the British empire in 1948? Hmm, what else was going on with that at the same time? Ohh yeah, it was collapsing as various nations claimed their independence. The empire was over. No way could the mandate simply be continued, no chance at all. Of course Israel had its own interests, but the brits thought they would dovetails neatly/sufficiently with British interests for that to be okay.
Well I was meaning more the Balfour declaration and the subsequent Mandate in which it was written into it the ideas of the Balfour declaration.
The ending of the mandate was a humiliation for the Atlee government. Who were not that pro Zionist compared to say the later Harold Wilson. They handed it over to the new UN to deal with.
During the Mandate the British went to support Arabs and then Zionists. Its was incoherent policy.
Britain imo historically has a lot to answer for in making the ground on which this conflict has developed.
What I'm trying to get away from is the its all about imperialism line.
I'm not convinced that supporting Zionism was in the best interests of the British Empire.
Heard Avi Shlaim say recently that the Balfour declaration was one of the worst foreign policy decisions the British Empire made.
The post WW1 mandates were supposed to be stepping stone for people to get self determination. Not that one Empire decides to give land to a European settler colonial political project. Which is what got written into the Mandate.
Nor do I think having Israel as an ally for the Britain and the west proved a great idea. Seeing what's happening now.
This country still has the 2030 roadmap. Starmer government , despite a few arms embargo, still regards Israel who is an ally.
To me , if on real politic level UK needs to ally with unpleasant countries I would expect that UK gets something back. I don't see that in our relationship with Israel. If anything Israel is a loose cannon.
Not trying to have a go at you here.
I suppose what I'm wary of is the bundling up Israel as part of imperialism Vs the axis of resistance. My enemies enemy is my friend stuff.
Listening to Ilan Pappe few nights ago and he was arguing the its going to be a regional war line was wrong.
It takes attention away from what Zionism has done and is doing now to Palestinians.
If I get him right he's saying stick to basics. Don't elaborate it to being about regional / imperial conflict.
Stick to what is happening to Palestinians land. What Zionists want as end game. And how international public can oppose this.
Still I'm not dismissing the foreign policy - Israel - issue. I'm just a bit wary of it.
