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A Century after Sykes-Picot: Strategic and Geopolitical Aspects

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Yossi Kuperwasser - The new order created by the Sykes-Picot agreements had split the real control over the area (formerly part of the Ottoman Empire) between the international powers, while promoting a benign version of Arab nationalism and dividing the territory between loyal Arab leaders along borders drawn by the foreign powers. At the same time, the agreements reconstituted the national homeland of the Jewish people over what was to be mandatory Palestine. Arab nationalism was introduced by the British and Sykes himself invented the four-colored Arab national flag. But this concept gave insufficient weight to the role of religion, affiliation to the tribe and region, the aspirations of other nationalities in the region, and led to basic resentment towards foreign ideas. Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser was formerly Director General of the Israel Ministry of Strategic Affairs.
2016-01-07 00:00:00
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