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History Grade 11 - Topic 4 Contextual Overview

Figure 1.1. With his call to put “America First”, Donald Trump is the latest recruit to a dangerous
nationalism. Flagrantly authoritarian figures like Donald Trump are committed to exclusive notions of
citizenship and command the support of vast populations. Image Source
Introduction:
In the previous section, we have covered issues of race and science and how these dominated the 19th and 20th
centuries. In this section, we approach this context in a slightly different manner. We examine the
infrastructural and ideological frameworks which influenced the processes and politics of exclusion in the
early 20th century South Africa, and elsewhere in the African context and also in the Middle East. One concept
that will best conceptualize and frame our discussion is nationalism. Nationalism has different ethos, but,
however, we are concerned with understanding how this ideology as a phenomenon that changed its form
during the second world war. We trace this phenomenon from a longer historical perspective in order to trace
and most importantly appreciate its continuities and discontinuities in society. Standard histories argue that the
basis of nationalism emerged in Europe, and this included the conglomeration of Italy and Germany and the
revolutions of 1830 and 1848. [1]
Much of our discussion will focus on the origins of nationalism, and we will make an assessment of whether
this feature (nationalism) is peculiar to European societies or there are traces we can find in other parts of the
world in which to construct and enhance our understanding of the genesis of nationalism. The former holds
true, and this point will be further belaboured elsewhere in this essay. European empires provoked the
emergence of various of nationalism across the colonial world through the process of colonization and
genocidal destruction of indigenous peoples and their local customs, histories, and traditions. On the part of
colonized societies, nationalism served as an ideological toolkit to unify all oppressed peoples in society.
Integral to this view is that these forms of political mobilization were largely by the Cold War. This will
become clearer in the section on Arab and Jewish nationalism in the Middle East, in order to understand
nationalism from both perspectives of the groups concerned here.
What is nationalism:
In this section, we will define key concepts such as nationalism, and also provide the historical bases of this
concept and how it become a global feature in modern societies. There is no clear-cut definition of what
nationalism is. However, most textbook definitions define nationalism as a feeling of belonging to a nation
which then leads to loyalty or in some ways, patriotism. Belonging somewhere is a key feature of nationalism
in many definitions.[2]
Figure 1.2. A postcard from 1916 showing national personifications of some of the Allies of World War I, each
holding a national flag. Image Source
How did nationalism originate?
It is argued that before nationalism societies were mainly feudal. This meant that ordinary people or
commoners were subject to the King who ruled by divine plan. [3] In this view, Churches were powerful
institutions in reinforcing authority of lineages, i.e., princes, kings, chiefs. This idea was sustained all over the
world for 1000s of years. However, the Modern idea of nations/nationalism first emerged in Western Europe
during 1700s and 1800s. Here, new social classes (inspired by enlightenment thinking) challenged the old
feudal kingdoms/empires. [4]For example, philosophers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau alerted French people
to ‘will of the majority’. The key objective here was to achieve ‘national sovereignty’ of the people rather than
accept absolutist rule of French kings. This was central objective of the French Revolution in 1789.
How did nationalism spread?
In 19th century Europe, a set of civil wars signalled awakening of European nations. Major revolutions in the
1830s and onwards occurred across Europe. In France, King Charles X was overthrown, and a constitutional
monarchy was established. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands led to the Belgian Revolution and
ultimately the Belgian independence from the Netherlands in 1832. In Greece, the establishment of
independent Greece after decade-long struggle against Ottoman Empire. In Poland, around November, the
Uprising against Russian Empire – though crushed by Russia, helped to forge Polish nationalism.[5]
Essentially, the 1848 revolutions marked a series of political upheavals throughout Europe. These began in
Europe and had impacts in various parts of the world. In this view, the 1830 and 1848 Revolutions were very
significant on the development of nationalism in many societies.[6] In some countries the conservative rulers
relied on force to stay in control and many civil wars broke out as the people wanted nationalist movements to
be recognised. In France, in 1830, King Charles X was overthrown, and a constitutional monarchy was
established (as briefly mentioned before).
