The Jewish‐Arab conflict: the first Jewish underground defence organizations and the Arabs

Abstract

This article deals with the attitude of 'Bar-Giora' and 'Ha'shomer', the first Jewish underground defence organizations in Palestine, towards the Arabs in the years 1907-20. It is based on relevant historical evidences reflecting the perception of their political mother party 'Poalei-Zion', and the abundant recollections of pertinent members involved in these two associations. From its foundation in late 1905 until 1908, Poalei-Zion, the first Jewish socialist-Marxist party in Palestine, adopted the Borochovist' view of the political developments that might be envisaged in Palestine. According to this doctrine, eventually a Jewish rebellion against the Turkish rule in the country was likely to break out. The Palestinian Jewish workers' class would be the fighting avant-garde in this rebellion. In the end, owing to international intervention, Jewish national autonomy would be established in Palestine, which would remain within the heterogeneous and multinational Ottoman Empire.2 Ideologically, prior to the 'Young Turk' revolution of 1908, the party did not regard the Arabs as competitors against the Jewish national movement for dominance in the future Palestinian autonomy. It was assumed that this Palestinian autonomy, which would be won through armed struggle against the Turks, would be Jewish in quality and controlled by the Jews. Moreover, the lack of discernment, and hence recognition, of the existence of Arab nationalism in Palestine caused PoaleiZion serious doubts about adopting the principle of 'Jewish labour' (to employ only Jewish workers by Jewish employers), which seemed to contradict the Marxist-socialist world-view. The ideological turning point for Poalei-Zion party came in the wake of the Young Turk revolution of 1908.3 This upheaval was followed by the rise of Arab nationalism throughout a region that encompassed the Arabs of Palestine. It could no longer be ignored; the awakening bore an all-Arab stamp, and as yet no separate Palestinian consciousness existed. Furthermore, it was clear that the Palestinian Arabs regarded themselves as the exclusive ruling element in the country. In view of this, the party began to retreat from the political goal it had set itself, namely the attainment of