Lawrence of Judea

[RZM]

T.E. Lawrence—better known in Britain and throughout the Middle East as Lawrence of Arabia—was a lifelong friend of Arab national aspirations. In 1917 and 1918 he participated as a British officer in the Arab revolt against the Turks, a revolt led by Sharif Hussein, later King of the Hedjaz. He was also an adviser to Hussein’s son Feisal, whom he hoped to see on the throne of Syria. For generations of British Arabists, Lawrence was and remains a symbol of British understanding of and support for the Arab cause. Virtually unknown, however, is his understanding of and support for Jewish national aspirations in the same era.

In mid-December 1918, a month after the end of World War I, Lawrence was instrumental in securing an agreement between Emir Feisal and the Zionist leader Dr. Chaim Weizmann. The meeting was held at the Carlton Hotel in London (a building subsequently destroyed in the London Blitz). At this meeting, Lawrence acted as the interpreter. Weizmann assured Feisal that the Zionists in Palestine should be able “to carry out public works of a far-reaching character” and that the country “could be so improved that it would have room for four or five million Jews, without encroaching on the ownership rights of Arab peasantry.”

As Weizmann wrote in his notes on the meeting, Feisal explained that “it was curious there should be friction between Jews and Arabs in Palestine. There was no friction in any other country where Jews lived together with Arabs…. He [Feisal] did not think for a moment that there was any scarcity of land in Palestine. The population would always have enough, especially if the country were developed. Besides, there was plenty of land in his district.”

http://www.azure.org.il/article.php?id=517

[ellisonz]

1. Puts later events in a certain light...

“I look forward, and my people with me look forward to a future in which we will help you and you will help us, so that the countries in which we are mutually interested may once again take their place in the community of the civilized peoples of the world.” - Emir Feisal

What happened to Arab diplomacy?

[Adsos Letter]

2. Seems like post-1973 Sadat was the last real diplomat from the Arab states viz-a-viz Israel.

It certainly didn't turn out well for him, though. I wonder if there is any real way to overcome the fear, hatred, and political manipulation that feeds the current state of Arab/Israeli relations.

[RZM]

3. A Palestinian state would be a start

But only just a start. Other than that I got nothing.

[Adsos Letter]

4. I wonder how many of the Arab players really even want a viable Palestinian state.

[RZM]

6. I'm pretty far from an expert on this, but I think you may be right

Bogeymen are quite useful.

I remember reading a book about Soviet policy in the ME where the author argued that privately, Soviet leaders were glad Israel existed, even though publicly they backed its Arab enemies. They knew that as long as Israel existed and the US backed it, they had an 'in' with other countries in the region.

[ellisonz]

5. To be honest...

I don't know what the heck a Palestinian State would look like politically. Fatah controls the West Bank and Hamas the Gaza Strip. It will be interesting to see how Syria pans out in this regard...it's a game changer IMHO. I better

"Other than that I got nothing"

[RZM]

7. It's quite a tall order for a myriad of reasons

One of the biggest is that IMO, the 'two state solution' is more of a Western thing. I think many Palestinians and their strongest sympathizers want a 'one state solution,' i.e. a united state with an Arab majority.

I suspect this is one of the reasons why we've heard so many comparisons between Israel and Apartheid S. Africa in recent years. Part of it is an attempt to equate Israeli policies to Apartheid. But I think part of it is also a signal of future intentions. When Apartheid ended, S. Africa was not split into separate states for blacks and whites. Power was simply transferred from the minority to the majority. I think that's the outcome that a lot of Palestinians and their supporters desire.

[ellisonz]

8. As a Jew...

...any solution that does not leave Israel as the only Jewish state in the world is unacceptable.