the state
of Israel.

10. Masada Complex?
• How far will the Jewish people take this “Never Again” stance?
• Masada Complex: the Jews will destroy themselves before
they let something like the Holocaust happen to their people
again.
• Complex named after the Masada rebellion against the
Romans.

11. Post World War Two
• World War Two was very devastating to the old European
order.
• Britain and France began pulling out of the Middle East rapidly
– creating a power vacuum.
• Zionists used this moment to strike
• They declared the creation of the state of Israel on May 14,
1948.

12. The Arab League
• The Arab League had been forming since World War One.
• The Arab League was a nationalist movement that was formed
to create a common voice for the Arab world.
• Their goal was to create independent nations for the Arab
people.
• The creation of Israel was unacceptable to them because it
was done without their permission.
• Arab League Nations declared war on Israel in 1948.