A House Divided: The Story of Israel and Palestine

2. Britain's Contradictory Middle East Promises in WWI


Listen Later

Join us as we dive into the secret deals and conflicting promises that reshaped the Middle East. We'll unpack the three mutually exclusive agreements Great Britain made during World War I that laid the foundation for decades of conflict.

  • The McMahon-Hussein Correspondence (1915-1916): We explore the pledge to support a vast, independent Arab kingdom in exchange for a revolt against the Ottoman Empire.


  • The Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916): Discover the secret deal that simultaneously carved up Ottoman territories into British and French spheres of influence, directly contradicting the Arab promise.


  • The Balfour Declaration (1917): Uncover the controversial statement promising a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, adding a third, incompatible layer to Britain's diplomatic mess.


This episode reveals how these contradictory commitments created a diplomatic quagmire for Britain and set the stage for a future where multiple groups believed they were promised the same land. Don't miss this crucial look at the WW1 agreements that forged the modern Middle East conflict.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

A House Divided: The Story of Israel and PalestineBy Jakub Osowski