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This TL idea came out of me trying to find a way to actually have life change do to a butterfly. My first step was to find a prominent lepidopterist/possibly significant historical figure. Walter Rothschild seemed like a good candidate. Although this part is pretty positive, if I do end up doing an actual TL, it will not be of a utopian nature.

As always, any feedback would be appreciated. Also, I apologize in advance for the extensive amount of footnotes but with such a potential touchy combination of topics (WWI, Zionism, British politics and empire) I felt that as much initial justification/explanation as possible.

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Chapter I:

“The roots of the modern state of Palestine can trace its roots to one histories more peculiar chance occurrences. In June of 1896, Lionel Walter Rothschild, future Baron Rothschild, was tending to his tamed Plains Zebras. Rothschild, an enthusiastic lepidopterist, was suddenly distracted by what he thought was a Apollo butterfly (Rothschild would later use the symbolism of Apollo, patron god of colonists, to great effect), a vagrant from continental Europe, out of the corner of his eye. Just as he turned to get a more proper look at the specimen, one of his zebras, which one is still unknown, reared up, knocked over and nearly trampled Rothschild, who was lucky to escape death.[1] When he regained consciousness, he was a changed man. Rothschild would later claim that the accident was a religious awakening for him. Rothschild, a member of arguably the most prominent Jewish family in the United Kingdom, and perhaps on the continent as well, gave his life to the Zionist cause, ignoring his previous zoologist pursuits and instead began devoting all his family's political and financial powers towards the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.[2] Within thirty years, he was able to convince the British populace that Zionism was more than a Jewish cause and was, in fact, a British cause.

“Rothschild, along with his close friend Chaim Weizmann, attended the First Zionist Conference of the Zionist Organization in 1897.[3] There, they met the original dreamer of Zionism, Theodor Herzl. Herzl was instrumental in the initial organization of the Zionist movement, with a great deal of his travel to promote the Zionist cause being funded by the Rothschilds. With Herzl's death in 1905, Rothschild took his place as President of Zionist Organization. Rothschild would serve as President until the end of the Great European War in 1919, being replaced by his friend Weizmann.[4] Rothschild abdicated his position due to his appointment as Minister of the Authority of Palestine, as outlined by the International Council.[5] To counter the appointment of the Zionist, detail-mined Rothschild, Prime Minister MacDonald also appointed the recently regionally famous Thomas Lawrence as Vice Minister. The two proved to be an effective team. Rothschild was the face of British Zionism while Lawrence was the poster boy of positive Anglo-Arab relationships. The detail-minded, policy-focused Rothschild allowed Lawrence to act as the public relations agent of the Authority.[6]

“Despite his new political post, Rothschild was still an active Zionist, although he acted primarily through his extended family members and charitable donations to Jewish organizations. Also, during Rothschild term as Minister there was a massive influx of Jewish immigrants into Palestine on both sides of the Jordan, with Rothschild appointment making Palestine at least appear more friendly to Jewish peoples. This caused great social strife, particularly in the years between 1923-1926 due to the extensive organized pogroms and deportation of Jews by the Russian Empire in futile an attempt to gain support from, and to distract, an increasingly irate populace.[7] During this time, Rothschild's closest ally in the region was Faisal I of Syria, who had been elected/appointed Duke of the Authority of Syria.[8] During the worst of the revolts, generally known as the Christmas Day Riots (although beginning a full week before Christmas proper), petitioned Horace Smith-Dorrien, Minister of Egypt and Sudan, for additional troops but his plea was largely ignored. Instead, Faisal came to Rothschild's aide. Smith-Dorrien would later be dismissed from his post for ignoring Rothschild. Faisal's assistance would mark the beginning of the long friendship between Palestine and Syria.

“It was during these shakier years of Rothschild's rule that he came to realize that the Zionist movement, and eventually an independent state of Palestine, must be of an secular nature. A nation that catered to one religion above others would inevitably cause greater strife. This could be seen as another watershed moment both in Rothschild's life and in the history of the Zionist movement. Originally, Zionism had been dominated by a strong religious character, in part due to Rothschild and his family. The riots that occurred during those three years had been motivated by sectarian thoughts rather than economic or colonialist concerns, a direct reaction to the religiosity of Zionism. In fact, Jewish immigrants had been integrating somewhat into the greater weave of Palestinian society. However, in 1927, Rothschild started enacting policies with the intent to integrate the still fairly separated populations of Muslims and Jews in Palestine. One such example, which came naturally to Rothschild due to his financial background, was offering economic and housing initiatives for those who were willing to work with members of other religions. This way, the new business and money being brought into Palestine by Jewish immigrants was shared amongst the local Muslim populations as well, providing an increase in the quality of life for both peoples. By the time the British authority over Palestine ended in 1939, the population of the Republic of Palestine had roughly even populations of Jews and Muslims.[9]”


Of Zebras and Zionists: Baron Rothschild's Palestinian by Farid Najjar (1995)


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Footnotes


1. Zebras are not domesticated animals and have been noted for their unpredictable temperament and easy to startle. The Apollo butterfly is not native to the British Isles but vagrants have been spotted before. Also, ITTL, Rothschild is never sure whether or not he actually saw an Apollo so it could have been something completely different. Also this is the POD. I am not sure any specific time he was tending to the zebras when they became unruly but its historically possible.
2. The entire Rothschild family were prominent Zionists in OTL but primarily as philanthropists and investors. Walter's near death experience ITTL would lead him to loose some of his shy demeanor and take a political role.
3. Weizmann and Rothschild were friends in OTL and Weizmann was arguably the most important British individual in the Zionist movement, and he is still important ITTL. Weizmann tried to attend the First Conference in OTL, Rothschild did not, but they made it together ITTL.
4. Weizmann did serve as President of ZO in OTL. The Great European War is TTL's version of OTL's WWI. For my own purposes it is a 'softer war', ending more quickly and being less destructive. If pushed I could come up with a reason why the war was less painful for all of Europe. The Ottoman Empire still collapses but Russia and perhaps Austria are spared for now.
5. TTL's League of Nations. I imagine an international group not being contingent on the election of Wilson. Also, the League of Nations sounds like something from a comic book. The Authorities (OTL's Mandates) have different boundaries. If this TL takes off I will provide a map.
6. I will admit that TE Lawrence (ITTL just Thomas Lawrence) getting such a high post is a bit of a stretch but with Faisal I playing a larger role ITTL in Greater Syria I think it is not implausible for Lawrence to be put in a post close to his friend and ally.
7. Due to a lesser war, the House of Romanov is not deposed.
8. ITTL, Syria is not subdivided and due to objections to foreign rule in the region (British territories see less reaction to this due to their great assistance in overthrowing the Ottomans) Faisal I is kept as “Regent” of the area as IC provided assistance to the government during its transition to independence. Once again, its boundaries are different from OTL.
9. I am unsure of OTL's population levels of Palestine and Transjordan during this time but I thought an even split would be nice story wise. Also, I am not ignorant of the fact that there were Christians and members of smaller religions in the region; if this TL continues, they will be addressed.
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