How France Sank The Original Mideast Peace

News Type: Other — Seeded on Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:10 AM EST

Article Source: The Jewish Press

israel, history, oil, palestine, zionism, colonialism, lawrence, middle-east-peace, 1920, clemenceau

By Edwin Black

The following text is copied directly from the article

This was the deal: The Jews could have an unrestricted Zionist state in Palestine. The British could have Iraq and its fabulous albeit still undrilled oil. The Arabs only wanted Syria and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in the Arabian Peninsula.

During the first days of the League of Nation's Paris Peace Conference, Faisal, accompanied by T.E. Lawrence (widely dubbed Lawrence of Arabia) met in Paris with Zionist Organization president Chaim Weizmann. Following up on meetings the two leaders had held the previous June in Aqaba, Faisal signed an enlightened and tolerant nine-point agreement endorsing the Balfour Declaration and inviting the Zionists to coexist in Palestine.

This seed planted in the article Edwin Black

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7.5

{"commentId":1415219,"authorDomain":"atticusmullikin"}

Atticus Mullikin

This is such an enlightening look into what might have been, and I think highly relevant considering the extent to which European nations have voiced criticism over Israeli treatment of Palestinians. I don't mean that I approve of this treatment, but rather the behavior of many European nations when it mattered greatly was less than stellar.

In the wake of the Shoah, it's difficult to hear people on the streets here complain about "those Jews in Israel," treating Palestinians the way they were treated, seemingly with no shame or guilt or compassion, or attention to the societal drama that Europeans inflicted.

{"commentId":1415219,"threadId":"210857","contentId":"1260414","authorDomain":"atticusmullikin"}

3 votes

#1 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:42 PM EST

{"commentId":1415487,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

On that day, July 24, 1920, for the Arabs, it was over. The Jews had gained Palestine. The West had gained oil. The Arabs had lost Syria. Three intertwined evils - the infidel European Allies, the infidel Zionists, and the black substance the West craved - became conflated in the Arab mind to create one great Satan. Indeed, these three evils would galvanize the Arab consciousness for virtually the next century.

And the world is still paying the price. Collectively, Europe shares a lot of responsibility for the mess in the Middle East.

Good find Atticus. btw - most people refer to each other by their first names here. Newsvine is less formal than what you appear to be used to.

{"commentId":1415487,"threadId":"210857","contentId":"1260414","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

1 vote

#2 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:31 PM EST

{"commentId":1457259,"authorDomain":"atticusmullikin"}

Atticus Mullikin

btw - most people refer to each other by their first names here. Newsvine is less formal than what you appear to be used to.

Mr. Raani,

To me it's a method of constantly reminding myself to strive for civility. I'm not, as a rule, excessively formal, but here's the thing. I really like Newsvine, and I think it's an outstanding concept. That said, I think it's often lacking a level of civility that I see as essential to the democratization of journalism. Plus, and perhaps less important, I love the retro-1930's-1940's manners and chummy wit of old movies. While such may not represent the reality of the time, I love it and think it worthy of emulation.

There's one more, less legitimate reason for my excessive formality. I'm not a fan of avatars in online forums. While I find many of them creative and often infinitely cool (your's included), and while I enjoy the capacity of people reinvent themselves on the web, I personally choose to show my real face, my real name and my actual bio in the interest of adding an element of full-disclosure to my work. The use of Mr or Ms or Mrs before the last portion of someone's avatar is my own little joke. :)

{"commentId":1457259,"threadId":"210857","contentId":"1260414","authorDomain":"atticusmullikin"}

3 votes

#2.1 - Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:12 AM EST

{"commentId":1458999,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

Thanks for your candour. Your aims are very noble and I applaud them. There are all sorts of different and disparate reasons why people are here. Mine, for the record is less about showing what I can do and more about discovering myself. And in the process learn from others.

We are living in exciting yet challenging times. The future will judge this generation by results we achieve as individuals and as a collective whole. I think this community has an important role to play in that.

Always a pleasure to engage with you. Your views and input on the variety of seeds and discussion we have had has been insightful. If I appear less formal, it is because I remain true to myself. Truer here than perhaps in the other life, where protocols, hierarchy or simply respect for another get in the way of honest, open relationships. Telling a CEO exactly what I might think of a poor business decision has career limiting potential:-)

Having said that, I hope I have never given cause for anyone to view my online conduct (even operating under an alias) as anything other than what I would expect from anyone else. As you say, there's a lot to be said for civility and courtesy to others. I have rarely come across an online community that has the same level of empathy, friendship, sincerity and sensitivity that so many in this community demonstrate.

{"commentId":1458999,"threadId":"210857","contentId":"1260414","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:42 PM EST

{"commentId":1416209,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

There were yet more mistakes in the wake of the Great War.

{"commentId":1416209,"threadId":"210857","contentId":"1260414","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

1 vote

#3 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:57 AM EST

{"commentId":1457951,"authorDomain":"atticusmullikin"}

Atticus Mullikin

Mr. Backroads,

I'm of the impression the entire war was a mistake. But are you referring to the extortive practices enshrined in the Versailles Treaty, which created the environment in which Nazis and Blackshirts could thrive? Perhaps some other point of history?

By the way, I've viewed your column and I declare it a tack of joy in the tired shoe of life. Such wit, and with such frequency! I commend you, and add you forthwith to my expanding Watchlist with glee.

{"commentId":1457951,"threadId":"210857","contentId":"1260414","authorDomain":"atticusmullikin"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:48 AM EST

{"commentId":1458926,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

Mr. Mullikin, yes, the treaty. Additionally, (during the conflict) human wave attacks into massed machine gunfire.

My Home & Garden articles are intended to make life easier.

{"commentId":1458926,"threadId":"210857","contentId":"1260414","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

#3.2 - Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:23 PM EST

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ATTICUS MULLIKIN

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How France Sank The Original Mideast Peace

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