History route 2 HL and SL paper 1 (The Arab-Israeli conflict 1945-79) May 2010 MS-2

M10/3/HISTX/BP1/ENG/TZ0/XX/S2/M+

MARKSCHEME
May 2010

HISTORY

ROUTE 2

Higher Level and Standard Level

Paper 1 – The Arab–Israeli conflict
1945–79

6 pages

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This markscheme is confidential and for the exclusive use of examiners in this examination session.
It is the property of the International Baccalaureate and must not be reproduced or distributed to any other person without the authorization of IB Cardiff.

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For the attention of all examiners: if you are uncertain about the content/accuracy of a candidate’s work please contact your team leader.
1.

(a)

What does Source A suggest about the United Nations Partition Plan of 1947?

[3 marks]

Palestine is divided into two independent states: one Jewish, the other Arab;
The city of Jerusalem is to be placed under international control but situated in the
Arab area.
The Jewish state is slightly bigger than the Arab state;
It suggests that problems might emerge in the area and that probably the Arabs will not be very pleased about it.
Award [1 mark] for each relevant point up to a maximum of [3 marks].
(b)

According to Source B, what were the reactions to the United Nations
Partition Plan?

[2 marks]

While the Zionists approved the partition plan, the Arabs were very discontented with the plan that allocated a large part of their territory to the Zionists. [Both began to arm themselves and a civil war ensued;]
During this period there were abuses committed by both sides, such as the
Deir Yassin massacre by the Irgun and Lehi, and the attack on a Jewish convoy by the Arabs;
By May 1948, when the Israel State was proclaimed, the fighting had prompted a mass exodus of Palestinian Arabs.
Award [1 mark] for each valid point up to [2 marks].
Do not enter half marks or + and – but compensate between (a) and (b) if necessary for a final mark out of [5 marks].

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Compare and contrast the views expressed in Sources C and D about the incident in the village of Deir Yassin.

[6 marks]

For “compare”
Both acknowledged that there was an incident in the village of Deir Yassin;
Both state that it was a confrontation in which both Arabs and Jews were killed.
Both identify house to house fighting which involved civilian inhabitants.
For “contrast”
Source C labels the “incident” as a massacre perpetrated by the Irgun and the Lehi, and tells how 254 Arabs were killed in cold blood. Source D argues that the “massacre was a lie”.
Source C says that there were four members of the Irgun killed. Source D does not mention the number of deaths of either Arabs or Jews.
While Source D mentions that civilians were given warning, Source C mentions that the commander refused to order a cease fire.
Source D refers to the consequences of Deir Yassin for the Arab population, whereas
Source C merely describes the events.
Do not demand all of the above. If only one source is discussed award a maximum of
[2 marks]. If the two sources are discussed separately award [3 marks] or with excellent linkage [4–5 marks]. For maximum [6 marks] expect a detailed running comparison and contrast.

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With reference to their origin and purpose, assess the value and limitations of Source C and Source E for historians studying the events which occurred during the civil war in Palestine between 1947 and 1948.
Source C
Origin:

[6 marks]

A report by a Jewish member of the Haganah who was present at Deir Yassir and witnessed the occurrences at the village, written in 1948 but published in
1972.

Purpose:

To report to his superiors about what happened there. Published in 1972 to give the public a fuller account of the events.

Value:

It is an eye-witness account of the incident, from a high ranking Israeli officer.

Limitations:

Although the report is authentic, the fact that he did not want to discuss it before could imply he was afraid of the repercussions, but it also cast some doubts about the veracity of the source. Very emotive language indicates criticism of Israeli actions. The report was written a year after the event.

Source E
Origin:

It is an extract from a book written by Charles D Smith, a History teacher at the University of Arizona. Published in the USA in 2007.

Purpose:

To inform the reader about the Arab–Israeli conflict. consequences of the event.

To analyse the

Value:

It was published very recently by an acknowledged expert. It is an in-depth study of the history of the region.

Limitations:

A possible limitation could be that the USA tends to be pro-Zionist.

Do not expect all the above. Ideally there will be a balance between the two sources, and each one can be marked out of [3 marks], but allow a [4/2 marks] split. If only one source is assessed, mark out of [4 marks]. For a maximum of [6 marks] candidates must refer to both origin and purpose, and value and limitations, in their assessment.

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Using the sources and your own knowledge, analyse the reasons for the flight of the Palestinian Arabs during the civil war between 1947 and 1948.

[8 marks]

Source material
Source A:
Arabs could feel threatened by a larger Jewish state.
Source B:

The bitter fighting between Jews and Arabs during the civil war.

Source C:

The treatment of the Palestinian Arabs made them fear for their lives. The source states: “they shot whoever they saw, women, children included: the commanders did not try to stop the massacre”.

Source D:

The “legend” of Deir Yassin and stories about “Jewish atrocities” propagated by Arabs made people flee in terror before there was a clash with Irgun forces. As Begin puts it: “The legend was worth half a dozen battalions to the forces of Israel”.

Source E:

Both Irgun and the Haganah and the Arab leaders used the massacre to instil fear in the Arab population and therefore promoted exodus from the villages. This source also mentions other aspects that contributed to the flight of the Arab population: Arab leaders encouraged the flight; the sense of being abandoned by the Arab leadership; the Zionist policy of encouraging the Arab flight to have a more cohesive Jewish state with a smaller Arab population.

Own knowledge
The causes of the Palestinian Arabs’ flight during the civil war of 1947–1948 is a highly debated topic, but the most significant reasons were: the fighting from the beginning of the civil war; upper and middle class Arabs, having the resources to leave did so, with the intention of returning when the violence subsided. This set a precedent for the peasant class to emulate, as well as reducing personnel in schools, business, etc., thus creating more incentive for peasants to leave; by April 1948 attacks like Deir Yassin were occurring and flight was then as much due to fear, a sense of vulnerability, as forced expulsion; the attack on Deir Yassin was an integral part of Plan Dalet, a plan to acquire at least those areas of
Palestine allocated to Israel in the partition resolution by clearing out hostile forces. This scheme – which involved the collaboration of Irgun, Haganah and the Palmach – was to undermine the morale of the Arab population through the use of terror and to clear the area of Arab inhabitants. It also required establishing a corridor connecting Tel Aviv with
Jerusalem; twenty villages were destroyed and evacuated, adding to the refugee problem.
Do not expect all the above, and credit other relevant material. If only source material or only own knowledge is used, the maximum mark that can be obtained is [5 marks].
For maximum [8 marks], expect argument, synthesis of source material and own knowledge, as well as references to the sources used.