Western Effect
The British Empire played a major role in shaping Jerusalem in the 20th century and laying the groundwork for what would cause major conflict in the area. The groundwork for what would become the Israel/Palestine conflict began in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration. This stated that this land would become the Jewish homeland, free of persecution. "The mandate did not similarly recognize Palestinian organizations or representation. The majority, the Palestinians, were only mentioned in the negative, as 'non-Jewish communities' given civil and religious rights. That meant the Palestinians were trapped." (Bazelon pg.1). 1920 began the British mandate that would last for 28 more years. During this time, there was mass immigration of Jewish people to Jerusalem and the surrounding Palestine area because of the conflict in Europe and the persecution they were facing. As tensions escalated and British control became increasingly untenable, the United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947, recommending the division of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. However, Jerusalem would become an international city, not part of either state. The British Empire announced their intention to end the mandate, and their withdrawal in 1948 led directly to the declaration of the State of Israel and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The British withdrawal left the area on incredibly shaky ground that almost immediately crumbled. The British Mandate period laid much of the groundwork for the demographic and political realities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. British policies and actions during this time contributed to the formation of national identities and political movements that continued to influence the conflict. The unresolved issues of sovereignty, borders, refugees, and the status of Jerusalem can trace their origins back to this period. In summary, the British Empire's role in Jerusalem and the Israel-Palestine conflict was complex and multifaceted, leaving a lasting legacy on the region's political landscape and contributing to the enduring conflict between Jewish and Palestinian Arab communities.
Nice post about the British influence in the early 20th century. Structurally, remember that it's best to have multiple shorter paragraphs than one long paragraph. For the blog format shorter paragraphs makes it easier to read and in any format it makes your ideas easier to follow.
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