Book SummaryLobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic, by Ilan Pappe

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic

The expansion and increase in influence of advocacy groups supporting Israel in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Pappe delves into the emergence and evolution of Christian Zionist backing for Israel, emphasizing its inception in Britain and its significant impact in the United States. Christian Zionists, due to their profound conviction in biblical prophecies, were instrumental in strengthening the foundational activities of the Zionist cause before the establishment of a formal Jewish Zionist lobbying organization. Pappe emphasizes their conviction that the creation of a homeland for Jews in Palestine and the subsequent influx would fulfill biblical prophecies, signifying that this spiritual perspective laid the groundwork for future political and ideological justifications for Zionism in that area.

Christian Zionism's emergence in Britain was closely intertwined with the country's aspirations for empire and its profound religious convictions.

Pappe argues that the earliest manifestations of Zionism in Britain were deeply intertwined with both fervent religious beliefs and the strategic goals of the British Empire in the nineteenth century. He examines the tactics employed by influential Zionism advocates who worked alongside British authorities, highlighting their efforts to synchronize the establishment of Jewish communities in Palestine with Britain's geopolitical and imperial goals in the region. Pappe demonstrates that early support for Zionism established a foundation for the British government's later tactics that supported Zionist goals, ultimately leading to the creation of the Balfour Declaration.

The Earl of Shaftesbury fervently supported the resettlement of Jewish people in Palestine, considering it a sacred duty and an essential goal that was in harmony with the strategic interests of the empire.

The author highlights the crucial influence of the Earl of Shaftesbury in fostering Christian Zionist sentiment within the United Kingdom. Pappe details Shaftesbury's enduring commitment, motivated by his understanding of the scriptures, to advocate for the resettlement of Jews in their ancestral land, and he recounts Shaftesbury's relentless persuasion of Britain's political leaders to back this initiative as a matter of strategic importance. He also led the London Society, whose objective was to promote Christianity among Jews, and this organization operated a subsidiary in Palestine overseen by the British consul in Jerusalem.

The lobbying efforts played a crucial role in establishing the Consulate in 1838, highlighting Palestine's critical strategic value to the British Empire during the competition with other European powers for the anticipated partition of the Ottoman Empire. Shaftesbury foresaw the imminent disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and believed that the strategic areas comprising Greater Syria, encompassing Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the Fertile Crescent, where Iraq would later be established, and Egypt, would be crucial in strengthening Britain's foothold in the Middle East.

Pappe demonstrates that Shaftesbury saw the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine as fulfilling divine prophecy while also serving as a strategic move to strengthen Britain's position in the Eastern Mediterranean, a perspective that was in line with the pragmatic views of many British political figures, such as his father-in-law, Henry John Temple, the 3rd Viscount Palmerston, who was the prime minister of Britain. Shaftesbury believed that Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Egyptian ruler, was on the verge of toppling the Ottoman Sultan and taking over the entire Eastern Mediterranean. In this spirit, he urged his father-in-law to consider a British takeover of the area with the help of Christian and Jewish restorationists, who would transform Palestine and the surrounding regions into British protectorates as a way of countering Egyptian expansionism.

Colonel Churchill suggested the creation of a Jewish nation in collaboration with the Anglo-Jewish community.

During the 1840s, while acting as the British consul in Damascus, Colonel Charles Henry Churchill played a pivotal role in promoting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, a strategy aligned with Britain's ambitions to extend its sway in the Middle East in the face of rivalry from France and other European powers. Churchill was aware that the British government's objective was to consolidate its influence among the diverse populations within the Ottoman Empire, rather than to expand its territorial possessions. He sought the support of Sir Moses Montefiore, a prominent figure at the helm of the Anglo-Jewish Board of Deputies and known for his philanthropy, to help create a Jewish state that would also enhance Britain's power across the Levant. He wrote many letters to Montefiore, urging him to convince prominent members of the Anglo-Jewish community to come together and support the creation of a Jewish homeland on former Ottoman territory, which would simultaneously transform these regions into protectorates of the endorsing countries. Pappe emphasizes the foresight demonstrated by Churchill in anticipating the political developments that culminated in the Balfour Declaration and the strategies employed to bring it to fruition.

Christian Restorationism's rise to prominence as a notable political influence in the United States, championing the emerging Zionist cause.

Ilan Pappe describes the Christian Zionist movement in America as more influential than its counterpart in Britain, noting that US evangelicals were particularly effective in transforming their restorationist convictions into strong institutional support, which led to considerable financial and logistical support for the early Zionist settlers in Palestine in the late 1800s. Their influence was not confined to one continent; it shaped the conversation within the movement and was crucial in securing...

Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic Summary The movement that ultimately led to the British government's formal support for establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, as declared in the Balfour Declaration.

The writer details the broad spectrum of Zionist lobbying efforts in the UK, which ultimately led to the Balfour Declaration in 1917, and suggests that these efforts were mainly focused on aligning Zionist goals with the strategic geopolitical interests of the British Empire, rather than emphasizing the creation of a refuge for Europe's oppressed Jewish communities. In his analysis, Pappe suggests that politicians who supported the idea of a British-governed Palestine were in favor of the Zionist movement as a means to create a territory that would be in line with British interests within the well-known region of Palestine, aiming to advance the strategic goals of the British Empire in the Middle East while also reducing the influx of Jewish immigrants to Britain and its dominions.

The early goals of Zionism aligned with British interests during the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Pappe examines the endeavors of British advocates who, from the mid-19th century onwards, sought to sway the British government's position regarding the waning Ottoman Empire, with the intention of securing a British protectorate in Palestine as an essential strategic goal. In his analysis, British...

Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic Summary The rise and evolution of groups championing Israel's cause in both the UK and the US, as well as their impact on the policies of these governments concerning Israel and Palestinian matters, signify an important historical trend.

Pappe explores the evolution and complexities of support for Israel in both the UK and the US during the 20th century, highlighting how these progressively organized entities managed to accomplish their goals despite the continuous resistance from Palestinians against the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, along with the escalating political consequences that arose from Israel's territorial enlargements and disputes with Arab countries after 1948. Pappe explores how lobbying organizations on both continents adjusted their tactics and public personas to align with changing political atmospheres and international scrutiny, with the goal of preserving their influence on government policies across different periods.

Throughout the period of the British Mandate, a powerful alliance formed in Britain supporting the cause of Israel.

Pappe demonstrates how, particularly through the concerted efforts of the English Zionist Federation and Poale Zion, a coalition of British Zionist organizations took on a renewed role in supporting the state of Israel after its creation in 1948, successfully securing support from British officials at critical moments by working in tandem with...

Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic Summary The strategies and networks employed by supporters of Israel to influence the conversation about Israel and Palestine, as well as to affect decisions related to international policy.

The author examines how advocacy groups supporting Israel in the UK and the US responded during a time in the mid-20th century when British backing for Israel diminished and the US began to re-evaluate its policy of offering Israel unlimited military aid. Pappe explores the workings of these advocacy groups, which maintained their regular functions such as establishing pacts, obtaining monetary backing, and especially, responding to any event seen as hostile towards Israel with the highest level of immediacy, considering each one as an emergency that required prompt and resolute measures. The organization AIPAC was notably persistent in framing any US policy concerning Israel as a possible breach of the 'Special Relationship,' a term that every American president since Johnson has been expected to affirm at the start of their term.

Throughout the period of the Cold War, initiatives were undertaken to secure support for Israel from the United Kingdom.

In his work, Pappe thoroughly details how advocates for Israel, especially the Labour Friends of Israel, were instrumental in guiding the British Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress towards a more Israel-friendly...