In Poland in 1830, the Poles rose against the Russian Empire, although the revolution was crushed, Polish
nationalism grew. In 1848, nationalist revolutions broke out in France, the German states, the Italian states, and
Austria, but the hold by the aristocracy and military in these countries was still too strong to bring about true
reform. Germany and Italy, Zollverein (toll union) in the north German states stimulated unity under Prussian
leadership. Bismarck, the Prussian nationalist, took the lead, and after three wars, united the Germans into a
‘new’ nationalist German state. This created a strong power in central Europe for first time in European history
and by the end of the century, became greatest power in Europe: industrious people plus great resources in coal
and iron. Nationalism really took root in Europe. Revolts in the 8 Italian states stimulated Italian nationalism
against mainly foreign rule.[7] Under the nationalists, Cavour and Garibaldi, Italy was liberated and united
under an Italian king. Upshot, the establishment of modern nation states, helped shape Europe along nationalist
lines. Political revolutions and industrial growth led to changes in society. Industrialisation in Europe
strengthened and entrenched nationalism in Europe by 1900 and in Africa during the first half of the 20th
century.
New Imperialism?
Because of Industrial Revolution, new products were developed and exported to new buyers in new markets.
Therefore, the rivalry and competition added to conflict and tension in Africa among the European colonisers.
In 1885 Bismarck from Germany called together the Congress of Berlin to solve disputes and Africa’s
political, colonial boundaries were entrenched and nation states were introduced in Africa without consultation
with the Africans. Colonisation that had its roots in the economic prosperity of the Industrial Revolution laid
the foundations for nationalism in Africa. The colonised countries began to unite their people in an effort to
regain their independence. Economic prosperity from Industrial Revolution set a new middle class that
supported nationalism and the ideas of unity, development, and wealth. These emergent middle classes began
to have more of a say in governments and the policies they made. They promoted the ideas of a national
identity, unity, and cohesion in society. In colonised countries, the middle-class leaders stimulated the rise of
popular nationalist movements against conservative rule. In essence, World War II (WWII) stimulated the rise
of African and Asian nationalism against colonial rule. The colonies began to pressurise the colonisers for
freedom and decolonization began.
The theory of nationalism as an imagined community:
This idea is based on the book Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson, published in 1983. He promotes
the idea that a nation is a socially constructed community that relies mostly on perceptions and feelings.
[8] Members that make up a nation are bound by a mental image or affinity rather than an actual one, e.g., they
claim to be a united force based on a proud shared heritage and history, language, culture, customs, literature,
etc. These feelings of belonging and other nationalist ideas were spread through Europe by the invention of
printing. Powerful symbols were adopted to express national identity.[9] Patriotism, militarism, and
nationalism made for a very powerful and dangerous combination of forces, often destructively deployed to
expand territory and power. But, most importantly, also to defend the imagined community.
Braai is an example of a social practice that fosters the image of national unity. Image Source
African Nationalism:
A cartoon illustrating Africa’s struggle for independence over the course of the 20th and 21st centuries. Image
Source
Background and historical overview:
There was no South Africa (as we know it today) before 1910. Britain had defeated Boer Republics in the
South African War which date from (1899–1903). There were four separate colonies: Cape, Natal, Orange
River, Transvaal colonies and each were ruled by Britain. They needed support of white settlers in colonies to
retain power.[10] In 1908, about 33 white delegates met behind closed doors to negotiate independence for
Union of South Africa. The views and opinions of 85% of country’s future citizens (black people) not even
considered in these discussions. British wanted investments protected, labour supplies assured, and agreed on
the fundamental question to give political/economic power to white settlers.[11] This contextual article back in
time to examine how this volatile context of dispossession and conquest in South African history served as an
ideological backdrop for the rise of different stands of African nationalist thought in the country and elsewhere
in the world.
The Union Constitution of 1910 placed political power in hands of white citizens. However, a small number of
educated black, coloured citizens allowed to elect few representatives to Union parliament.[12] More
generally, it was only whites who were granted the right to vote. They imagined a ‘settler nation’ where was
no room for blacks with rights. In this regard, white citizens called selves ‘Europeans’. Furthermore, all
symbols of new nation, European language (mainly English and Dutch), religion, school history. In this view,
African languages, histories, culture were portrayed as inferior. [13]
Therefore, racism was an integral feature in colonial societies, and this essentially meant that Africans were
seen as members of inferior ‘tribes’ and thus should practise traditions in ‘native’ reserves. Whilst, on the other
hand, in the settler (white) nation, black people were recognized only as workers in farms, mines, factories
owned by whites. Thus, black people were denied of their political rights, cultural recognition, economic
opportunities, because of these entrenched processes and politics of exclusion. In 1910 large numbers of black
South African men were forced to become migrant workers on mines, factories, expanding commercial farms.
