Early Zionism and Arab-Jewish Relations in 20 th C Palestine IAFS/JWST 3650

Outline Development of Zionism Zionist Settlers in Holy Land Arab-Jewish Relations in 1880s & 1890s

Multiperspectivity A single viewpoint is limiting Seeing via other viewpoints is where the most learning happens

“Landmines” Ideas/phrases/e vents that make discussion go BOOM Acknowledge, inspect, defuse landmines

The Development of Zionism Herzl’s focus on external support Debate over location of Jewish home: – Palestine? – Northern Sinai? – Argentina? – Cyprus? – Uganda? – Southern Sinai?

Basel Declaration (1897)

Zionist Break with Traditional Judaism Trad. Judaism: Jewish exile ordained by God, so Jewish return could only result from God’ redemption Modern Zionism: worked actively in mainly secular fashion to establish independent Jewish existence in Palestine

Herzl’s Methods Plan to purchase land and organize settlers Rhodesia as a model

First Wave of Zionist Settlers 1882: first Zionist settlers landed at Jaffa =first aliyah (going up to Eretz Israel) 1903: 20 villages, 90,000 acres of land ~5000 Jews settled in agricultural areas

First Wave of Zionist Settlers ~5000 Jews settled in cities 1890: Jews a majority in Jerusalem

First Wave of Zionist Settlers Inexperienced settlers faced failing farms Bailed out by wealthy European Jewish philanthropists Employed Arab workers, treated them poorly

Late 1890s Zionist settlement progressing Diplomatic efforts unsuccessful Internal criticism (e.g. Achad Ha’am)

1901: Purpose was land purchases 1908: Palestine Land Development Co. JNF Blue Box (1920) Jewish National Fund

JNF Blue Box (1947)

Second Wave of Zionist Settlers 1904: many BILU settlers – Socialist convictions – Focus on settling the land

Second Wave of Zionist Settlers Tel Aviv established 1909: first kibbutz (collective settlement) 1921: first moshav (cooperative village)

Sources of Conflict Historical Trends Land Labor Arms

Sources of Conflict: Historical Trends Arab desire to keep region’s character Arab desire to maintain position as rightful inhabitants Zionist effort to radically change Palestine via land purchase and settlement

Sources of Conflict: Land 1882 settler: we must “conquer the country covertly, bit by bit” 1882 settler: “The ultimate goal... is to take over the Land of Israel... Arms in hand (if need be).”

Sources of Conflict: Labour Internal Zionist debate – Hire Arab workers (since settlers were weak and lacked experience)? – Rely on “Hebrew Labor,” with separate Arab and Jewish economies?

Sources of Conflict: Armed Guards 1908: HaShomer established Small, semi-clandestine armed organization Won contracts to guard some settlements

Arab-Jewish Relations Morris: “normal” colonial relations (exploitation, stereotypes, fear, contempt) Jewish effort to erase stereotype as weak “Muscular Judaism” (Max Nordau, 1898)

Clashes 1880s-1890s: raids, revenge attacks, land disputes After initial disputes settled, daily hostility decreased But deep and lasting resentments remained

Conclusions Growing sense of Palestine as coherent entity Disagreements within Zionism (e.g. location) Arab-Jewish tension developed in 1880s and 1890s Tension sometimes led to violence