100 Years

A lot has been made this week of two significant hundredth anniversaries: the Battle of Beersheva and the Balfour Declaration.

They are intertwined.

The Battle of Beersheva was the last great cavalry battle ever. It took place on Oct 31, 1917, between the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces (ANZAC Mounted Division and Light Horse Brigades) and Germany's Turkish allies in World War 1. The battle created a strategic opening in the Turkish line which led to the liberation of the Negev and Jerusalem. It was the beginning of the end of the Ottoman Empire which ruled this region for 500 years.

The anniversary of the battle was celebrated with great fanfare. 100 Australian horsemen, from the same units that fought the battle (including some descendants of those soldiers) took part in a reenactment of the defining charge through the desert.

The PM of Australia and the Governor General of New Zealand were here for the occasion. This in itself was a big deal because New Zealand was one of the sponsors of the vicious anti-Israel UN Security Council resolution 2334 of December, 2016, declaring the so-called "settlements" illegal according to international law. The resolution was one of Obama's parting gifts to Israel, and New Zealand's sponsorship created a serious diplomatic rift. Subsequent elections in both the US and New Zealand resulted in governments that have taken vastly different directions in their relations with the rest of the world, especially with Israel. The presence of New Zealand's GG reflected that new direction and the symbolism was obvious to everyone here. 

The Ottomon Empire was crumbling and to the victors go the spoils (unless the victor happens to be Israel and the war happened to be in 1967). The French and British allied powers were going to fill the vacuum and the spheres of influence were codified as early as May, 1916 by the secret Sykes Picot Agreement. 

The Balfour Declaration was issued on Nov 2, 1917 against this background.

But what was the connection?

Last Sunday we went to see an operetta called Intrepid. The quality of the production was high school at best, and the subject matter really doesn't lend itself to a musical. That aside, it was the story of a chapter of Israel's pre-state history that doesn't get nearly enough credit or attention: the story of the NILI spy ring, which was active from 1915-1917.  The NILI group was pro-British and supplied vital information about Turkish logistics, troop movements and geography (particularly the location of water wells) that was vital to the British war effort. While heavy lobbying for a Jewish homeland by the World Zionist Organization, Chaim Weizmann and others had been ongoing, it's fair to claim that the Balfour Declaration was payback for the contribution of the NILI spys to the allied victory in World War 1.  

Another anniversary was marked this week - the 22nd since the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. 

The thread that links all these events is the blood that has been spilled for the sake of building a strong, safe and viable Jewish home in this tiny corner of the world.

May the memories of all those who give their lives for the establishment and preservation of the State of Israel be a blessing for those of us who have the privilege of benefiting from their sacrifice. 

Shavua tov from Jerusalem,

Peggy and Sid