subscribe to this page"British to Urge Palestine Split. " Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif.] 8 Jan. 1947,5. ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times (1881 - 1986). ProQuest. University of Pennsylvania Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 8 Apr. 2008
A Los Angeles Times article, from the AP, "British to Urge Palestine Split," discusses the issue of splitting Palestine into two separate states for the Jews and Arabs. Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin and Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech Jones voice publicly that they would urge the United Nations to adopt a resolution providing a two state solution. With some neutral sites, this proposition seems like it could solve the conflict in Palestine and effectively end the British mandate. Though the future seems bright, the article also discusses a possible massive deployment of British troops to dismantle the Jewish underground. The potential deployment would be the biggest military plan in Palestine’s history. Further, it reflects that even though the British may withdraw, the turmoil is far from over.
The ideas for a partition plan show the British want to leave and are tired of the constant fighting. They hope to leave the problem in the hands of the United Nations and let them deal with the constant violence. Just a few months after this article was written, the partition plan was proposed and approved by the United Nations. Following the approval, Exodus depicts people cheering and dancing in the streets, though it seems most of the Arabs do not accept the plan and still plan to fight. Further, the Irgun does not accept the proclamation either and believes they can fight and eventually win more land that they deserve. While the article seems to shed a positive light on the situation, the movie evokes a feeling that the conflict is far from over and Britain’s’ mandate over Palestine will not end in peace. Rather, they have created a situation that can only end in destruction and war. Exodus’ final scenes foreshadow the years of fighting to come and the bleak future of peace in the region.
Clarke, Thurston. By Blood and Fire. New York: Putnam, 1981. 59-137.
In his book "By Blood and Fire", Clarke reviews, in incredible detail, the plans for bombing the King David Hotel. Some believe that this single act, which took place on July 22nd, 1946, was the main spark in forcing the British out of Palestine. The book not only describes the plans of destruction, but also discusses the people involved and the reasons behind their actions. Amnon, one of the Irgun members, says he came to Palestine “to build a Jewish state not by farming, but by fighting.” (Page 31) The Irgun set out to successfully establish the State of Israel through a successful military campaign which would push the British and Arabs out of “their land.” In bombing the King David, the Irgun set out “to write history” (p. 39) as no other partisan band had even blown up something of that magnitude. Clarke’s book effectively describes the methods and purpose of blowing up the King David Hotel (British central command).
The movie takes a different approach from "By Blood and Fire" in that it idealizes the Haganah and usually criticizes the Irgun. The Haganah, which was basically political and not militant, is seen in the movie as truly building the state and helping its residents to succeed. Aside from building a country through immigration, the Haganah builds schools and even helps to run hospitals. Interestingly though, in Exodus the Haganah and Irgun team up to break dozens of prisoners out of a British jail. The remaining parts of the movie establish the Irgun as a ruthless militant organization and does not approve of the King David Bombing. The Haganah believes that acts like the King David bombing actually deterred the British from helping the Haganah to bring in more Jewish immigrants. Though the movie represents the struggle against the British, it seems Otto Preminger decided to show the Haganah’s social progress as the main force which built the State of Israel.
Daniel, Clifton. "CYPRUS JEWS CLING TO PALESTINE HOPE :British Rush Camp Expansion, Act to Ease Life for Those Still Eying Promised Land. " New York Times (1857-Current file) [New York, N.Y.] 20 Aug. 1946, 1-2. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004). ProQuest. University of Pennsylvania library. 9 Apr. 2008
In his article, Clifton Daniel describes the conditions of the temporary refugee camps for holocaust survivors. While there is a lack of water, appropriate food, and other resources, the Jewish people still hold hope they can soon immigrate to Palestine. After World War II, Jews who didn’t go back to Europe or couldn’t immigrate elsewhere were frequently sent to refugee camps under British control in Cyprus. Under the quota system only 1500 Jews were able to enter Palestine each month and the article describes the process as long and grueling because many of the refugees could not leave Cyprus for six months. Under terrible conditions, some of the Jewish people took leadership roles to create new communities and become somewhat autonomous. Additionally, Daniel goes on to describe violence in Palestine as the Irgun, a militant Jewish organization, bombed a railway in response to the ordered death of eighteen Jews by the British.
