HIST 219 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Irgun, Palestinian Refugees, Haganah
Document Summary
Brits opposed arab nationalism, but also jewish immigration to mandate palestine. Animosity against british put on hold during wwii. Haganah involved in 150+ attacks against british. Rise in attacks by palestinian guerrilla groups. Jewish groups believe they should respond in kind--attack. But also bc of terrible econ situation of empire. Worried abt other colonial holdings, situation in eur. Most who vote in favor aren"t doing so bc of holocaust/sympathy for jews. Jewish pop views this vote as a divine miracle. Arabs view vote as miscarriage of justice, even an act of war. New wave of violence sparked--beginning of 1948 war. 1948 war: atzma"ut (independence) for israelis and nakba (catastrophe) for palestinians. Mass murder of jews once again seemed possible--goal of arabs seemed to be to wage total war. Myth of weak jewish state defending itself against total destruction not totally accurate. Arab armies were small, not coordinated, ill-equipped, only partially trained. Arabs only hav numerical advantage until july 1948.
