In the summer of 1929, the British-controlled region of Palestine saw growing fault lines between Arabs and Jews. Tensions rose until they erupted one fateful day. In the city of Hebron, a riot quickly turned into a gruesome massacre, and in a mere two hours, 67 Jews were murdered. The Hebron riots were the catalyst for the week of terror that followed. In total, 133 Jews and 116 Arabs were killed and most peaceful Jewish-Arab coexistence came to an unfortunate end.
Big Ideas
- The 1929 Hebron massacre led to an understanding of the importance of Jewish self-defense in the Land of Israel.
- Propaganda and fake news played a key role in the incitement of violence against the Jews in Mandatory Palestine.
- The city of Hebron has modeled both coexistence and violence between Jews and Arabs.
Essential Questions
- Was the Hebron massacre of 1929 the beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict?
- How did the Hebron massacre of 1929 change Jewish views on self-defense?
- What are the dangers of allowing propaganda and fake news to spread in society?
- What might successful Jewish and Arab coexistence look like?