Daniel’s approach to describing the conditions in the refugee camps seems to perfectly emulate those in the movie. In fact, some of the British soldiers in the movie mention that they do not enter the camps and allow the Jewish people to keep to their own. They feel that the Jewish Refugees are not only able to handle the situation, but prefer to live without any outside interference. The extreme difficulties in the camp along with a strong desire to enter Palestine and start a new country seems to be evident in both the article and movie. The struggle between British laws and Jewish ambitions is demonstrated throughout the historical analysis of the article and visual effects presented by Exodus. In the movie, Ari continuously struggles to side-step British laws and bring Jewish refugees illegally into Palestine. The overwhelming similarities give credibility to the movie as providing a realistic story.
"Exodus Review: Paul Newman Stars in This Epic Tale of the Birth of the State of Israel From Director Otto Preminger." Top Ten Reviews. 7 Apr. 2008 .
In Spout’s review of Exodus he points the historical significance of the movie as it provides a “history lesson, Hollywood style.” Overall the review looks at the movie in its totality, pointing out flaws in character development and constraints of plot development. Trying to portray the whole story in a film is a very difficult task that Preminger partially succeeds at. Although he is able to describe each part of the story, he is unable to adequately give the background story for each component of the movie. On the other hand, the review also points out the obvious bias for the Zionist cause and leaves “little time for nuance, subtlety or dissenting viewpoints.” Rousing speeches for the Zionist cause will achieve great favor from the audience and provide great background information. Overall, the review sees this Oscar winning film as a worthwhile one to watch, but one that does not allow for the other viewpoint.
The review points to obvious fallacies and biases in the movie, which hinder its historical accuracy. Although the review claims the movie provides basic history, Preminger clearly takes his own path in his attempt to evoke emotions that would not otherwise be possible. The serious conflict between the British and the Jews is dealt with in great detail; however, the Jewish Arab conflict is overly simplified. The movie provides little historical background regarding the Arab insurgents, while the experiences with the British are framed with historical background. Aside from Ari’s deep relationship with an Arab friend who helps his kibbutz, the audience has very little interaction with the Arabic population. Also, by killing the only Arab “friend” to the Jewish people, the movie clearly places bias towards the Jewish cause. By eliminating the Arab issues, Exodus chooses to focus on the British problem, but in doing so leaves a movie with a clear-cut bias.
Weissbrod, Rachel. "Exodus as a Zionist Melodrama." Israel Studies 4 (1999): 129-152. Project Muse. Indiana University Pres. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 6 Apr. 2008.
The Journal, by Rachel Weissbrod, "Exodus as a Melodrama", describes the cinematography and choice of characters that the director, Preminger, makes throughout the film. She identifies the differences between the film and the book especially with regard to character analysis. The melodramatic nature of the film is quite interesting in that Preminger tries to establish tense situations. He wanted to achieve the full emotional impact of most melodramas and he accomplished this in several scenes. For example, in the acre prison break-in, the close-ups on the heroes reveal their innermost emotions. Additionally, the film utilizes ticking clocks, adding drama to the focus on the dynamite and guns, and overdramatizing everyone’s emotions. Changing several facts from the book (meant to be a melodrama) makes the plot even more melodramatic. In the novel, Kitty’s husband died in World War II as a U.S. marine, but Preminger changes this to have him killed during a famous Haganah operation, “the night of the bridges.” When Kitty falls in love with Ari, who is a leader in the Haganah, it ensures the melodramatic nature of the film.
When this novel, already set to be a melodrama, is transformed for the screen and many of the subtle nuances changed to increase the emotional impact, Preminger establishes this film as a defiant melodrama. He used the conflict between the British and the Jewish people to direct a film with intense emotion. Between conflicts inside the Jewish resistance and violence against the British, every aspect of the film is dramatized to some degree. Though Preminger’s film is based on real events, the side stories are dramatized, as most movies are, to create a film that won three academy awards. Preminger avoids taking political sides by showing both the British and the Arabs “in a less negative light.” The intensity of Zionism at the time of the movie held every aspect of the film under critical review. Overall, Preminger created a melodrama by developing several relationships throughout the film and drawing upon real events as the back-story.
