The Martyr Made Podcast
#5 - Fear & Loathing in the New Jerusalem - Things Fall Apart...
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Jewish immigrants sought refuge in the United States and Western Europe after experiencing violence in Russia.
- The pogroms and attacks led to the growth of the Zionist movement and the desire for a homeland in Palestine.
- Some Jews embraced a militant approach to challenge attackers and advocate for a Jewish state.
- Arab resentment towards Zionists grew as they were seen as agents of imperialistic forces.
- Mohammed Iz Addin Al Cassam organized a resistance movement against the British and Zionists in Palestine.
- The British employed harsh tactics to suppress the rebellion and maintain colonial control in Palestine.
Deep dives
Response to Pogroms and Migration
After experiencing violent pogroms and attacks in the Russian Empire, many Eastern European and Russian Jews sought to leave and migrate to other countries. The primary destinations were the United States and Western Europe. This migration resulted in significant numbers of Jewish immigrants reaching the United States, contributing to the development of the country. Additionally, some Jews chose to stay in Russia but moved to the big cities to join revolutionary parties to fight against oppression and discrimination.
Nationalist Reaction to Pogroms
The pogroms and attacks led to a shift in the mindset of many Jews, especially the younger generation. They became disillusioned with the idea of assimilation and believed that they needed to become a separate nation and learn to defend themselves. They felt a sense of shame and disgust towards their ancestors who did not resist the attacks and allowed themselves to be victimized. This sentiment fueled the growth of the Zionist movement and the desire to establish a homeland in Palestine.
Challenge to the Diáspora Mentality
In response to the pogroms and the perceived weakness of their community, some Jews embraced a more militant approach. They rejected the strategy of keeping their heads down and avoiding trouble, which had been a survival tactic in the diaspora. These more militant Zionists sought to reclaim Jewish honor and identity by challenging their attackers and advocating for the establishment of a Jewish state. This belligerent stance set them apart from other Jewish immigrants who chose to migrate to other countries or join revolutionary parties in Russia.
Mohammed Iz Addin Al Cassam's Resistance Movement
Mohammed Iz Addin Al Cassam, a pious and eloquent teacher, emerged as a leader in British mandate Palestine. He witnessed the degradation of the Arab poor and the betrayal of the elites. Cassam called on young Arab men to stand up for themselves and resist the British and Zionists. He built a following of young Muslim men who sought meaning and purpose, and he preached against vices like drinking and gambling. Cassam organized his followers into independent cells and began sabotaging British and Zionist activities. Although he attempted to persuade the Grand Mufti to issue a joint call for a general uprising, the Mufti refused.
The Changing Perception of Zionists
After the First World War, Arabs in Palestine started perceiving Zionists as a trojan horse for European imperialism. This belief was fueled by bitter British military officers who blamed the Jews for their own inability to take action. Arab sentiments shifted towards anti-Semitism, adopting conspiracy theories about Jews controlling the world. The perception of Zionists as agents of imperialistic forces deepened the Arab resentment towards them.
Cassam's Resistance Tactics
Mohammed Iz Addin Al Cassam organized his followers into semi-independent cells and trained them in basic military tactics and the manufacturing of simple explosives. The extent of violence varied, from symbolic acts like burning down Zionist trees to murder. Cassam attempted to convince the Grand Mufti to join him in issuing a call for a general uprising, but the Mufti refused. Despite facing opposition and lacking central command, Cassam's resistance movement continued to carry out acts of sabotage against the British and Zionists.
The rise of anti-Semitism in Germany
The podcast episode explores how anti-Semitism began to rise in Germany, starting with the influence of conspiracy theories and the spread of ideas that blamed Jews for financial and political control. Arab leaders in Palestine also adopted these ideas, leading to growing tension between Arabs and Jews.
Zionist plans for emigration to Palestine
As the persecution of Jews intensified in Germany, Zionist leaders, such as Heim Weitzmann and Chaim Arlasrov, became increasingly focused on facilitating Jewish emigration to Palestine. They negotiated with the German government to allow Jews to leave with their assets, which would be used to buy supplies in Palestine. This resulted in 60,000 Jews being saved but caused controversy among the Zionist movement and led to divisions between revisionists and labor Zionists.
