The ethnic cleansing of Jews in mixed cities across the Land of Israel during the late 1920s and 1930s primarily occurred during the 1929 riots (Hebron Massacre) and the Great Arab Revolt (1936–1939).
These events were marked by severe violence perpetrated by segments of the local Arab population against the Jewish community, often incited or directed by local leaders. During this period, Jews were expelled, murdered, and forced to abandon communities where they had lived for centuries.
Hebron
In the 1929 riots, a massacre took place in Hebron where 67 Jews were murdered, and many others were injured. The Jewish community in Hebron was part of the city's ancient Jewish presence, consisting of "Sephardic" Jews who had lived there for generations and Ashkenazi Jews who arrived in the 19th century. Following the massacre, the Jewish community was completely evacuated, and significant Jewish presence did not return to the city until after the Six-Day War in 1967.
Gaza
Gaza was home to a small, traditional Jewish community, primarily composed of Sephardic Jews. During the 1929 riots, Gaza’s Jews were forced to flee the city due to threats and violence from the local Arab population. This community never returned, and Jewish presence in Gaza was not reestablished until the creation of Israeli settlements in Gush Katif after the Six-Day War in 1967.
Ramle and Lod
During the Great Arab Revolt (1936–1939), Jews living in mixed cities such as Ramle and Lod were attacked and forced to leave their homes. These cities housed small Jewish communities alongside a larger Arab population. Due to the violence and concerns for their safety, many Jews abandoned these areas, with only a few returning later.
Be’er Sheva
The Jewish community in Be’er Sheva, which was small at the time, faced harassment and threats during this period and ultimately left the city entirely. As in other areas, Jewish settlement in Be’er Sheva was not reestablished until the establishment of the State of Israel.
What Were the Causes and Key Characteristics of These Events?
Religious and Nationalist Incitement: The Grand Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini played a central role in inciting violence against Jews, spreading rumors of a "Jewish threat" to Islam and its holy sites.
Direct Attacks: The violence included murder, rape, looting, and the burning of Jewish homes and property.
Passive and Active Collaboration: In some cases, local Arab residents helped Jews escape, while in others, they actively participated in the attacks.
Long-Term Consequences: In these areas, Jewish communities were nearly wiped out and did not return until the establishment of the State of Israel, if at all.
These are painful events in the history of the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel, reflecting the complexity and hostility of that era and their lasting impact to this day.
In the geopolitical and media discourse about the Arab-Israeli conflict, the term "ethnic cleansing" is often mentioned.
Do you have an idea or an explanation as to why this term is rarely mentioned in the context of the cases discussed here?
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