Was the Main Objective of World War II to Establish the State of Israel?

World War II (1939–1945) was the most destructive conflict in human history, involving more than 100 million people across dozens of countries. The war caused the deaths of over 70 million people and led to monumental shifts in global politics, economics, and international relations. Among the many world-changing outcomes of the war was the eventual establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

Some researchers, theorists, and political commentators have suggested that the establishment of Israel was not just a result of World War II, but one of its main objectives—a claim that challenges mainstream historical interpretations. According to this theory, the war—especially the horrors of the Holocaust—was used to justify and accelerate the global movement for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. But does this theory hold up under scrutiny?

Let’s explore both the claim and the historical facts to separate speculation from context-driven understanding.

---

Historical Context: The Zionist Movement Before WWII

The idea of a Jewish homeland did not begin with World War II. It dates back to the late 19th century, with the rise of political Zionism. Theodor Herzl, often considered the father of modern Zionism, convened the First Zionist Congress in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland, declaring that Jews had a right to return to their ancestral homeland.

By the time of World War I, Zionist efforts had already achieved a significant diplomatic milestone: the Balfour Declaration of 1917. This was a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour expressing British support for the establishment of “a national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire. After the British took control of Palestine under a League of Nations mandate, Jewish immigration to the region increased steadily through the 1920s and 1930s.

This historical background shows that the establishment of Israel was a long-term project that predated World War II by decades.

---

World War II and the Holocaust

One cannot discuss this theory without addressing the Holocaust—the genocide of six million Jews by Nazi Germany. The Holocaust fundamentally changed global perceptions of the Jewish plight, particularly in the West. After the war, widespread sympathy for Jewish survivors led to increased support for the Zionist cause.

The Holocaust acted as a catalyst, not necessarily an engineered justification. Many historians argue that the world’s failure to prevent or intervene early in the genocide weighed heavily on post-war political decisions. For instance, U.S. President Harry Truman was deeply moved by the suffering of displaced Jewish refugees and pushed for the U.N. Partition Plan that led to Israel's creation.

---

The Theory: Was the War Engineered to Create Israel?

Those who argue that Israel was the main objective of World War II often base their reasoning on several controversial points:

1. Financial Influence and the Rothschild Connection

Some theorists suggest that powerful banking families, notably the Rothschilds—who were known supporters of Zionism—played behind-the-scenes roles in financing both sides of the war. They argue that elite interests used the war as a tool to bring about a global restructuring, with Israel as a central geopolitical project.

2. The Holocaust as a Pretext

According to this view, the Holocaust—whether entirely as reported or manipulated in scale—is seen as the emotional and political leverage needed to gain global support for a Jewish state. With Europe devastated and Jews traumatized, world opinion shifted in favor of giving them a homeland—Palestine.

3. British and U.S. Strategy in the Middle East

This interpretation also includes the idea that Britain and the United States had long-term interests in the Middle East, particularly concerning oil and regional dominance. Establishing a Western-aligned state in the heart of the Arab world could serve as a strategic base of influence.

---

Mainstream Historical View

Most historians reject the idea that World War II was primarily about establishing Israel. Rather, they see the creation of Israel as a consequence of the war, not a driving motivation behind it.

Key Points:

• Nazi ideology was focused on racial supremacy and territorial conquest—not Zionism. Hitler’s goal was Lebensraum ("living space") for Germans, not Jewish statehood.

• The Allies' war aims were focused on defeating fascism and militarism, particularly German and Japanese expansionism.

• The Holocaust, while a tragic and central part of the war, was not public knowledge in full detail until after the conflict ended.

• Israel’s founding came three years after the war, and it was fiercely contested by Britain, the Arabs, and even within Jewish communities themselves.

---

United Nations Partition Plan and the Birth of Israel

In 1947, the United Nations proposed the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. This came after years of tension and conflict in the region, exacerbated by Jewish immigration and British withdrawal from its costly mandate.

On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared the independence of the State of Israel. War immediately followed, as neighboring Arab countries opposed the move. Yet, Israel survived, and over time, it became a central player in Middle Eastern and global politics.

While World War II created conditions that made Israel's founding more likely—displacement of Jews, collapse of European colonial power, and shifting geopolitical priorities—there is no definitive evidence that the war was orchestrated solely or primarily for this outcome.

---

Conclusion: A Complex Chain of Events, Not a Singular Objective

The claim that the main objective of World War II was to establish the State of Israel is an oversimplification of an immensely complex global conflict. While it’s undeniable that the war significantly influenced the timeline and political will that led to Israel's creation, the idea that it was the war’s primary aim lacks concrete historical backing.

Instead, what we see is a convergence of factors:

• A long-standing Zionist movement;

• The tragic impact of the Holocaust;

• Strategic interests in the Middle East;

• The decline of European colonialism;

• And the emergence of new global powers reshaping the post-war order.

The establishment of Israel was not the cause of World War II—it was one of its many far-reaching consequences. The historical record supports the view that while the war played a role in galvanizing support for a Jewish homeland, it was not engineered for that purpose.

That said, the conversation around this topic remains controversial and thought-provoking. It raises deeper questions about power, suffering, politics, and the way history is written—or rewritten—through different lenses.