Did a secret 1916 treaty between the U.K. and France create the State of Israel?

It’s 1916 and World War I is raging. Countries are fighting for resources, land and power and the Ottoman Empire is on its deathbed. With all eyes on the Empire’s Middle Eastern territory, who will decide who gets control over what will become Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq and parts of Saudi Arabia? In this episode, Noam explores the secretive Sykes-Picot Agreement and the fallout it caused at the San Remo Conference.

Big Ideas

1. The San Remo Conference was one of the driving events behind the international legitimacy of a Jewish state (and other Middle Eastern nations as well).
2. The San Remo Conference had an impactful and complicated legacy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Essential Questions

1. What is the legacy of the San Remo Conference on Israelis and Palestinians?
2. What are the various perspectives on the San Remo Conference both amongst Israelis and Palestinians and amongst the Israeli political spectrum?