In 1913, the infamous Natives Land Act, worsened the situation for black people as land allocated to black
people by the Act was largely infertile and unsuitable for agriculture.[14]
Rise of African Nationalism:
In the 19th century, the Western-educated African, coloured, Indian middle class who grew up mainly in the
Cape and Natal, mostly professional men (doctors, lawyers, teachers, newspaper editors) and were proud of
their African, Muslim, Indian heritage embraced idea of progressive ‘colour-blind’ western civilisation that
could benefit all people. This was a more worldly outlook or form of nationalism which recognized all non-
white groupings across the colonial world as victims of colonial racism and violence.[15] However, another
form of nationalism recognized the differences within the colonized groups and argued for a stricter and more
specific definition of what it means to be African in a colonial world. These were some differences within the
umbrella body of African nationalism and were firmly anchored during the course of the 20th century.
African Peoples’ Organization:
One of the African organisations that led to the rise of African nationalism was the African People’s
Organisation (APO). At first the APO did not concern itself with rights of black South Africans. They
committed themselves to the vision that all oppressed racial groups must work together to achieve anything.
Therefore, a delegation was sent to London in 1909 to fight for rights for coloured (‘coloured’. In this context,
‘everyone who was a British subject in South Africa and who was not a European’).[16]
Natal Indian Congress (NIC):
Natal Indian Congress Natal Indian Congress (NIC) was an important influence in the development of non-
racial African nationalism in South Africa. Arguably, it was one of the first organisations in South Africa to
use word ‘congress’. It was formed in 1894 to mobilise the Indian opposition to racial discrimination in
Colony. [17]The founder of this movement was MK Gandhi who later spearheaded a massive peaceful
resistance (Satyagraha) to colonial rule. This protest forced Britain to grant independence to India, 1947. The
NIC organised many protests and more generally campaigned for Indian rights. In 1908, hundreds of Indians
gathered outside Johannesburg Mosque in protest against law that forced Indians to carry passes, passive
resistance campaigns of Gandhi and NIC succeeded in Indians not having to carry passes. But, however, they
failed to win full citizenship rights as the NIC did not join united national movement for rights of all citizens
until 1930s, 1940s
South African Native National Congress (now known as African National Congress):
In response to Union in 1910, young African leaders (Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Richard Msimang, George
Montsioa, Alfred Mangena) worked with established leaders of South African Native Convention to promote
formation of a national organization. The larger aim was to form a national organisation that would unify
various African groups.[18] On 8 January 1912, first African nationalist movement formed at a meeting in
Bloemfontein. South African National Natives Congress (SANNC) were mainly attended by traditional chiefs,
teachers, writers, intellectuals, businessmen. Most delegates had received missionary education. They strongly
believed in 19th century values of ‘improvement’ and ‘progress’ of Africans into a global European
‘civilisation’ and culture. In 1924, the SANNC changed name to African National Congress (ANC), in order to
assert an African identity within the movement.[19]
Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU):
The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union African protest movements that helped foster growing African
nationalism in early 1920s. Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) was formed in 1919 was led by
Clements Kadalie, Malawian worker. This figure had led successful strike of dockworkers in Cape Town.
Mostly active among farmers and migrant workers. But, only temporarily away from their farms and was very
difficult to organise. The central question to pose is to examine the ways in which the World War II influence
the rise of African nationalism? Essentially, there were various ways that WW II influenced the rise of African
nationalism. [20]Firstly, through the Atlantic Charter, AB Xuma’s, African claims in relation to this Charter.
In addition, the influence of politicized soldiers returning from War had a significant impact.

