When the Jewish State was Almost in Uganda | History of Israel Explained | Unpacked.
https://youtu.be/ldlXYFMn48g?si=9eVL88c_kLINufmV
When the Jewish State was Almost in Uganda | History of Israel Explained | Unpacked.
While the State of Israel was established in the Middle East in 1948, Zionism's founder, Theodor Herzl, once considered an African territory (part of modern-day Kenya) as a potential Jewish homeland due to rampant antisemitism in Europe, a proposal known as the "Uganda Scheme," though it was ultimately rejected in favor of a return to Palestine. Later, Israel developed complex relationships with African nations, including political and military ties with Apartheid South Africa, despite public condemnation of its policies, complicating broader African-Israeli relations.
The "Uganda Scheme" of 1903:
- The Offer: In 1903, British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain offered land in the East Africa Protectorate (Kenya) to the Zionist movement as a refuge for persecuted Jews.
- The Debate: The proposal sparked intense debate at the Sixth Zionist Congress, with many feeling it was a distraction from Zion (Palestine) but others seeing it as a vital temporary haven.
- Rejection: The plan was ultimately shelved, with Zionists reaffirming their commitment to Palestine as the historical Jewish homeland.
Israel's Establishment (1948)
- On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel in Tel Aviv, following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine.
- This declaration led to immediate invasion by neighboring Arab states and heightened concerns for Jewish populations in Africa and Asia.
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"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence", George Washington.
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