Why did the ottomans joining the Germans worry the British?
- Suez Canal, Persian oil
- worried about India and Egypt and the Muslim subjects rising up against British
When ans what were the McMahoan Hussein letters?
- 1915
- promise to Arabs for a self governing, sovereign state in exchange for help in fighting the ottomans
When and what were the Sykes Picot?
1917
- split the map between French direct and indirect rule and British direct and indirect rule
When was the Balfour declaration?
1917
What were the three features of the Balfour declaration?
- homeland for Jews
- cannot take away the right for any Arabs to live there
- cannot kick any Jews out of their current homes just because theirs a homeland
What were the British’s motives of the Balfour declaration?
- Jews in the us had high influence so the British wanted the Jews to influence the Americans into helping them in the war
- also genuinely believed that’s the Jews had a right to a homeland
Arab revolt?
- Hashemite leaders, Faisal and Abdulla (sons of Hussain)
- British leader, T.E. Lawrence
- gueriila tactics
- blowing railways and cutting telephone wires
How much control did Britain have over Egypt before WWl?
- protectorate over Egypt (basically a colony)
- during the first WW Britain uses Egypt for huge military bases
What happened with Britain and Egypt after WW1?
- Wafd party demanded they wanted Britain out
- riots
- 1922, given sovereignty but they kept control of defence and foreign policy
- 1936, given clearer sovereignty and Egypt joins the league of nations
- in wwll they use egypt as a huge military base again
Who were the Vichy french?
pro nazi regime in southern france
When does Britain leave Palestine?
1945 - 48
What are the motives of Britain leaving Palestine?
- Attacks on British personnel (two soldiers hung)
- King David Hotel in Jerusalem was bombed (British base)
- After WWll Britain was struggling financially and can’t afford to have troops there
When does the UN post the partition plan?
- 1947
What happened with the Exodus?
July 1945, the British intercepted the boat exodus carrying 4500 jewish holocaust survivors attempting to enter Palestine and sent them back to Germany
What were Britain’s and France’s motives for the Suez Crisis?
B - Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal, fears losing control or being blocked from use
F - Nasser is helping the Algerian’s rebelling against French rule
What was the US’ reaction to the Suez crisis?
- Fuming he wasn’t informed
- fearful the Arabs would leave Western powers and be pushed towards the Soviets
Why did the US want to maintain good relations with Egypt? (56)
- Most populus state in the arab world
- Nasser was seen as the leader of the arab world
- Support for Nasser may curb the appeal for Communism
Examples of strained US and Egyption relations
USA refused to sell arms to Egypt
- Czech arms deal 55 from the Soviet Union
- Nasser recognised the communist government of China which the Americans had refused to do
Why were the Americans angry about the British’s use of force in the Suez crisis?
- USA advised them against it
- UK didn’t inform the americans
- believed it would drive the Egyptions into the arms of the Soviets
What impact did the Suez war have on Britain and how did the US now see their role in the Middle East?
- Left Western influence in the Middle East very vulnerable
- Signalled a difinative end to british dominance there
- US saw this as a whole they had to fill before the Soviet Union did
What was the Eisenhower doctrine?
promised U.S. economic and military aid—including armed intervention—to any Middle Eastern nation resisting communist aggression.
Why did the US decide to force Israel to withdraw from the Sinai Desert and how did they achieve this?
- If Arab states were to remain sympathetic to the West, Israeli aggression would have to be seen as punished
- Ensured Israeli security through the UN
How did US policy change from the 50s to 60s, what were the critics fearful of?
- 50s, US policy was fairly even - handed
- 60s onwards, Israeli first policy
- Critics felt that this would have the effect of driving more radical Arab states towards the Soviet Union
Reasons for Pro Israeli policy:
Support for Israel?
- Scale of Israeli victory, seen to have fought well and justified for their survival
- Respected them
- little understanding of Arab perspective
