Zionist Movement

Background https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FspfOI_YRU

Imagine… Do the Natives have a right to this land??? You and your family are enjoying each other’s company at the dinner table after a long day. While talking over a nice prepared meal, you are interrupted by a loud knock on the door. You open the door, and you are greeted by members of a Cherokee Indian tribe. They tell you that they would like to move in on your back yard. “Why?,” you ask. “This is our ancient homeland. We were forced off it almost 200 years ago, and we want it back,” they reply. Do the Natives have a right to this land???

Do they have a right to the land?

Israel and Palestine the Land https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/C813FB1E-79EE-45E0- ACE2-E7C8DA2F898C

Promised Holy Land Zion- Most holy place for the Jews, site of where the first and second temples were destroyed. Often another name for Jerusalem Covenant (promise) that God made with Abraham – Gave the Jews their Holy Land At one time, Jews ruled Israel. However, other empires have controlled the Holy Land. They were forced out. Moved to other parts of the world They were treated well in places like the Muslim World. However some others were cruel to the Jews…

Anti-Semitism Jews have been treated badly by Europeans throughout history. 11th and 12th Centuries: Jews were slaughtered by the Crusaders traveling across Europe to the Holy Land. 14th century: Jews were accused of causing the Black Death and massacred. This is called Anti-Semitism, which is the hatred and discrimination against the Jewish people (Ethnic, religious, racial, national). Happens throughout time, up until the late 1930s.

Breaking Point Many Jews were tired of staying in Europe. Some felt that they were entitled to their Holy Land 19th Century (1800s) – Eastern European Jews form a group called “Lovers of Zion” to encourage settlement in Palestine (Zion). Theodore Herzl – Austrian Journalist who created a Zionist congress (early 1900s) and helped to promote a concentration of Jewish settlement in Palestine (Zion) WWI – Balfour Declaration – British (who defeated the Ottomans) promised support for creation of Jewish home in Palestine Holocaust – large scale extermination of Eastern European Jews by the Nazi Party (Adolf Hitler) during the outbreak of WWII.

The Exodus-cruise ship

The Journey to Zion Arab Muslims called Palestinians, lived in what was then called Palestine. The British tried to keep Jews from immigrating to Palestine after WWI, but eventually decided to support the journey in the 1920s (Balfour Declaration). Jews thought both groups could live peacefully together. Palestinians didn’t want Jews taking their land. Jews were coming into Palestine … illegally.

Tensions Grow November 27, 1947: United Nations proposes a partition (divide) of Palestine in separate Arab & Jewish states. Erupts in Chaos May 14, 1948- Creation of the State of Israel.

Outcome Jews believed by improving the land the Palestinians and Jews could both have a better life. Willing to share the land! Palestinians didn’t want the Jews there and refused to compromise. U.N. gave the Palestinians their own country, but they wanted it all. Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949) – Israel obtained more land than what the UN promised. 800,000 Arabs were forced out of their homes. By fighting and losing a war the Palestinians ended up with nothing.

Palestinian (Arab) Side The land was theirs because they occupied it. They did not want Jews coming to settle on their land because they feared that the Jews would take Palestine over and make it theirs. They knew about Zionism, and they knew the Jews wanted to establish a Jewish state.

Palestinian (Arab) Side As Muslims, they wanted to keep all of Palestine. They were not interested in sharing, because they considered it their land. They did not feel responsible for the murder and torture that the Jews endured. COPY--Palestinians were willing to do whatever they had to do to prevent the Zionists from creating the Jewish state of Israel in the Arab land of Palestine … even fight a war.

Jewish (Israel) Side Zion – their most holy land. It was promised by God. Other people conquered the land and forced them out In foreign lands Jews were abused and tortured. Jews wanted and needed a place to go where they could feel safe. While there were Palestinians on the land they wanted, there was vacant land available.

Which side do you take? TICKET OUT THE DOOR On your own paper, write a paragraph of which side you support. Do you feel that the Jews deserved their homeland? Or do you feel that the Palestinians were forced out?

Directions/Ticket Out the Door (Write these directions if you need to finish for homework) Write 1 paragraph- 5-7 sentences with Topic Sentence Assume the role of either a Jew or Palestinian Explain why Israel (Jewish) should or shouldn’t (Palestinian/Arab) be created. Include at least 3 reasons to back your position.