Alfred Bitini Xuma. Image Source

The Atlantic Charter and AB Xuma’s African claims Churchill and Roosevelt issued the Atlantic Charter in
1941, describing the world they would like to see after WWII. To the ANC and African nationalists generally,
the Atlantic Charter amounted to promise for freedom in Africa once war was over. Britain recruited thousands
of African soldiers to fight in its armies (nearly two million Africans recruited as soldiers, porters, scouts for
Allies during war). This persuaded Africans to sign up and Britain called it ‘a war for freedom’. [21]The
soldiers returning home expected Britain to honour their sacrifice, however, the recognition they expected did
not arrive and thus became bitter, discontented, and only had fought to protect interests of colonial powers only
to return to exploitation and indignities of colonial rule.
Different strands of African Nationalism:
It must be borne in mind that African nationalism was not monolithic there were competing versions within the
ideologically. The ideology stands for unification of all oppressed people, and more especially the African
people. The first strand is more moderate and unitary across the colonialized groups. This was advocated by
organizations like APO, NIC, ICU and SANNC and many others. However, with the spread of Ethiopianism
and Garveyist philosophies in the 1940s and these were especially accentuated by newspapers such Abantu-
Batho, a more radical interpretation of African unity emerged in South Africa and elsewhere in the continent.
This was mostly favoured by the black youth within the ANC and across the political divide. In short, the older
activists like a Nelson Mandela and son within the ANC and other mainstream liberation movements in the
country supported non-racialism and promoted the idea of nation-building. [22]A term synonymous to the
nation-state (emphasized above), which merely treats people as universal subjects devoid of local histories,
cultures, and politics. On the other hand, the Africanist section supported the idea of ‘Africa for Africans’
espoused by Marcus Garvey. The idea of Nation building was firmly anchored in the late 1950s when the
document called the Freedom Charter was adopted by the ANC, as a policy position. This document stipulated
that “the land belongs to all those who live in, black and white”. This angered the ANC Youth League and
more generally, the Africanist section within the ANC who believed in republicanism (an alternative version of
black modernity), it was assumed. This led to a split within the ANC, and a movement called the Pan
Africanist Congress (PAC) was born. The struggle for what South Africa should be like is an ongoing tension
that continues to dominate public discussion today.[23]
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this essay has attempted to examine the historical circumstances in which black people were
denied of their political, economic, and social rights in the early 1990s. There are various that must be
acknowledged in order to have a granular understanding of the larger and longer history of African
nationalism, and this examination may exceed the scope of this essay. However, the central argument made
here is that the rise of African nationalism in all its different ethos and manifestations was premised on
humanizing black people in various parts of the colonial world. To stress this point, African nationalism
emerged as a vehicle of resistance and humanization. Finally, African nationalism cannot be read outside the
international context (as shown throughout the paper), as we have to take into account various factor which
effectively influenced the spurge of this ideological outlook in society.
Rise of Afrikaner Nationalism:
An image showing the different ways in which Art and gender influenced the ideology of Afrikaner
nationalism. Image Source
See another image of how art helped construct Afrikaner nationalism. Image Source
Within Volskatpitalisme, there were two groups, namely the Broederbond and the Reddingdaadbond.[24] The
broederbond were not against capitalism but were firmly against foreign capital. The Reddingdaadbond on the
other hand was formed by Afrikaner businessmen who strongly encouraged Afrikaner people to shop only in
Afrikaner shops, invest in Afrikaner banks as well as use Afrikaner insurance companies.[25] In 1939, the
Afrikaner Volkskongres which was a new Afrikaner economic movement took a strong stance against foreign
investment and were strongly against foreign capitalist system as they saw it as a destruction of the Afrikaner
nation.[26]
The media was another strong tool which the Afrikaner nation utilised to spread Afrikaner nationalism. There
were new emerging Afrikaner print media such as Die Burger and Die Transvaler which were Afrikaans
language newspapers. In addition, these newspapers portrayed the Afrikaner nation through stories as this
homogenous nation with a strong moral purpose, heroic past which had a place amongst other nations.
