Decolonization in the Middle East
Iraq
Israel
Oil & The Mediterranean
- The British initially granted the Kingdom of Iraq independence in 1932 appointing a king
- On April 1, 1941 the government Britain put in power was overthrown in a coup.
- Britain invaded out of fear that oil supplies to Western countries would be cut and that the new Iraqi government would side with the Axis during World War II
- The pre-coup government was restored on October 26, 1947 and British occupation ended.
Lebanese Independence
- Following World War II paramilitary organizations and rebel groups joined together to force the British from.
- At the same time hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Europe began to move to Israel.
- Initially the country was divided as an Arab state and an Israeli state however a civil war ensued.
- On May 14, 1948 the state of Israel was created.
- The following day Egypt, Syria, Transjordan and Iraq entered war against the newly created state.
- By March 10, 1949 the Arab-Israeli War ended with the survival of the Israeli state.
- On May 11, 1949 Israel was officially added to the United Nations
- The break up of the Ottoman Empire left the Middle East to a state of disarray and dysfunction.
- The region was very vulnerable to any Europeans who attempted to try to take control, and Europeans had always had an eye on the large oil fields in the Middle East.
- Control of oil was very important to the industry and manufacturing that formed the basis of Europe's economy.
- Europeans also wanted control of the Middle East because of how close it is to the Mediterranean Sea, which would open up more trade routes. The Middle East also offered access to raw materials to make manufactured goods.
- On November 8, 1943 the Lebanese Chamber of Deputies amended the constitution.
- Removed articles referring to French Mandate over Lebanon
- French responded by arresting the Lebanese President, Prime Minister, and other parliament members
- Arrests were followed by public protest
- On November 22, 1943 the prisoners were released