Now that Great Britain had agreed to assist the Jews in establishing a Jewish state, the next challenge facing the Zionists was the people who were already living in Palestine. Much of the controversy surrounding the Arab-Israeli conflict concerns the perceptions that people have of both people.

During World War I, Chaim Weizmann persuaded key figures in the British government to help establish the Jewish state. The result was the Balfour Declaration in November 1917. At the same time, Britain also promised to create an independent Arab state, and "Lawrence of Arabia" helped the Arabs revolt against the Turks.

The horrific events of World War I changed the world as people grew more cynical and less optimistic about the future. The war also changed the Middle East as the Ottoman Turks lost control of the region. The fortunes of the Zionists turned as the British- who were sympathetic to establishing a Jewish state- took control.