Israel and Palestine

The historical background of yesterday's renewed Palestinian violence is illuminated by the Israeli journalist and historian Tom Seger in his book, One Palestine, Complete, 1917-1948, based on research in British archives. He is pessimistic about the future of relations between Israel and Palestine. Before the creation of Israel, the British military in Egypt, who knew the area, warned against it, and many American statesmen shared that view. I myself did, with reluctance because I feel close to the Jews, whereas the Muslims are alien to me. The decision to proceed with the creation of Israel was made by Lloyd George, who even declared himself to be a Zionist.He was brought up in North Wales by his uncle, a Methodist lay preacher, and he learned the Bible so well that he knew the names of the Kings of Israel before he knew those of England. He thought that the Jews were God's chosen people (as many American fundamentalists do today), but at the same time he believed that the Jews controlled the world and therefore must be feared and appeased. Zionism was unknown in England It was introduced by Chaim Weizmann, a recent immigrant who spoke very little English and had gone to the University of Manchester to teach chemistry. Lloyd George feared the Jews so much that he and his cabinet went to incredible lengths to satisfy him. Lloyd George justified this on the grounds that otherwise the Zionists would have supported Germany. That they did not may explain Hitler's anti-semitism. Lord Balfour, the British foreign secretary, tried to persuade him to establish a Zionist home in East Africa, but Weizmann insisted on Palestine, so Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration favoring a Jewish state in Palestine, with the proviso that the interests of the local population be respected. The British government gave the new state its active support, but, while the Israeli state quickly established itself, the Palestine state was slow the form, due in large part to the hostility of the Zionists. Hence the present imbalance, which it will take years to solve.

Ronald Hilton - 12/2/01