Churchill and Zionism. The British Mandate in Palestine E-Book

Marlene Weber

• Herausgeber: GRIN Verlag
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject History of Europe - Ages of World Wars, grade: 2,3, LMU Munich (Historisches Seminar, Abteilung Jüdische Geschichte), course: The British Mandate in Palestine 1917-1948, language: English, abstract: The question underlying this paper is the comparison between the interpretations of Churchill's role in relation to British policy making in Palestine with special reference to the periods 1921-22 and 1944-48 offered by M.J. Cohen and Sir Martin Gilbert. This will be dealt with in the main part of this thesis by comparing the opinions offered by the two authors in their books 'Churchill and the Jews: a lifelong friendship' by Sir Martin Gilbert and 'Churchill and the Jews' by Michael J. Cohen. Also, the perspective from which both authors draw their conclusions and whether or not they share a common ground will be looked upon. As a result, the thesis aims at classifying the authors' view on Churchill's attitude towards Zionism in relation to the Palestine mandate and British policy in the respective periods, as well as capturing Churchill´s reality in connection to Zionism. Historians have continuingly challenged his actions as being opportunistic and self-serving, while others claim they were rather evangelical and the result of deep compassion with the Jewish race and their sufferings.

Leseprobe

Impressum:

Copyright (c) 2015 GRIN Verlag / Open Publishing GmbH, alle Inhalte urheberrechtlich geschützt. Kopieren und verbreiten nur mit Genehmigung des Verlags.

Bei GRIN macht sich Ihr Wissen bezahlt! Wir veröffentlichen kostenlos Ihre Haus-, Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten.

Jetzt beiwww.grin.com

Content

Introduction

Great Britain and Palestine

Churchill´s Political Life in 1921-22 and 1944-48

Churchill and British Policy towards Zionism – 1921-22

Churchill and British Policy Towards Zionism – 1944-48

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

„Compare and advocate between the interpretations offered by M. J. Cohen and Sir Martin Gilbert of Churchill´s role in relation to British policy making in Palestine with special reference to the periods 1921-22 and 1944-48.”

The question underlying this paper will be dealt with in the main part of this thesis by comparing the opinions offered by the two authors in their books ‘Churchill and the Jews: a lifelong friendship’[1] by Sir Martin Gilbert and ‘Churchill and the Jews’[2] by Michael J. Cohen. Also, the perspective from which both authors draw their conclusions and whether or not they share a common ground will be looked upon. As a result, the thesis aims at classifying the authors´ view on Churchill´s attitude towards Zionism in relation to the Palestine mandate and British policy in the respective periods, as well as capturing Churchill´s reality in connection to Zionism. Historians have continuingly challenged his actions as being opportunistic and self-serving, while others claim they were rather evangelical and the result of deep compassion with the Jewish race and their sufferings.

Before doing so, the first chapter offers a brief display of the political and social developments in Palestine before and during the British Mandate – officially lasting from 1920 until 1948 - with which Churchill saw himself confronted with. Several key terms will be explained and the reasons for the British government to engage in the region will be laid out. At the end of the chapter, Churchill´s political timeline in respect to the two periods in question shall be recalled shortly.

The main part will focus on the periods 1921-22 and 1944-48 and some key political events. Churchill´s attitude towards the British policy on the one hand and Zionism on the other hand will be looked at from the perspective of Sir Martin Gilbert and Michael J. Cohen; an evaluative comment on their views will presented in the conclusion. In the last part of this thesis, the questions proposed above be answered as well. For the introductory chapter, I drew on my knowledge obtained in professor Wasserstein´s class which was dealing with the British Mandate in Palestine, in addition several basic works on the topic and on Winston Churchill were used to provide background knowledge. The main part focuses on the two works by Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Cohen. In addition, a quite balanced book written by Michael Makovsky concerning Churchill´s relationship towards Zionism was used.[3] For first-hand sources the letters and papers of Dr Chaim Weizmann were consulted[4].

Great Britain and Palestine

Already towards the end of the 19th century, Jewish immigration to Palestine had started. The reason for these so-called aliyas lay partly in anti-Jewish pogroms, for example in Russia in 1881 after Tsar Alexander II. was murdered. Another reason was provided by the formal establishment of Zionism by Theodor Herzl, a movement that was aimed towards the creation of a Jewish national state.[5] Among proposals for such a state where territories in South America and East Africa (favoured by a group called the Territorialists), but the country approved by most Zionists in the end was Palestine, in the early 20th century still under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Thereafter, the Zionists started to buy land in Palestine from Arab land owners, funded largely by wealthy Jewish personalities such as the British Baron de Rothschild.[6]