The Republic of Israel
The Republic of Israel
Capital: Jerusalem (Executive) Tel Aviv-Yafo (Legislative)
Official Languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish
Unofficial Languages: Yiddish, Polish, German, English
Major Religions: Judaism (61.5%) Islam (34.5%) Christianity (19%)
Government: Presidential Republic
Flag of the Republic of Israel, adopted 1940
Modern History: Palestine had been under Ottoman rule for centuries, and despite the efforts of Zionists, had remained so. The Turks were very strict in their immigration policies, allowing few Jews to settle in Palestine for much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This changed, like many things in geopolitics, with World War I. The Ottomans lost Palestine to the British for almost a year, during which time they grew concerned that they would lose the territory in a peace agreement, and that the British would attempt to gain international support by backing the Zionist cause. The Kaiser (who supported Zionism), German diplomats, and a delegation of German Zionists finally convinced the Ottomans to issue a statement in late 1917, declaring "The Council of Ministers has just decided, Following negotiations with the Jewish delegation, to lift all restrictive measures on Jewish Immigration and Settlement in Palestine. Strict orders have been given to the relevant authorities to ensure a benevolent treatment of the Jewish nation in Palestine based on complete equality with the other elements of the population." the statement, now known as the Istanbul Declaration*, continued, saying "We hereby declare our sympathies for the establishment of a religious and national Jewish center in Palestine by well organized immigration and settlement."
The British withdrew from Palestine only a few months later, and the Ottoman government attempted to figure out a solution for Jewish settlement. The obvious answer, they decided, was a Pale of settlement, and quotas for how many Jews could emigrate per year. This Pale was initially quite small, as were the quotas, but with some pressure from the Kaiser, and the Republican Coup of 1923, the quotas were lifted in 1925, and the Pale was expanded to cover all of Palestine by 1930.
Expansion of the Pale, 1919-1930. Egypt was far less kind to
its Jewish population, forcing them into "Townships" in the Sinai
Unfortunately, this relatively peaceful era was not to last. As Turkish nationalism stirred, supported by Russian agents, harsher laws were passed, and at the same time Zionists were increasingly demanding an independent Jewish nation. In 1937, the Nationalists deported large numbers of Arabs to the UAS, and ordered a halt on all immigration to Palestine. Many Zionists organized themselvis into militias, and fearing that the Turks would forcibly expel them, a group of Socialist Zionists declared the Eilat Commune. Athough the Commune lasted only six days, many historians consider those to be the first shots fired in the Ottoman Civil War. As the Constitutionalists and Nationalists fought each other across the rest of the Empire, and Pontic Greek and Armenian separatists gained ground, the varoius Zionist groups organized into the Army for Judea. The Nationalists tried to occupy and secure Palestine, their rule was little more than a warlord state. On September 1st, 1939, the Republic of Israel was declared. The first act of this new Republic was to send official aid to Zionist rebels in the Sinai, who were rising up agaist the anti-semitic Egyptian Government. Germany recognized the country almost immediately, and after much debate, the United States and France soon did too.
The Situation in the Levant, Sept. 1st, 1939
As WWII raged in Europe, the allies relieved the Constitutionalist forces, and the Nationalists retreated from Palestine in 1944. But the Constitutionalists demanded that the Israeli forces surrender to them, which they refused. At the same time, Egyptian forces launched a massive offensive into the Sinai, forcing a retreat. It looked like the young Republic was doomed. Then, the German Empire persuaded the Ottomans to redirect their forces to Armenia, and settle the question of Israel later. This allowed the Israelis the chance to regroup, and drive the Egyptians out of the Sinai altogether. Still not wanting to acknowledge the soverignty of Israel, the Egyptian government sold the Sinai region to the Ottoman Empire. In 1946, the Ottoman civil war ended, with a Constitutionalist victory. An agreement was reached, that as long as Jerusalem's Muslim artifacts and buildings were preserved, the Republic of Israel would be officially recognized.
Israel rebuilt itself into a powerful nation, with a strong military and economy. These both would be put to the test, with the 1968 recession, and the Roman-Israeli war. This was one of the last Naval wars, mostly triggered by Roman naval aggression. After sinking seven Roman aircraft carriers off the coast of Lebanon, the Roman Republic agreed to stand down, and allow free trade in the Mediterranean.
