David Ben Gurion (1886-1970): Founder of Israel and Architect of the Palestinian Conflict
Born in 1886 in Poland, David Ben Gurion recognized the deep-seated anti-Semitism in Europe and aligned himself with the Zionist movement. Realizing that Europe was not a comfortable place for Jews, he sought a refuge and, in 1906, set foot in Palestine, then under Ottoman rule, working as a farm laborer. As he began to implement the principles of Zionist philosophy, the Ottoman governor Kemal Pasha, citing his radical socialist republican views, banished David Ben Gurion to Cairo. Eventually, Gurion dedicated himself to the Zionist cause and found a new home in New York.
Amidst the outbreak and conclusion of World War I, Palestine was now under British control. The League of Nations gave the green light for the establishment of a Jewish state. David Ben Gurion returned to British-controlled Palestine. Meanwhile, anti-Jewish sentiments in Europe surged, prompting Jewish immigrants to flock to Palestine. The Arabs in Palestine initiated small-scale attacks against both the British and Jews. Their goal was to establish a Palestinian state.
While initially attempting to cooperate, David Ben Gurion realized the need for at least a shadow army for their survival and expedited these movements. Just as these events unfolded, World War II erupted. Jews were being confined to gas chambers by the Nazis, with no nation willing to accept them due to fear. The British also opposed Jewish immigration to Palestine. David Ben Gurion implemented a cunning strategy: he sent thousands of young men from Palestine to fight against the Nazis in the ranks of the British. Simultaneously, he established an underground network to secretly transport European Jews to the lands of Palestine. As the British tried to hinder and detain Jews fleeing and attempting to reach Palestine, global opinion began to soften towards the Jews' desire for Palestine.
In 1947, the United Nations, in the aftermath of the war, shed light on the establishment of both an Arab and a Jewish state in Palestine, as the British prepared to withdraw. Amidst this chaos, on May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion declared the independent state of Israel and appointed himself as its Prime Minister. Shortly after the declaration, Arabs from neighboring regions united with the Palestinians, engaging in conflict with the newly formed state of Israel. The situation escalated. In the first official war between the two nations, one percent of the Jewish population and thousands of Arabs lost their lives. Over half a million Palestinians were displaced from their homes. A new global issue emerged: the Palestinian conflict.
Over the next two years, small-scale skirmishes occurred between the parties. David Ben Gurion consolidated his authority. From 1949 to 1956, mutual challenges and minor clashes took place between Arab states and Israel. In 1956, David Ben Gurion noticed a military mobilization in Egypt. The fervent Arab nationalist, Gamal Abdel Nasser, escalated tensions by occupying the Sinai Peninsula. This led to an attack on Egypt by the British and French. Following their triumph in the 1967 Six-Day War, in which the Israelis inflicted a decisive defeat on the Arabs, the Israelis' aspirations for holy sites solidified. David Ben Gurion, the founding father of Israel, raised his voice one last time, stating, "Do not divide Jerusalem, but do not be too greedy for the newly acquired lands; you may need to return them in exchange for peace." Israel's triumphant atmosphere took a turn in the October War of 1973, with Israel suffering heavy losses. A few weeks after the war, David Ben Gurion passed away.
From the perspective of Jews and their supporters, it can be said that David Ben Gurion dedicated his entire life to elevating Israel as a nation based on religious prophecies, nationalism, a socialist model, and a democratic nation. However, it cannot be claimed that the events from 1948 until now aligned closely with David Ben Gurion and his dreams. Perhaps unintended, but the state he established in August engaged in brutality and warfare with the world. Witnessing humanity die in Palestine is still possible.
When Did Turkey Recognize Israel?
David Ben Gurion studied at Istanbul University Law Faculty in 1911-1912 and was proficient in Turkish. While he appeared to be an ardent supporter of the struggle for independence, he initially condemned the terrorist acts carried out by extremist Jewish groups but later it became apparent that he assisted these individuals. He was the driving force behind defense and intelligence organizations that instilled fear in the enemies, particularly MOSSAD.
David Ben Gurion once summarized Turkish-Israeli relations in two sentences. "Turkey treats us like a mistress, even though we're married. They never acknowledge our marriage." Indeed, relations between the two countries were initially conducted discreetly. David Ben Gurion's visit to Turkey in July 1958, for example, could have been the plot of a spy movie. The Israeli Prime Minister, identified as a sick passenger on an Israeli passenger plane making an emergency landing in Ankara, was taken by ambulance to meet with Prime Minister Adnan Menderes. Turkey recognized Israel on March 28, 1949, becoming the first Muslim country to do so.
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