"The Arab-Israeli conflict is, to a larger degree, a result of British mismanagement of the nationalistic ideals of both the Jews and the Arabs." Do you agree?

The Arab-Israeli conflict is, to a large degree, a result of British mismanagement of the nationalistic ideals of the Jews and Arabs. Britain has interfered with the situation in Palestine and significantly contributed to the conflict since 1915. This was done through questionable decisions on behalf of the British government, unfair mandatory action of Palestine and overall ignorance to the religious, political and social beliefs of both the Jews and Arabs. It was these mistakes made by Britain that affected the two differing nationalistic ideals of the Jews and Arabs of Palestine; the Arabs wanted freedom from imperialism, the Jews wanted a homeland in Palestine.

In the space of three years, Britain made three agreements regarding Jews and Arabs. The first agreement, the 1915 McMahon-Hussein Correspondence, was a promise of freedom to the Arab people - "Great Britain is prepared to recognize and support the independence of the Arabs in all regions..."

English: Portrait of Lord Balfour, along with his ...

English: Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916. Reproduced fr...

English: Balfour declaration

It was a promise that satisfied the nationalistic ideals of the Arabs, yet opposed the Jewish quest for a homeland in Palestine. After two years, the British had contradicted the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence twice - firstly with the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement: an agreement made with France to split up the Turkish Empire after World War I. This secret agreement affected the ideals of the Arab people, as it planned to go against the year-old McMahon-Hussein Correspondence. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration led Jewish Zionists to believe that Jewish establishment in Palestine would be supported. "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object..." This therefore satisfied Jewish ideals and opposed the nationalistic ideals of the Arabs. These agreements clashed with each other and triggered further...