WWI As a Turning Point in the History of Jerusalem
Introduction
Jerusalem is located in the Middle East, often referred to as the city of peace and holy land to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Faithful always travel to the city for pilgrimage purposes. This paper explores the rise and identity of Arabs, the growing importance of Zionism, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and the British mandate in Palestine.
The Rise of Arab Nationalism
The Arabs in other lands were much settled compared to the Arabs land. The Arabs were scattered in lands such as Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, and Syria, which received the Ottoman Empire’s direct rule. These individuals supported Muslims and experience no discrimination. The empires governing in the Arab nation ensured the maintenance of medina and mecca holy places for the Muslims. In his desire to join the world war, he wanted to accomplish two critical things. He was determined to develop the Arab nation and ensure completion of the railway that could facilitate interior movements and create a link to mecca.
In the 19th century, most Arabs were enthusiastic about the idea of nationalism and looked up to its success. Individuals participated in the nationalism movements. By 1912, most territories had gained their freedom, and there came the realization of nationalism. Different aspects defined Arab nationalism, such that most members in support were urban elites. These elites consisted of either serving or served as army officers in the Ottoman Empire, civil servants, and other intellectuals. They had established and lived in great cities such as Damascus. Other elites established homes in Baghdad city. These individuals created other secret associations to spread ideas to the distant Arab population before the war, but the mission was unsuccessful.
Arab Identity
The Arab population in Iran and Arab states based their identity on political, social, and Islamic religions. This religious identity became prevalent in leadership and authority. Individuals could justify their ideas about Prophet Mohammed’s Qureshi clan. The Hashemite Arabs who had been unfairly ejected out of their ancestral land in mecca by the Saud retraced it back with the political and religious identity support. The Hashemite found favor in the court ruling that sought to compensate them for sufferings Saud created to them as the holy grounds’ custodians
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In Arab countries, Islamic religion depicts in the public domain that creating national identity disregards the few minorities a chance to express their ideas. The Arabs were so proud of their political and social identity centering on their views as an old nation. They took pride in their existence in various parts of the Middle East and sought to reconnect. In newfound Israel, the Jews had challenges creating their identity while the Arabs enjoyed their religious, political, and social identifications.
Growing Importance of Zionism
Zionism is a political and religious movement that strived and ensured that thousands of Jews that had been in exile under slavery for many years successfully retraced to their ancient land in Jerusalem. This effort saw Jews establish their Israel identity. Just as the Muslims and Christians have associated various actions and places as holy and sacred, the Jews also share the same sentiments. The Jewish religious messages contain information on prophecies of God’s fulfillment of his people returning to their ancestral land, which is explicit with the Jews’ successful reestablishment.
The persecution and discrimination of Jews across the European countries on social, religious, and racial grounds cultivated the Zionism effort to rescue them. Zionism holding on the prophetic religious grounds of reconnecting Jews to their homeland. Political Zionism advocated for liberty and unity aiming at the freedom of Jews from oppressive rules. The Russian Jewry underwent persecution and cruel treatment. The movement arose from the failure of the enlightening groups to solve the Jewish problem. The persecuted Jews also started to work towards gaining freedom by supporting the Zionism movement.
Theodor Herzl was an activist and journalist who established modern Zionism in 1897. He believed in the liberation of the Jews for the survival of their population. Theodor wrote about the persecution incidences, organized the first Zionism congress meeting, and emerged globally as president of the Zionism movement. Although he died before the Jews’ settlement in Palestine, his people still remember his efforts in modern Zionism.
The Balfour Declaration is a letter that James Balfour wrote in 1917 to the British government expressing the need for government to establish the Jews homeland in Palestine. The government published the later used in the Palestine mandate as Britain established the Jewish nation.
The fall of the Ottoman Empire
World War I had led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire. The armistice ended their war with the empire and other allies in 1918, leaving it unstable. Britain was already in control of other nations like Palestine, Iraq, and Syria and was ready to acquire the ottoman. The young natation had lost stability resulting in the leaders fleeing to Germany abandoning the empire independently. The empire looked desolate, with infrastructure in a terrible shape. The desolate nature led to eruptions of violence and protests among the ethnic and religious groups emanating from broken law and order. People were roaming the streets aimlessly with no sense of direction. The allies came into Anatolia to rescue the situation by providing a sense of order in the nation. They drafted a peace settlement, which implied their real motive of taking over the Anatolia region. The Turks grew insecure about the prospect of losing their heartland Anatolia.
The ottoman seemed helpless by 1919 as the encroachment of allies was unstoppable. Their army was weak following the attack from palatines and Syria. Mustafa Kemal was now the ottoman leader. The empire continued to struggle for space though the army had grown weak. Ottoman had only remained with one military group on the war in the Caucasus, which seemed healthy. This group would later return to disband Anatolia.
Kemal revived his leadership energy and called upon his Turkish people to prepare for the attack. He used some divisive tracts on the allies and encouraged the formation of the Turkish military. He also engaged in political alliances for tactful approaches and, together with his men, hid the allies’ weapons that they would later use in the war. Kemal was determined to establish the Turkish nation in Anatolia as it was the native land for the people. The Greek military was a threat to the ottoman people as it was well established. The Greek military attacked in full force claiming Constantinople and eastern Thrace. Other troops landed in west Anatolia while the Italian group attacked the S.W parts of Anatolia, claiming the area. The attacks created pressure in the Turkish military such that they had to relent. This attack defined the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1920.
Establishment of the British Mandate in Palestine
The League of Nations had instituted the mandate system in the 20th century in consideration of non-self-governing regions. Britain had received the palatines mandate in 1922 to establish the Jewish settlement in Palestine. This mandate came about the historical connection of the Jews to palatine. The mandate allowed the establishment of the Jewish people in palatines to run their internal affairs with the Arab communities. Jewry established their cultural lives, developed Hebrew education, and expanded on their economy.
The Britain nation faced challenges in establishing the mandatory as the Arab communities resisted the move. For this reason, the mandatory did not uphold the letter contents. The resettlement process went through legal means of immigration and land acquisition, where the land acquisition regulations restricted Jews from possessing the land. The nation agreed to partition the Palestine land in 1947, and Britain terminated the mandate in 1948. The Jews finally owned Israel’s land in 1948, and later on, Jerusalem became the capital city.
In conclusion, WWI proved to be a turning point in Jerusalem’s history through the various events that followed the war. Originally the Arabs covered the Palestine land believed to be the ancient homeland for the Jews. Zionism movements create a virtual arena to deliberate on the Jewry’s issues and their connection to palatine to realize the Balfour Declaration. The fall of the Ottoman Empire allows the national control of the land. Through the establishment of the mandate in palatines, the Jews regain their ancient land in Israel.
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