[27] These ideas quickly spread to other print media such as the Christian-nationalistic journal Koers, Inspan
and were published in books by Burger Boekhandel publishing house.[28]
Much of the Volk notion in South Africa was based on the ideas of Abraham Kuyeper who was a Dutch
statesman, politician and theologian.[29] He believed in God’s authority over spheres of creation. Spheres
according to him had to be preserved and protected from ideas such as equality, solidarity or freedom of the
French Revolution because to him, all these ideas challenged God’s authority.[30] Paul Kruger was the
president of the Transvaal Republic and formed the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk which was the Dutch
Reformed Church. He referred to Afrikaner history in South Africa as ‘sacred’ and that the Volk were the
chosen people.[31] He made the Great Trek seem as Exodus from British rule in Cape to the Promised Land of
Boer Republics. He used Kuyper’s ideas as Afrikaner theologians also used Kuypers ideas to justify the
Afrikaners refusal of ‘British-designed’ South Africa. In addition, the Afrikaners did not was to co-exist with
other ethnic groups as minority. Another part of Volk definition is that only white South African Afrikaners
had the right to land in South Africa. Black people were defined as other nations who needed to live their own
tribal areas. Afrikaners considered themselves as having a God-ordained right to establish exclusive Volk
which saw white Afrikaans-speakers as regarded as the legitimate citizens.[32]
Afrikaner nationalism used education both to define and create different classes in South Africa.[33] To do
this, they defined the Volk as superior and different from other races which meant that Afrikaners became the
middle and upper classes, while black people were relegated to lower classes. This exclusive definition of Volk
resulted from various factors such as missionary education of blacks which was inadequate as it only equipped
black people to compete with poor white Afrikaners for jobs.[34] In addition, the Economic depression caused
white Afrikaner unemployment to grow which increased competition for jobs.[35] Affirmative action policies
also excluded black people whether they were educated or not from participating in the Afrikaner labour
market. The other factors which played a role in Afrikaners occupying those classes was that promotion at
work were reserved for white people (especially Afrikaners) and affirmative action legislations which
established a ‘Colour Bar’ in employment which gave white people preference to black people.[36]
Relegation of blacks to lower working class through labour policies was reinforced through educational
policies. When the Nationalist Party (NP) won the election in 1948, it gave Afrikaner nationalists the
opportunity to fully implement an educational programme called Christian National Education (CNE).[37] The
CNE was a segregated education system which created separate schools for South African population groups
which were whites, Indians, Coloureds and Africans. This segregated education system favoured whites and
disadvantaged blacks. Black people received Bantu education which was the name given for black people’s
education. The Bantu education made it clear that it was designed to teach blacks to be ‘hewers of wood and
drawers of water’ for white-run economy and society.[38]
The Volk changing views in relation to religion as time progressed. During the 19th the Dutch Reformed
Church help practical rather than ideological views of racial segregation.[39] For example, they regarded racial
segregation as a peaceful way of governing a country which had such a diverse racial population. However,
after the 20th century economic depression, this attitude changed both in terms of education and labour.
Suddenly, a new group of poor (mostly Afrikaner) whites emerged. In 1939, there was Church involvement
which advocated for an Afrikaner state which would create a Christian civilisation. Thus, the notion of ‘divine
right’ of the Volk to stay separate and rule the surrounding black nations. The DRC was then considered an
important institution in creating an Afrikaner nationalist identity as it had provided moral, social security to
remote Afrikaner farmers throughout the 19th century and later recreated communities for thousands of
displaced poor Afrikaners entering the city.[40] In addition, the Church was seen as reinforcing family idea,
which instilled the idea of women as ‘mothers of the nation’ who’s duty was to create as many Afrikaner
children as they could in order to bring them up as nationalists. All these factors combined drove Afrikaners
towards an exclusive nationalism which provided Afrikaner nationalist leaders with enough white support to
win the 1948 election.
