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Explain two of the following: - The importance of conflicting interests of Jews and Arabs for the end of the British Mandate - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 5
Question 3
Explain two of the following: - The importance of conflicting interests of Jews and Arabs for the end of the British Mandate. - The importance of the oil crisis (19... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain two of the following: - The importance of conflicting interests of Jews and Arabs for the end of the British Mandate - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 5
Step 1
The importance of conflicting interests of Jews and Arabs for the end of the British Mandate.
Answer
The conflicting interests of Jews and Arabs played a pivotal role in the conclusion of the British Mandate over Palestine.
First, the Holocaust significantly heightened Jewish immigration to Palestine, as many sought refuge from persecution. The British, following the Zionist Conference of 1945, imposed limits on Jewish immigration, which angered Jewish communities and intensified opposition to British rule.
On the other hand, Palestinian Arabs, feeling threatened by increasing Jewish settlement, intensified their demands for independence and opposed the proposed division of their homeland, leading to escalating tensions between the communities. This dichotomy limited the British government's ability to mediate effectively and resulted in calls for political solutions that were unable to satisfy both parties. Ultimately, the conflicting interests drove the British to decide to withdraw, paving the way for the establishment of Israel.
Step 2
The importance of the oil crisis (1973–74) for diplomatic negotiations in the Middle East.
Answer
The oil crisis of 1973-74 had profound implications for diplomatic negotiations in the Middle East.
Primarily, the crisis stemmed from the Yom Kippur War when OPEC nations, responding to Western support for Israel, imposed an oil embargo. This created a sense of urgency in the U.S. and its allies to pressure Israel into ceasefire negotiations.
Additionally, the crisis exemplified how Arab nations could leverage oil as a political weapon, demonstrating their influence over international diplomacy. Countries like Saudi Arabia worked closely with other Arab states to utilize oil not just economically, but as a tool for political gain, reshaping the negotiations that followed the war and leading to the Camp David Accords. In this context, the oil crisis amplified the interconnectedness of energy politics and Middle Eastern negotiation dynamics.