Faisal-Weizmann+Agreement

Signed on January 3rd, 1919, the Faisal-Weizmann Agreement was an agreement between Jews and Arabs who both wished to set up their own nations in the Middle East.

Emir Faisal, son of Sharif Hussein of Mecca and a leader of the Arab Revolt, signed the agreement as a representative for the Arabs. Chaim Weizmann, head of the British branch of the World Zionist Organization, signed the document as a representative for the Jews. T.E. Lawrence represented the British, but did not partake in the signing and acted as a moderator between the two parties.

The document was the result of the unique situation both the Arabs and the Jews were left with after World War One. Both parties had been promised land after the war by the British: the Arabs in the MacMahon-Hussein Correspondence and the Jews in the Balfour Declaration. Around June 1918, both Faisal and Weizmann realized that they could expedite the process of recieving their land it they worked together.

The agreement has nine articles; each with a condition agreed upon by both Weizmann and Faisal and any disagreements would be settled by the British Government. The document was vague in the articles and could be interpreted in a multitude of ways, such as Article III alluding to the Balfour Declaration, which could have been interpreted to mean the Jews would be in Palestine. While some of the articles sound good in theory, they would be difficult to implement in practice. Article VI states that "The Mohammedan Holy Places shall remain under Mohammedan control," while Mohammedan holy places contain holy sites for both Arabs and Jews. Other statements similar to that in Article VII stating "The parties hereto agree to act in complete accord and harmony in al matters...", were outright ridiculous. At the end of the document Faisal added an addendum stating that everything in the Agreement needed to happen in order for the Agreement to be put into effect. This shows the "all or nothing" attitude of the Arabs whereas the Zionist Jews were more willing to compromise in order for progress.

The Faisal-Weizmann Agreement was nulified by the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

Emir Faisal and Chaim Weizmann in 1918

Faisal and Weizmann. //A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict//. By Ian J Bickerton and Carla L Klausner. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.