The Last Crusade and The First Zionists: Religion, Empire, and The Making of Modern Palestine

Roberto Mazza

doi:10.34230/fiad.1772685

TR EN

Son Haçlı Seferi ve İlk Siyonistler: Din, İmparatorluk ve Modern Filistin Yapımı

Öz

Bu makale, Birinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında İngiltere'nin Filistin'e yönelik emperyal politikasınınihmal edilmiş dini boyutlarını incelemektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışma, Balfour Deklarasyonu ileİngilizlerin Kudüs'ü ele geçirmesi arasındaki ilişkinin kronolojik bir tesadüf olmadığını, bundan çokdaha fazlasını temsil ettiğini savunmaktadır. Politikayı yalnızca stratejik merceklerden görmekyerine bu çalışma, Hıristiyan Siyonizmi, İngiliz İsrailciliği ve haçlı retoriğinin, David Lloyd Georgeve Arthur Balfour gibi kilit isimler için nasıl temel çerçeveler sağladığını ortaya koymaktadır.İngiltere ve Amerika'ya yayılan ulus-aşırı evanjelik ağlar, hem istihbarat toplama örgütleri hem desiyasi destek kaynakları olarak işlev görerek bu kararları etkilemiştir. Bahsedilen bu ağlar, diniinançların emperyal hesapları şekillendirdiği ve gerçek toprakların üzerine bindirilmiş hayali birmanzara olan “Kitab-ı Mukaddes Filistini”nin (Biblical Palestine) yaratılmasına yardımcı olmuştur.Ancak, birden fazla dini çerçeveyi birleştirme girişimleri temel çelişkiler yaratmıştır; özellikle,Yahudilerin Filistin’e geri dönüşüne yönelik Hıristiyan Siyonist desteği, Hıristiyan hakimiyetinivurgulayan haçlı imgeleriyle sıklıkla çatışmıştır. Bu evanjelik beklentiler ile pratik yönetim gerçekleriarasındaki uçurum, Yahudi ve Arap nüfus arasındaki çatışmayı tırmandıran ve nihayetinde mandadönemi boyunca İngiliz otoritesini sarsan devam eden gerilimlere katkıda bulunmuştur. İngilizpolitikasının başarısızlığı, dini motivasyonların yerine getirilmesi imkansız olan başlangıçtaahhütlerini nasıl şekillendirdiğini kabul etmeden tam olarak anlaşılamaz. Ayrıca makale, bu diniağların imparatorluğun çöküşünden sağ çıktığını ve özellikle İsrail'e yönelik Amerikan evanjelikdesteği konusunda Orta Doğu siyasetini etkilemeye devam eden çağdaş hareketlere dönüştüğünüöne sürmektedir. Sonuç olarak bu inceleme, uluslararası ilişkilerde siyasi eylemin bir temeli olarakdini inancın hem gücünü hem de sınırlarını; aynı zamanda birbirine bağlı bir dünyada, farklıtoplumları yönetmenin getirdiği karmaşık zorlukları ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

The Last Crusade and The First Zionists: Religion, Empire, and The Making of Modern Palestine

Abstract

This article examines the neglected religious dimensions of British imperial policy toward Palestineduring World War One, arguing that the relationship between the Balfour Declaration and the Britishcapture of Jerusalem represents far more than mere chronological coincidence. Rather than viewingpolicy through purely strategic lenses, this study demonstrates how Christian Zionism BritishIsraelism, and crusading rhetoric provided essential frameworks for key figures like David LloydGeorge and Arthur Balfour. Transnational evangelical networks spanning Britain and Americainfluenced these decisions, functioning as both intelligence-gathering organizations and sources ofpolitical support. These networks helped create a “Biblical Palestine”—an imaginary landscapesuperimposed upon the actual territory—where religious conviction shaped imperial calculations.However, attempts to combine multiple religious frameworks created fundamental contradictions;specifically, Christian Zionist support for Jewish restoration often conflicted with crusading imageryemphasizing Christian dominance. The gap between these evangelical expectations and practicalgovernance realities contributed to ongoing tensions that escalated conflict between Jewish and Arabpopulations, ultimately undermining British authority throughout the mandate period. The failureof British policy cannot be fully understood without recognizing how religious motivations shapedinitial commitments that proved impossible to fulfill. Furthermore, the article posits that thesereligious networks survived imperial decline, transforming into contemporary movements thatcontinue influencing Middle Eastern politics, particularly regarding American evangelical supportfor Israel. Ultimately, this examination illustrates both the power and the limitations of religiousconviction as a foundation for political action in international relations and the complex challengesof governing diverse societies in an interconnected world.

Keywords

Thanks

Keyman Modern Turkish Study Program, Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, Northwestern University

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Contemporary History of Middle East

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Roberto Mazza ^*
0000-0003-3627-9878
United States

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

August 26, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 18, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Number: 18

DOI

https://doi.org/10.34230/fiad.1772685

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA55BW33BU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

Chicago

Mazza, Roberto. 2025. “The Last Crusade and The First Zionists: Religion, Empire, and The Making of Modern Palestine”. Bulletin of Palestine Studies, nos. 18: 1-28. https://doi.org/10.34230/fiad.1772685.