Nationalism in power- towards Apartheid:
In 1948 the National Party (NP) of DF Malan had won over support of majority of poor and middle class
Afrikaners as well as small-scale and commercial farmers. This was because these groups felt threatened by
developments in the 1940s which saw growth of large, increasingly organised black working class. The NP use
emotional racist rhetoric such as ‘swart gevaar’ + ‘oroorstroming’ which mean black danger + flooding into
cities.[41] This racist rhetoric worked as it appealed to all white groups such as white workers who feared that
black people would take their jobs and to white farmers who significant labour as their workers moved to
cities. Upon gaining power, the NP promised to defend the interests of these groups by suppressing black
resistance and by increasing control and exploitation of black labour.[42] As the oppressive policies of
apartheid were viewed to be succeed in crushing black resistance by creating more opportunities for white
people and creating a lot of profit margins for all white businesses and a general higher standard of living for
all white workers, other whites eventually supported and stood behind the apartheid government. 40 years of
nationalist rule ensured that Afrikaner capitalists and professionals achieved their goal of being equal with
foreign capital. In addition, they established their culture and language. Today however, the ideology of
Afrikaner nationalism offers little to Afrikaners in a democratic, non-racial South Africa except to a few
extreme and exclusive Afrikaner nationalist communities such as Orania town.[43]
The Middle East:
Nationalisms: Origins of Arab nationalism and Jewish
The Jewish nation, in the modern sense of a nation, only came into existence in the 19th century.[44] Farming
communities in Palestine practised Judaism as a religion. When the Romans occupied Palestine, the Jews rose
in defiance, however the Romans suppressed the rebellion and persecuted the Jews.[45] Many Jews escaped
and ran all over the world during the diaspora and settled far afield. However, as capitalism spread, some Jews
in Western Europe accumulated wealth by becoming merchants or manufacturers. Others in Eastern Europe
remained poor. Jews leaned towards living together in communities where their culture, beliefs and their
traditions helped them maintain their own identity. Despite this, Anti-Semitism was still rife in Europe and
many Jews were persecuted. [46]
Most Arab people in the Middle East and North Africa were converted to Islam from the seventh century
onwards. As the Arabs continued to conquer territory, the religion spread from being an Arab one to a religion
that was practised by people from all parts of the world. Arabic became the dominant language and Arabic
customs and traditions spread like wild fire. By the 1500s, the Ottoman Empire was set up by the Turks.
[47] Due to discrimination and persecution, the Arabs rose in local rebellions against the Turks. However,
these were futile as they did not bring about change.
The Balfour Declaration:
In the first of the 20th century, a number of critical events took place which led to the establishment of Israel
as a state in 1948. In 1917, the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Arthur James Balfour wrote to Lord Rothschild,
a leader of the British Jewish community, with a promise to assist Jews establish a Jewish state in Palestine
after WWI. This letter became known as the Balfour Declaration of 1917.[48] The Zionists- People who
believe in the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel- used this Declaration to
pressurise later British governments to support a Jewish state in Palestine. Britain was in a complicated
situation because they were trying to mobilise support of Jews in the USA while simultaneously trying to win
Arab support for its war against Turkey. As a result, this Declaration clashed with Britain’s promise to Arabs
that Britain would support Arab independence in the Middle East.[49] The Zionists were in no way conflicted
and clearly saw the Declaration as a clear recognition of Jewish claims.
Origins and establishment of the state of Israel after the Second World War and the 1948 War:
After WWI, Britain and Frances were mandated by the League of Nations to rule over most of the Middle East,
except for Saudi Arabia which became an independent Arab kingdom. In 1922, Britain grated independence to
three countries in the Middle East, namely Egypt, Trans-Jordan and Iraq. Britain’s mandate over Palestine
stated that Britain should honour and implement the Balfour declaration. Zionists met and interpreted the
mandate of the League of Nations with enthusiasm as they viewed the international community as supporting
the creation of a national home for Jews in Palestine.
The UN Partition Plan was based on British proposals and was supported by the US, Soviet Union and other
Western powers. More than half of Palestine was allocated to the Jewish state.[50] Palestinians and their Arab
allies rejected the UN partition plan and soon a Civil war erupted. Palestinians units attacked British and
Jewish installations in protest. The Haganah attacked and destroyed over 300 Palestinian villages in retaliation.
[51] In May 1948, Britain had lost control of the situation and started pulling out its 100000 troops from
Palestine. On 14 May 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared the state of Israel on the basis of the UN plan.
