Was the Middle East Relatively Peaceful Before the Creation of Israel?
The establishment of the State of Israel has long been a subject of intense debate and controversy. Some argue that the region was relatively peaceful before the creation of Israel, while others contend that Zionist colonization led to a series of conflicts that persist to this day. This article delves into the historical context and explores the claim that the Middle East was indeed peaceful before the creation of Israel.
The Ottoman Era Pre-1880
Before the 1880s, Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire, a vast and often chaotic realm that nonetheless maintained a certain level of stability. The term “peaceful” might be too strong, but there was a relative harmony in the region. The Ottoman Land Code of 1858 was a turning point, introducing a registration system for agricultural land (known as the “Hensely-ohanes system”).
The Impact of the Ottoman Land Code
The Ottoman Land Code introduced a significant shift in land ownership laws, which profoundly affected the local peasant population. Under this new system, peasants could be deprived of the right to live on, cultivate, and pass on their ancestral lands. This change was often exploited by wealthy landowners to register vast areas of land in their names.
The Dispossession of Arab Cultivators
The land dispossession reached its peak with Jewish Zionist colonization. Jewish organizations like the Zionist and the Jewish National Fund purchased land from absentee landowners, resulting in the displacement of Arab farmers. Some prominent Jewish figures, such as Theodore Herzl, the founder of Zionism, articulated their intent clearly. Herzl wrote: “We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border by procuring employment for it in transit countries while denying it employment in our own country... Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly.” This desire for a Jewish state began to manifest in the region, leading to significant social and political disruptions.
International Support for Zionism
The Balfour Declaration of 1919, endorsed under pressure from powerful British Jews, aimed to support the Zionist movement. This official statement, referencing the support of the Balfour Declaration by the four major powers of the time, indicated a commitment to Zionist aspirations, despite the objections of the indigenous Arab population. According to British High Commissioner John Chancellor, all cultivable land was occupied, and any sale of lands to Jews would create a class of landless Arab cultivators.
Opposition to Zionism
Not all voices within the Jewish community supported the aggressive acquisition of land. However, proponents of Zionism largely ignored or maligned those who opposed their aims. The presence of British forces in the region provided an additional layer of tension, as they were often seen as either supporting or failing to curb Zionist activities. The US King-Crane Commission (1919) reported that the non-Jewish population (about 90% of the total) opposed the Zionist program, and that without force, the Zionist objective could not be achieved.
The View from Histocrats
Historians like David Ben-Gurion articulated the perspective of the Zionist leadership, stating that they were only seeking a peaceful settlement in a land they perceived as rightfully theirs. However, this was a perspective rooted in historical claims, often based on ancient ties, rather than the practical realities of the time.
Conclusion
While there were certainly challenges and displacements before the establishment of Israel, the period was marked by relative stability under Ottoman rule. The advent of Zionist colonization, supported by international powers like Britain and France, fundamentally altered the demographic and political landscape of the region. This shift led to conflicts that have persisted and evolved to this day. The creation of Israel and the subsequent tension with the Arab population is a complex issue with multiple perspectives and historical implications.
References
1. Ottoman Land Code of 1858
2. Theodore Herzl
3. John Chancellor
4. US King-Crane Commission Report