Israel today is a well developed democratic state. Although constantly clashing with the Romanists, it has endured. Israel is seen as a beacon of hope by the world's Jewish population. Although in recent years, there have been some issues with Arab separatism, so far these issues have been settled politically. Israel has recently become a major hub for tech companies, and has become a competitor with the Chinese and with Silicon Valley*
Map of the States of the Republic of Israel
*this was an actual declaration made in OTL by an Ottoman official
**Silicon valley ITTL is not located in California
Capital: Jerusalem (Executive) Tel Aviv-Yafo (Legislative)
Official Languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish
Unofficial Languages: Yiddish, Polish, German, English
Major Religions: Judaism (61.5%) Islam (34.5%) Christianity (19%)
Government: Presidential Republic
Flag of the Republic of Israel, adopted 1940
Modern History: Palestine had been under Ottoman rule for centuries, and despite the efforts of Zionists, had remained so. The Turks were very strict in their immigration policies, allowing few Jews to settle in Palestine for much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This changed, like many things in geopolitics, with World War I. The Ottomans lost Palestine to the British for almost a year, during which time they grew concerned that they would lose the territory in a peace agreement, and that the British would attempt to gain international support by backing the Zionist cause. The Kaiser (who supported Zionism), German diplomats, and a delegation of German Zionists finally convinced the Ottomans to issue a statement in late 1917, declaring "The Council of Ministers has just decided, Following negotiations with the Jewish delegation, to lift all restrictive measures on Jewish Immigration and Settlement in Palestine. Strict orders have been given to the relevant authorities to ensure a benevolent treatment of the Jewish nation in Palestine based on complete equality with the other elements of the population." the statement, now known as the Istanbul Declaration*, continued, saying "We hereby declare our sympathies for the establishment of a religious and national Jewish center in Palestine by well organized immigration and settlement."
The British withdrew from Palestine only a few months later, and the Ottoman government attempted to figure out a solution for Jewish settlement. The obvious answer, they decided, was a Pale of settlement, and quotas for how many Jews could emigrate per year. This Pale was initially quite small, as were the quotas, but with some pressure from the Kaiser, and the Republican Coup of 1923, the quotas were lifted in 1925, and the Pale was expanded to cover all of Palestine by 1930.
Expansion of the Pale, 1919-1930. Egypt was far less kind to
its Jewish population, forcing them into "Townships" in the Sinai
Unfortunately, this relatively peaceful era was not to last. As Turkish nationalism stirred, supported by Russian agents, harsher laws were passed, and at the same time Zionists were increasingly demanding an independent Jewish nation. In 1937, the Nationalists deported large numbers of Arabs to the UAS, and ordered a halt on all immigration to Palestine. Many Zionists organized themselvis into militias, and fearing that the Turks would forcibly expel them, a group of Socialist Zionists declared the Eilat Commune. Athough the Commune lasted only six days, many historians consider those to be the first shots fired in the Ottoman Civil War. As the Constitutionalists and Nationalists fought each other across the rest of the Empire, and Pontic Greek and Armenian separatists gained ground, the varoius Zionist groups organized into the Army for Judea. The Nationalists tried to occupy and secure Palestine, their rule was little more than a warlord state. On September 1st, 1939, the Republic of Israel was declared. The first act of this new Republic was to send official aid to Zionist rebels in the Sinai, who were rising up agaist the anti-semitic Egyptian Government. Germany recognized the country almost immediately, and after much debate, the United States and France soon did too.
The Situation in the Levant, Sept. 1st, 1939
As WWII raged in Europe, the allies relieved the Constitutionalist forces, and the Nationalists retreated from Palestine in 1944. But the Constitutionalists demanded that the Israeli forces surrender to them, which they refused. At the same time, Egyptian forces launched a massive offensive into the Sinai, forcing a retreat. It looked like the young Republic was doomed. Then, the German Empire persuaded the Ottomans to redirect their forces to Armenia, and settle the question of Israel later. This allowed the Israelis the chance to regroup, and drive the Egyptians out of the Sinai altogether. Still not wanting to acknowledge the soverignty of Israel, the Egyptian government sold the Sinai region to the Ottoman Empire. In 1946, the Ottoman civil war ended, with a Constitutionalist victory. An agreement was reached, that as long as Jerusalem's Muslim artifacts and buildings were preserved, the Republic of Israel would be officially recognized.
Israel rebuilt itself into a powerful nation, with a strong military and economy. These both would be put to the test, with the 1968 recession, and the Roman-Israeli war. This was one of the last Naval wars, mostly triggered by Roman naval aggression. After sinking seven Roman aircraft carriers off the coast of Lebanon, the Roman Republic agreed to stand down, and allow free trade in the Mediterranean.
Israel today is a well developed democratic state. Although constantly clashing with the Romanists, it has endured. Israel is seen as a beacon of hope by the world's Jewish population. Although in recent years, there have been some issues with Arab separatism, so far these issues have been settled politically. Israel has recently become a major hub for tech companies, and has become a competitor with the Chinese and with Silicon Valley*
Map of the States of the Republic of Israel
*this was an actual declaration made in OTL by an Ottoman official
**Silicon valley ITTL is not located in California