Britain encouraged Jewish immigration and Jews bought land from Palestinians. Palestinian Arabs demanded
an end to Jewish immigration. Between 1921 to 1929, Palestinian Arabs organised anti-British protests which
caused violent clashes between Arab and armed Jewish groups and the police. Britain suppressed the Arab
protests by executing three Palestinian leaders. Today, these leaders are remembered as martyrs in the
Palestinian struggle for their self-determination. In the 1930s, Jewish immigration increased as Hitler began
persecuting Jews in Germany. In 1936, Palestinian uprising began with general strikes occurring. These strikes
were organized by a Palestinian movement called the Arab Higher Committee (AHC). [52]Jewish and Britain
targets were attacked. Jewish groups responded by attacking Arab communities.
Britain intervened in 1937 in the conflict by proposing that Palestine should be divided into both a Jewish and
Arab state. Palestinian Arabs vehemently rejected this proposition while Jews supported it in principle but not
with the borders which Britain proposed. Despite these opposing views, Britain tried to put pressure on both
the Jews and Arabs to accept their proposition. In addition, Britain tried to limit Jewish immigration but were
met with strong protests from Jews. When WWII broke out, matters were placed on hold in Palestine. At the
end of WWII, the world was a very different place because of the Holocaust which occurred in Germany
which saw the Nazis murder of approximately 6 million Jews. After the Holocaust, there was an increased
determination by Zionists to force Britain to give them independent land in the Middle East. This significantly
increased the support of the West to the Zionist cause.
In 1946, Irgun- Which was a Jewish armed group led by Menachem Begin- blew up the British military
headquarters in Jerusalem which saw over a 100 people killed.[53] After this incident, Britain handed the
problem to the UN. In April 1947, the UN deliberated on the Palestinian question and concluded in early 1948
that Palestine should be divided in half between Palestinian Arabs and Jews. More than of Palestine was given
to the Jewish state. Palestinians and their Arab allies again rejected the UN proposition and a Civil war erupted
as a result. On the 14th of May 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared the state of Israel based on the UN plan. The
Israeli state was recognised by the Soviet Union and Western countries.[54] In retaliation, a military coalition
of seven Arab states declared war on Israel which caused the 1948 war.
Different interpretations of the war: The Palestinian and Israeli perspectives on the 1948 War:
The Israeli see the war as Palestinian attacks which forced them to defend themselves like establishing the
Haganah. The Israeli see the war as beginning in November 1947 when Palestinians attacked British
installations and Jewish settlers. As a result, they interpret the international support for the state of Israeli after
the UN division proposition failed as a justification for the war. Thus Israeli argues that they fought for Israeli
independence after defeating the Arab coalition. They further argue that they had no choice but to fight to win.
Israeli argues that there were some atrocities committed by their side but that these were extremists and were
an exception.[55]
The Arab Palestinians argue that Britain was largely to blame for the Arab marginalisation in Palestine. They
argue that Britain supported Jewish immigration and the Haganah and were actively training Jewish militants.
Palestinians argue that the UN resolutions were unjust because majority of the land was allocated to the Jews.
In addition, they argue that Jewish tactics during the war amounted to ethnic cleansing. Furthermore,
Palestinians argue that their villages were destroyed leaving Palestinians displaced without any compensation.
Palestinians further view the war as them being treated as second class citizens which caused them to become
refugees.[56] The Arabs therefore call this war the An-Nakba- catastrophe- as it saw more than 700000 of their
population either killed or chased away from their home.
The question of Palestine- conflict of nationalist aspirations between Palestine and Israel:
Jewish nationalism became more cohesive and determined to survive any and all Palestinian attacks or
attempts to take over Israel. Thus, security became the main focus and a militarists retaliated swiftly to contain
any Palestinian attack. Arab nationalism did not develop as Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan all became
independent states. In addition, most Arab states experienced conflict, corruption and factionalism. As a result,
governance within these states was mostly based on authoritarianism. [57]
The Arab-Israeli conflict: the issue of refugees, military occupation of the West Bank; responses of Israelis and
Palestinians: Intifadas and peace processes between 1979 and 2000; as well as the roles of USA, Palestinian
and Israeli leaders.
