Zionist activity in Iraq up to 1930

Abstract

The activities of the Zionist movement in Iraq are a crucial topic in the study of the region's political and social history during the first half of the 20th century. They reflect the complex interplay between internal factors within Iraqi society and the external influences of the global Zionist project. The outlines of this activity began to emerge in the late Ottoman period and became more clearly defined during the British Mandate, when Zionist organizations sought to establish a foothold within Iraqi Jewish circles through cultural, missionary, and organizational means. These efforts aimed to strengthen ties with the global Zionist movement and encourage emigration to Palestine. As opposition to the idea of ​​establishing a Jewish national home in Palestine intensified, the Zionist movement's activities in Iraq entered a phase characterized by secrecy and organized emigration, culminating in the exodus of most Iraqi Jews. This activity constituted a significant chapter in modern Iraqi history, reflecting the interplay of local and international factors in shaping the social and political landscape of that historical era.