1. feared that siding with the Jews would not be a good thing for the
Name American government to do.
In 1946, a committee was set up to study the situation. They gave a
compromise recommendation. Their suggestion was that neither the
A New Jewish Homeland Arabs nor the Jews should control Palestine. They believed that the
Arabs and Jews should rule together with the help of the United
By Jane Runyon Nations. Neither the Arabs nor the Jews liked this plan. By February
of 1947, negotiations between the two groups had broken down
The Jewish religion began thousands of completely.
years ago in the Middle East. Jerusalem is
a holy city to the Jews. Many Jewish In April of 1947, the United Nations General Assembly requested
families moved to Europe over the years. that Great Britain be relieved of their control of Palestine. The British
In the early 1900's, Jews began to mount a were glad to comply. The UN also asked that two states be established
movement to reestablish a homeland for in the area, one for the Jews and one for the Arabs. Although the Jews
themselves in what is now Palestine. The had hoped for more, many were thankful that they now had a land of
British government issued the Balfour their own. The UN passed their plan to establish two separate states
Declaration in 1917. It stated that they on November 29, 1947.
were in favor of the Jews establishing their
homeland in the area. The League of At the stroke of midnight on May 14, 1948, the Provisional
Nations, established after World War I, Government of Israel declared itself the new State of Israel. President
went along with the Balfour Declaration. In Harry Truman recognized the new government that very same day.
1922, they put Great Britain in charge of Palestine. On May 15 of 1948 Arab armies invaded Israel. The Arab-Israel wars
which continue today had begun.
You can imagine that the Arabs living in Palestine did not like this
idea at all. They felt that foreign nations were coming into their
country and telling them what to do. The Jewish people in Europe, A New Jewish Homeland
however, started to feel hopeful that their dream of a return to their
homeland would finally come true. They started moving to the area in Questions
large numbers. The Arabs resented this sudden move. It didn't take
long before fighting broke out between the two sides. In 1939, the
British put a restriction on the number of Jews who could immigrate 1. Israel is an independent state today.
to Palestine. The Arabs were somewhat satisfied. The Jews felt that A. True
the British were turning their backs on them. B. False
The United States tended to side with the Jewish people. President 2. In what country did Israel wish to form its homeland?
Franklin Roosevelt felt sympathy for the Jewish cause. Yet, he also A. Iraq
told the Arabs of Palestine that he would not interfere in the problem. B. Palestine
After Roosevelt's death, President Harry Truman voiced his support of C. Saudi Arabia
the Jewish claim more positively. D. Pakistan
He had to be careful. The Arab nations had a close connection to the
Soviet Union. The United States was having its own problems with
the Soviet Union. They were just beginning a "cold war" with the
Communists. The Arab nations also controlled a great deal of oil in
the area. The United States needed that oil. Many in Washington

2. 8. Who sided with the Palestinians in trying to keep the Jewish
Name people out?
A. Soviet Union
B. United States
C. Japan
3. Who did the League of Nations put in charge of Palestine? D. Great Britain
A. United States
B. Israel
C. Soviet Union What do you know about the history of the Jewish faith?
D. Great Britain
4. Why didn't the people of Palestine like the Balfour
Declaration?
5. What two plans were proposed to govern Palestine?
6. What United States president was the first to recognize the
state of Israel?
A. President Kennedy
B. President Roosevelt
C. President Eisenhower
D. President Truman
7. What do the Arab nations have that the United States wants?
A. Wheat
B. Oil
C. Minerals
D. People

3. Name
Why would Jewish people be anxious to leave Europe in the late
1930's and 1940's?