The impact of Nazi policies on Jews and the need for urgency
The Nazi regime implemented discriminatory laws against Jews in Germany, including banning intermarriage and stripping them of citizenship rights. The conditions for Jews worsened rapidly, which increased the urgency to get Jews out of Germany and into Palestine. The podcast highlights the fast-paced nature of events and the need for immediate action to save Jewish lives.
Growing immigration and tensions
The podcast episode discusses the significant increase in immigration to the United States, particularly from Latin America, and the resulting tensions and debates in society. The Hispanic population, comprising about 17% of the US population, is equated with the Zionist population in Palestine in 1931. The influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, is portrayed as causing social and economic issues, including rising rents and displacement of native population. The episode also explores the idea of assimilation and the perceived lack thereof among the new immigrants.
Discovery of smuggled weapons
The discovery of a large cache of smuggled weapons in Palestine leads to escalating tensions and paranoia among the Palestinian Arabs. The presence of these weapons, including rifles, machine guns, and ammunition, exceeds what the Arabs had suspected the Zionists were smuggling. This discovery fuels beliefs that the Zionists are preparing for widespread violence to drive out the Arabs from Palestine. The British authorities are portrayed as uncertain about the true extent of the Zionist plans and struggling to maintain control.
Al Kasam's rebellion and the aftermath
The episode recounts the story of Izz ad-Din al Kasam, a prominent figure who organizes a peasant rebellion against the British and the Zionist presence in Palestine. Al Kasam advocates for armed resistance and employs guerrilla warfare tactics to disrupt infrastructure and target important resources. Despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, his actions and martyrdom inspire widespread support and anger among the Palestinian Arabs, leading to a surge in anti-British and anti-Zionist sentiment. The British response, including the destruction of Jaffa and the subsequent investigation by the Peel Commission, further exacerbates the tensions and divides between the Arabs and Zionists.
Escalation of Violence and Rebellion
As tensions between the Zionist and Arab populations in Palestine continued to rise, the failure of the Peel Partition Plan further fueled the rebellion by Arab fighters. The Arab resistance lacked a centralized leadership, making it harder for the British to combat. The British responded by employing divide and rule tactics, funding Islamic fundamentalist groups to marginalize secular nationalists and Arab Christians. The extremists on both sides carried out attacks on civilian targets, escalating the violence and deepening the divide between the communities.
British Suppression and Tactics of Dominance
To suppress the rebellion, the British employed harsh tactics, including collective punishments and demolishing villages at random. They focused on instilling fear among the Arab population to gain control and undermine support for the insurgents. By devastating villages, charging the inhabitants exorbitant fees for the destruction, and forcing them into forced labor or prison, the British sought to exert dominance and crush resistance. The aim was not just to quell the rebellion, but also to destabilize any sense of unity among the Arabs and maintain colonial control.
The British brutality towards Arab prisoners
The podcast episode discusses the brutal tactics used by the British towards Arab prisoners during the Palestinian uprising. This included instances of informants identifying who should be imprisoned or executed, using prisoners to drive over land mines, and engaging in physical abuse and torture. These actions were often carried out in order to suppress and terrorize the Arab population in Palestine.
The impact of the 1939 White Paper
The podcast highlights the consequences of the 1939 White Paper, which outlined the British government's intention to establish a national government in Palestine and restrict Jewish immigration. The Zionist leaders vehemently opposed this policy, considering it a betrayal. The White Paper effectively ended the plan for a Jewish state and limited Jewish immigration to Palestine. This led to increased animosity between the British authorities and the Zionist movement, setting the stage for further conflict.
Riots. Massacres. The end of the world and everything in it. Palestinian Arabs finally find a voice in the wake of the 1929 massacres. Unable and unwilling to find a place for the Jews, Europe’s autoimmune disorder begins to tear the host apart. Desperate European Jews seek escape from Nazi persecution just as Palestinian resistance stiffens and the British become skeptical of the Zionist project.
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