The podcast delves into the impact of the 1948 conflict on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, challenging the common belief that the 1967 Six-Day War was the root cause. Benny Morris discusses the false narrative of settler colonialism propagated by Palestinian leaders regarding the events of 1948. The episode explores the motivations and lack of solidarity among Arab countries during the conflict, shedding light on the outcomes of the war and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict trace back to 1948, not just 1967, reshaping the narrative and peace talks.
Arab motivations in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war were driven by individual geopolitical interests and pressures from jihadist sentiments.
The initial weeks of the conflict favored Arab armies in firepower, but Israel's resilience and unconventional tactics led to their eventual victory.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process faces obstacles from deep-rooted religious and territorial differences, hindering resolution efforts.
Deep dives
Reasons for the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab-Israeli war was triggered by a mix of motivations. Arab states invaded newly declared Israel not just to protect Palestinian Arabs but also for individual geopolitical interests. Jordan aimed at occupying East Jerusalem and the West Bank, while Egypt targeted the Negev Desert. Syria desired the Sea of Galilee. Iraq participated to support fellow Hashimite regime and control the pipeline. Arab leaders faced pressure from their masses and jihadist sentiments for invading Israel.
IDF's Preparation and Disadvantages
The Haganah militia transformed into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in June 1948. Initially lacking heavy equipment like tanks and artillery, the IDF faced a small yet better-equipped Arab invading force with armored cars, artillery, tanks, and combat aircraft. The Haganah relied on courage, organization, and unconventional tactics like Molotov cocktails. The Arab armies had British-led Jordanian forces as the most formidable invaders, while other forces lacked proper training and equipment.
War Progression and Outcome
The first four critical weeks of the conflict between Arab states and Israel favored the Arab armies in terms of firepower but lacked significant progress. By June 11, the Jews had effectively countered the invasion and turned the tide. The Arab failure to defeat the Haganah during these weeks sealed their defeat. The ensuing mobilization and arms influx bolstered Israel while a truce in July 1948 brought a new partition plan, rejected by both sides.
Resolution Challenges and Civilizational Conflict
The complexities of an Israeli-Palestinian peace stem from historical enmities and deep-seated religious and civilizational conflicts. Both territorial disputes and a clash of cultural values have hindered resolution efforts. The rejection of compromise proposals by Palestinians and Hamas' aggressive actions further challenge the two-state solution. Benny Morris reflects a pessimistic outlook on peace prospects post-2000, attributing it to fundamental religious and territorial differences.
Implications of Aggressive Israeli Response
In the aftermath of the heinous October 7th attack, Benny Morris advocates for Israel's decisive response to maintain its survival in a hostile Middle East. Viewing Israel's retaliation as crucial for self-defense and deterrence against future assaults, he emphasizes the necessity for Israel to exhibit strength and resilience in the face of barbaric aggression. The aggressive response is aimed at safeguarding Israel's position and deterring further incursions within the region.
Highlights and Future Prospects
The extensive dialogue with Benny Morris delves into the complex layers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shedding light on territorial disputes, religious animosities, and civilizational clash encompassing the dynamics of the conflict. Morris emphasizes the historical context shaping modern conflicts, underscoring the challenges of finding a peaceful resolution amidst deep-rooted hostilities. His insights navigate through the multifaceted dimensions of the conflict, projecting a somber outlook on the path to reconciliation and peace.
Conclusion on Benny Morris's Insights
Benny Morris's perspectives elucidate the intricate facets of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drawing from historical legacies and contemporary events to decipher the conflict's nature. Morris's analysis underscores the multifaceted nature of the conflict as a blend of politics, territorial disputes, and deep-rooted religious animosities, shaping its complexities. His reflections project a cautious and skeptical stance on the feasibility of a lasting resolution amidst entrenched civilizational divergence and conflicting national aspirations.
PART 2 of 2
For more than 30 years of ‘on again-off again’ peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, many Israelis, and certainly most interested observers in the West, looked to the 1967 Six-Day War as the root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If only we could reverse the results of that defensive war in which Israel conquered the West Bank and Gaza, the problem would be solved, so the narrative goes. And this served as the basis for all peace talks and agreements that have taken place since.
But, to anyone willing to listen, the story that Palestinian leaders were telling had nothing to do with 1967, and everything to do with 1948. And the story they tell goes something like this: ‘In the 1940s Jews escaped the Nazis, fled Europe, colonized Palestine, and unprovoked - ethnically cleansed the Arabs. A textbook case of settler colonialism.’
They have managed to propagate this false narrative throughout much of Western society, where millions are mindlessly chanting those six words - ‘from the river to the sea.’
So while we never thought we’d need to re-litigate this topic, we invited to the podcast (for a special two-part discussion) one of the quintessential historians of 1948 - Benny Morris. Professor Morris has dedicated his entire career to studying and writing about the war of 1948, the circumstances that led to it and its aftermath - i.e The Palestinian Refugee Problem.
Morris's first book was “The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem, 1947-1949”. His other books include: “1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War”, and “Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001”. He completed his undergraduate studies in history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and received a doctorate in modern European history from the University of Cambridge.
Links to all of Benny Morris’s books can be found here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Benny%20morris
His recent published essays can be found here: https://quillette.com/author/benny-morris/?gad_source=1
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