Since Israel gained its statehood in 1948, there has been on-going conflict Arab-Israeli conflict which has
caused a lot of damage and suffering to many. This conflict has the capacity and potential to incite major war
in the area which would have severe repercussions internationally. The 1948 war created a refugee crises
which saw more than one million Palestinian people disbursed in refugee camps in the countries around the
world with inhumane conditions.[58] Majority of the people who fled to the refugee camps thought they would
only temporarily stay there and eventually be allowed to go back home but as Israeli established itself, this
became clear that it would not happen. There were other families who moved on to other countries, however
thousands remain there. Host countries didn’t have enough resources to cope with the refugee needs, thus
poverty grew which created military groups to develop out of this refugee crisis who began to mount guerrilla
attacks on Israeli targets. The main military group was founded by Yasser Arafat in 1958 and its goal was to
establish a Palestinian state. [59]
In 1967, in just a space of 6 days, the Israeli army had destroyed Arab armed forces and occupied Arab land on
the Golan Heights, the West Bank of the Jordan River, the Gaza Strip and the entire Sinai Peninsula. This
significantly increased the territory that the Israeli occupied. Israeli leaders were confident of US support but
refused to return the occupied land which increased Arab anger.[60] When Israel refused to return the occupied
lands, Arab countries won the support of many newly independent countries. The UN passed Resolution 242
which mandated that Israeli return all occupied territories and in return, the Arab states should recognise Israel
as a state. Israel supported this but only if the Arabs did the same, but the Arab countries and many UN
member states insisted that there should be an unconditional withdrawal from the occupied territories.
The years 1967-1987 were full of tension as Israel had occupied the last remaining parts of Palestine. Militant
Palestinian armed groups set up to infiltrate Israel and launch internal guerrilla attacks and external missile
attacks. Israeli retaliated more violently including bombing refugee camps and assassinating Palestinian
leaders. Israeli government started forcibly taking Palestinian land and building Jewish settlement in order to
ensure that they would never need to return the land. It diverted water supplies to the new Israeli settlements
while Palestinian Arabs were herded into their own communities with little movement as they were surrounded
by fences and military checkpoints. Because there was little development in Palestinian areas, unemployment
and suffering in their towns and villages grew.
In December 1987, the frustration of the Palestinians reached to a boiling point which led to an uprising which
was known as the first intifada.[61] Within weeks, protests broke out in all occupied areas, children, women
and youth all fought with stones and bottles against Israeli guns. These images embarrassed the Israelis
internationally, and as a result, their soldiers were issued with batons. Despite this, brutal beatings took place
which left thousands with broken bones and even death. Soon, the Intifada took a more planned and
revolutionary character where committees were set up in the occupied areas which boycotted Israeli taxes and
shops, stopped working in Israeli businesses. Some made contact with other nationalist-aligned revolutionary
groups for military training and arms and as a result new armed groups such as Hamas emerged in Palestine.
[62] Armed attacks took place against Israel soldiers and settlers. Israeli responded with iron-fisted
suppression.
In 1979 Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty known as Camp David Accords. This treaty stated that Egypt
would recognise Israel as a state in exchange for the return of the Sinai Peninsula. Secondly it stated that there
would be a political settlement of the Palestinian issue which was based on an autonomous Palestinian State
alongside Israel in Palestine. However, the PLO and its allies rejected this agreement immediately. Within
Israel and the PLO, divisions began to emerge which was split between those who wanted the violence to
continue and those who were prepared to make sacrifices in order for peace to reign. The Intifada disrupted the
peace process, but after it subsided, leaders on both sides were willing to negotiate. In 2988 the PLO
recognised the right of Israel to exist. And in 1993, after years of negotiation, the PLO and Israeli leaders met
in Oslo, Sweden to sign the Oslo Accords. [63]Within these accords there was a framework for how the future
of relations between the two parties would look like. It was agreed that there would be a creation of a
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) over parts of the West Bank and Gaza strops. In these areas the Israeli
army with withdraw and the PNA would take over administration over the area. However after the Oslo
Accords, all these negotiations have fails. In Israel, frightened people have elected hardened conservative
government to power. As a result, Israelis have insisted on terms which the Palestinians could not possibly
accept. Palestinian nationalism has also hardened after the Oslo Accords and as a result, since the year 2000,
there has been a second Intifada, followed by intensified conflict including deadly Israeli air strikes and as it
stands, there is no peaceful resolution in sight.[64]
This content was originally produced for the SAHO classroom by
Ayabulela Ntwakumba & Thandile Xesi.