T.E. Laurence “Laurence of Arabia” – His report of January 1916:

“Husayn’s activity seems beneficial to us, because it marches with our immediate aims, the break-up of the Islamic bloc and the defeat and disruption of the Ottoman Empire… The Arabs are even less stabled than the Turks. If properly handled they would remain in a state of political mosaic, a tissue of small jealous principalities incapable of political cohesion.  – (ref: Finlayson, Contemporary Political Thought (2003).  NYU Press)

The Arab Revolt began in June 1916, when an Arab army of around 70,000 men moved against Ottoman forces. They captured Aqabah and cut the Hejaz railway, a vital strategic link through the Arab peninsula which ran from Damascus to Medina. This enabled the Egyptian Expeditionary Force under the command of General Allenby to advance into the Ottoman territories of Palestine and Syria.

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Commentary:

Some have heard of ‘Laurence of Arabia’, but few Muslims know exactly what he did or what his impact was, and how directly he schemed to tear apart Muslim unity. One of the key steps to the Formation of Palestine was the Arab Revolt of 1916, where Muslims rose up against the Calipha looking for ‘independence’ and separate states.