THE BATTLE OF JERUSALEM 9 JANUARY - 11 DECEMBER 1917

During a campaign that lasted nearly a year, British and Arab forces defeated the Ottoman Turks and entered the ancient city

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British Prime Minister David Lloyd George wanted the ancient city of Jerusalem as a Christmas present, but for more than 400 years the centre of three great religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, had been ruled by the Ottoman Turks. In the midst of the Great War, however, there was opportunity to strike a decisive blow against the Germans and their Turkish allies in the Middle East, while the occupation of Jerusalem would serve as a great boost to Allied morale.

In Palestine, the British were aided by the Arab Revolt that erupted against the Ottoman Turks in June 1916, and through diplomatic and strategic assistance they encouraged the Arabs, particularly those led by the third son of Sherif Hussein Ibn Ali of Mecca, named Feisal. To help Feisal coordinate operations, a young archaeologist named TE Lawrence had been enlisted as an agent and became the official British advisor to the rebel Arabs.

From a strategic standpoint, the British focus on Palestine was engineered by Lloyd George to attack the weakest of the Central Powers, Ottoman Turkey. The year 1917 had been one of frustration on the Western Front with great loss of life at Cambrai, Arras and other locations. Rumours were circulating that Russia might make a separate peace with Germany and pull out of the war. Wresting control of Palestine from the Turks would be a balm for the British people, particularly because of its religious significance.