Daniel, Clifton. "IRGUN BLASTS WALL :Jews and Arabs Flee Prison as Terrorists Battle British ASSAULT AT HANGING SITE Five Jews Killed in Attack on Troops Near By -- Six Bombs Hurled at Army Camp Bombing Frees 251 in Palestine; 15 Killed in Irgun Attack on Jail . " New York Times (1857-Current File) [New York, N.Y.] 5 May 1947,1-2. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004). ProQuest. University of Pennsylvania Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 9 Apr. 2008
Clifton Daniels article, "Irgun Blasts Wall: Jews and Arabs flee Prison as Terrorists Battle British", describes in details the planning and events that unfolded in the acre prison break. The prison break, completed by the Irgun, was one of the greatest attacks against the British in the 1940’s. Daniels describes the massive gunfights that erupted in the prison break along with several exploding grenades. An unbelievable fight against the British, the Irgun pulled off an extensive operation and did so leaving very few casualties. Both sides suffered very few casualties, though the British suffered immense public relations problems and several deaths from the attack. This attack was not typical of the Irgun and seems to be their greatest "accomplishment" aside from the King David bombing. The british responded with full force raiding several places accused of housing weapons and rounded up more prisoners found guilty of possesion.
The movie dramatizes this scene in several ways by misrepresenting the true event. Exodus does not show the immense gunfire that erupted on both sides, but rather shows the heroism and seemingly superior Irgun fighting off the British. Additionally, the movie shows haganah involvement as Ari helps to complete the prison break. However, in reality the prison break had no Haganah involvement and was not condoned by the Jewish Agency. Also, the movie avoids any reference to Jewish casualties, but the Irgun suffered several deaths and injuries. The movies misrepresentation of some basic facts places extreme bias on the situation. Trying to evoke characteristics of heroism, the director avoids some of the simple facts. An unbelievable prison break, the Irgun initiated a daring plan to try and combat several British executions of Irgun members.
Charters, David. The British Army and Jewish Insurgency in Palestine 1945-47. London: Basingstoke : Macmillan P, 1989. 12-42.
In the book "The British Army and Jewish Insurgency in Palestine 1945-47", Charters charts and documents the political setting of British mandated Palestine. After taking over Palestine and Trans-Jordan from the Ottomans, the British wrote the Balfour Declaration in 1920, establishing Britain’s support to create a Jewish state in part of Palestine. Though nothing was definite, this was a huge victory for Zionism as they finally received international recognition for a state of their own. “The British government accepted responsibility for generating the social, political and economic conditions conducive to establishment of the national home and for facilitating Jewish immigration and settlement in Palestine” However, in 1939 when the white paper declared heavy restrictions on Jewish immigration, Jewish extremists regarded this as “connivance and complicity in genocide.” Jewish extremists soon decided that British rule had to be undermined after the completion of World War II.
The book demonstrates the deep history and backdrop for Exodus. Though certain issues are mentioned in the movie, this book goes into detail on the inner workings of the British mandated government in Palestine. The Balfour Declaration gave not only Jewish residents of Palestine hope, but also refugees stranded in the Jewish Diaspora (outside of Israel). The restrictive immigration of Holocaust survivors, which was enacted through the white paper, was a huge turn of events that ended in a violent conflict between the British and the Jews. Throughout the movie, one can see the historical significance of each event and understand the conflict in the area. Though many do not know the background for legislation passed by the British mandated government in Palestine, the movie continually references these laws to make it easier to follow. Visually displaying a deep commitment to force Britain out of Palestine, the movie shows typical activities, where the book provides much needed background information to truly understand the movie’s nuances.
Murphy, H.b.m. "The Resettlement of Jewish Refugees in Israel, with Special Reference to Those Known as Displaced Persons." Population Studies 2nd ser. 5 (1951): 153-174. JSTOR. Population Investigation Committee. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 5 Apr. 2008. Keyword: jewish refugees.
The Resettlement of Jewish Refugees in Israel, with Special Reference to those known as Displaced Persons by H. B. M. Murphy discusses immigration issues, the quota system, and illegal immigration. Aside from the quota system, the British had many requirements for any immigrants, which mostly dealt with economic issues. In order to immigrate, one had to have a steady income and have extra money for living expenses. On the other hand, with the problem of illegal immigration, the British were not only fooled into allowing in thousands of illegal refugees but also into allowing immigration for people without the right requirements. Due to the vast illegal immigration, the British did not see any need to upgrade the quota system through new censuses and felt no responsibility with regards to this decision. Fortunately, Palestine allowed the most Jews to immigrate there before the Second World War. However, with the stringent economic policies, many Jews were either unable to immigrate or chose not to due to the lack of economic opportunity in Palestine.
