Assess the extent to which persecution of Jews in Europe led to the creation of the state of Israel.
Level
A Level
Year Examined
2023
Topic
International history, 1945–92
👑Complete Model Essay
Assess the extent to which persecution of Jews in Europe led to the creation of the state of Israel.
To what extent was the persecution of Jews in Europe the main reason for the creation of the state of Israel?
The persecution of Jews in Europe, culminating in the horrors of the Holocaust, undoubtedly played a significant role in the creation of the state of Israel. The Zionist movement, advocating for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, gained momentum in response to rising anti-Semitism in 19th-century Europe. However, while persecution created a powerful impetus for Jewish statehood, other factors, including US foreign policy interests and British withdrawal from Palestine, were also crucial in shaping this historical event.
The Impact of Persecution on Jewish Consciousness
The plight of Jews in Europe, particularly in the Russian Empire, during the 19th century fueled the emergence of Zionism. Theodor Herzl, witnessing the Dreyfus Affair in France, argued that anti-Semitism was an intractable problem necessitating a Jewish state. The Zionist Organisation, founded in 1897, aimed to establish such a state in Palestine.
The Holocaust, a systematic genocide orchestrated by Nazi Germany, dramatically intensified the urgency for a Jewish homeland. The unprecedented scale of persecution convinced many Jews, even those previously opposed to Zionism, that a safe haven was essential. The Holocaust served as a tragic catalyst, swaying public opinion within the Jewish diaspora, particularly in the United States, towards supporting the creation of Israel.
The Role of the United States and the Cold War
The United States emerged from World War II as a global superpower and played a decisive role in the creation of Israel. US President Harry Truman faced intense pressure from American Jewish groups who lobbied for the establishment of a Jewish state. Public opinion, deeply affected by the Holocaust, also favored supporting Jewish statehood.
However, US foreign policy was not solely driven by humanitarian concerns. The Cold War was escalating, and the US government viewed a pro-Western Israel as strategically advantageous in the Middle East. The desire to contain Soviet influence, coupled with the aim of resettling Jewish refugees and securing access to oil-rich Arab nations, factored into US support for partition in 1947 and the subsequent recognition of Israel.
The British Withdrawal and the United Nations
The British, who had controlled Palestine since 1917, found themselves increasingly caught between Jewish aspirations for statehood and Arab opposition to it. The 1917 Balfour Declaration had ambiguously promised support for a Jewish homeland while safeguarding non-Jewish rights, creating lasting tensions.
Following World War II, Britain, unable to resolve the conflict, handed the issue to the newly formed United Nations. The UN voted to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states in 1947. Crucially, the British withdrawal from Palestine in 1948 created a power vacuum that ultimately allowed for the declaration of Israeli independence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the persecution of Jews in Europe, culminating in the Holocaust, was a deeply significant factor in the creation of Israel. The horrors endured by European Jewry galvanized the Zionist movement and generated widespread support for a Jewish homeland. However, it is essential to recognize that other forces were also at play. US Cold War strategy, British imperial decline, and the struggle for international legitimacy through the United Nations all contributed to the complex historical circumstances that led to the birth of Israel in 1948. The creation of Israel remains a contentious issue laden with historical baggage, and understanding the interplay of these various factors is crucial for comprehending this pivotal moment in 20th-century history.
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Introduction
Briefly introduce the topic of Jewish persecution and the creation of Israel. State your argument about the extent to which persecution led to the creation of Israel, acknowledging other contributing factors.
Persecution as a Catalyst for Zionism
Discuss the rise of antisemitism in 19th-century Europe and the emergence of Zionism. Mention Theodor Herzl and the Zionist Organisation's goal of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Emphasize the early Jewish migration to Palestine motivated by persecution.
The Holocaust and the Shift in Global Opinion
Explain the profound impact of the Holocaust on global perceptions of Jewish vulnerability and the need for a Jewish state. Highlight the surge in support for Zionism, particularly among American Jews, who became influential advocates and provided significant financial and military aid.
The Role of the United States
Analyze the complex interplay of factors influencing US support for Israel's creation. Discuss the influence of the Jewish vote on President Truman, humanitarian concerns for Holocaust survivors, and strategic considerations in the context of the emerging Cold War.
British Policy and the Withdrawal from Palestine
Explain the British Mandate for Palestine, including the Balfour Declaration and its ambiguous promises. Highlight the growing tension between British policy favoring Arab interests and the Zionist demand for a Jewish state. Detail the British referral of the issue to the UN and their ultimate withdrawal, paving the way for Israel's creation.
Conclusion
Reiterate the argument, emphasizing that while persecution of Jews was a significant factor, the creation of Israel was also a result of the convergence of other crucial factors, including the Zionist movement’s efforts, US support, and British withdrawal from Palestine.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Assess the Extent to Which Persecution of Jews in Europe Led to the Creation of the State of Israel
During the 19th century, Jews in Eastern Europe faced growing persecution. An independent Jewish national movement first began to emerge in the Russian Empire. In 1896 Theodor Herzl asserted that establishing a Jewish state was the solution to growing antisemitism in Europe. In 1897, the Zionist Organisation was founded with the aim “to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine”. However, Zionism was regarded with suspicion by the Ottoman rulers and was unable to make major progress. Between 1904 and 1914, around 40 000 Jews settled in the area now known as Israel.
Persecution had resulted in many Jews fleeing to Palestine and the Zionist movement spent many years building the political and economic infrastructure for an eventual Jewish state. However, the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust meant that many Jews in the diaspora who had previously been opposed to Zionism were convinced of the need for Jewish statehood. This led many diaspora Jews, especially those in the United States, to become vocal advocates of the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. American Jews also provided much-needed money and arms to Jews in Palestine to help them develop and defend such a state.
The mass mobilisation of American Jewry in support of Jewish statehood after World War II undoubtedly played a role in persuading the US government to support the partition of Palestine in the UN vote in November 1947, and then to immediately recognise the State of Israel after it was declared. President Truman was concerned about winning the influential Jewish vote in the presidential election of November 1948, and he was subjected to intense lobbying by American Jewish Zionists. American public opinion was deeply affected by the Holocaust, and consequently the United States became more supportive of Jewish statehood in its aftermath.
President Truman showed genuine sympathy for Jewish suffering in the Holocaust and for the plight of Jewish Holocaust survivors. However, US foreign policy was driven by the need to resettle up to 250 000 Jewish refugees and displaced persons in Europe and by a desire to avoid a war in Palestine that might destabilise the Middle East and be exploited by the USSR. Some American policymakers also expected a Jewish state to be democratic and pro-Western. In the context of the emerging Cold War US strategic interests shaped American foreign policy more than humanitarian concerns for Holocaust survivors.
The British opposed Jewish statehood: they wished to maintain good relations with Arab states whose plentiful oil supplies they needed. Palestine had been under the control of the British since 1917 and formally became a British mandate of the League of Nations in 1923. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 had stated that Britain favoured a national home for the Jewish people but did not want to prejudice the rights of non-Jewish communities. In 1945 the British confirmed that there would be no increase in immigration and no separate Jewish state.
The Zionists, however, were convinced that they had international public opinion on their side and decided on a policy of active opposition to British rule in Palestine. After the war they made use of propaganda and lobbied members of the US government and Congress. The British government, unable to reach an agreement, referred the problem to the United Nations in 1947 and announced it would withdraw from Palestine on 18 May 1948. It was this decision to withdraw and relinquish control that enabled the UN decision on partition.