Though the Haganah is represented as the peaceful, more just organization in the fight against the British and Arabs for Palestine, Haganah clearly does not adhere to the established laws. The movie portrays their actions as legitimate and that the Irgun is forcing the British to halt immigration. The article clearly contradicts much of the sentiment in the movie claiming that the illegal immigration was the main force in keeping the quota system as it was. Thus though the Haganah committed few violent acts, their commitment to unjustly help immigrate thousands of Jews kept the quota structure in place. Keeping this in mind, many people would see the Haganah in a different light. They represented peaceful resistance and actions, while their illegal actions hurt themselves. Exodus uses the harsh violence of the Irgun to portray the Haganah members as heroes for the British. Though they are heroes for the Jewish Agency, they are still going against government-enforced laws.
Brewer, Sam Pope. "ZIONISTS ROUNDING OUT THEIR PALESTINE PLANS :Arabs, However, Remain Adamant Against a Partitioned State. " New York Times (1857-Current file) [New York, N.Y.] 30 Nov. 1947,E4. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004). ProQuest. University of Pennsylvania Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 10 Apr. 2008
Sam Brewer writes a passionate article about the problems in Palestine surrounding the U.N.’s partition plan. In his article, Zionist rounding out their Palestine Plan, he describes the current situation in Palestine. The Jewish Agency, who has persistently asked the British mandated government to help them set up liaisons to each British department. This would help them set up their own government later. The British government, which denied their request, is inadequately preparing the Arabs and Jews to set up their own government when they leave Palestine. Additionally, he discusses several basic problems such as tax collection, basic law and order, and even supplying the cities with water. Further he writes about the conflict between the Jewish Agency, which accepted the Partition Plan, and the Irgun, which refused to adhere to this plan. Like the Irgun, the Arabs in Palestine refused to accept any partition plan and it seems the future is doomed for extreme turmoil.
This article successfully identifies the problems for the future of Palestine. Clearly the movie shows the dissenting opinion among different groups of Jews and Arabs. The British government has set the area up for disaster and it doesn’t seem like anything will be done. Exodus demonstrates immense violence and the great problems between the Jews and Arabs. As sown, neither group is ready to take over Palestine and self-govern the area, though both want the British out. It seems ironic, that while both want the British to leave, neither is ready to take over successfully. Though the movie demonstrates some leadership, Exodus also shows dissenting opinions among the Jews that could affect their stability. Overall, the article represents the conflict which is visually shown in Exodus.
Grigg. "ZIONISTS WARNED AGAINST TERRORISM :Grigg Says It Will Cost Them Christian World's Help-- Palestine Debated. " New York Times (1857-Current file) [New York, N.Y.] 4 Jan. 1945,11-11. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004). ProQuest. University of Pennsylvania Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 8 Apr. 2008
In this New York Times Article, Grigg establishes how important public relations is in the Palestinian turmoil. In order for the Jews to gain independence and establish a state of their own, he recognizes that they will need the support of the British community and especially the world’s Christian community. Additionally, he believes that the Irgun is ruining this support with every attack and soon will lose any help from Christians. The Irgun’s attacks detract from the Jewish cause and the identity as “underdogs” and a decimated people. The terror of the holocaust loses its impact when, as Grigg puts it, the Irgun acts with a “regular type of Nazi gangsterism.” The article goes on to discuss a proposed 1 million-person immigration into Palestine. Though the United States supports the proposal, it seems the British will not accept this plan. Continuing, the article seems to admit that the situation will eventually become too difficult for the British to handle and must be turned over to international hands at the United Nations.
In discussing this article, one must realize the relationship between the Irgun and Haganah in the movie. Exodus portrays the Haganah in a favorable light, bringing positive publicity and trying to build a State of Israel by social and peaceful means. On the other hand, throughout the movie, Haganah leaders constantly blame the Irgun for ruining the Jewish cause and hampering their ability to successfully establish a state. They believe that the Irgun is destroying relations with the British and adding to their conflict, which is already on the edge. While the Haganah tries to enhance their cause diplomatically, the Irgun continues to damage public relations. However, the Irgun also creates a very interesting issue as their acts, though violent, intensify media attention. Every violent act against the British brings more attention and it becomes clearer every day that the British cannot handle the Irgun and will have to leave Palestine.