What do we know about the dangerous 'London Agreement'? And what is its relation to Israel?

SadaNews - Since the mid-19th century, major powers have played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of the Arab Mashreq. The London Agreement of July 15, 1840, marked a pivotal turning point in the region's history, as Britain and its allies succeeded in curbing the reform project of Muhammad Ali Pasha, which threatened the balance of power both regionally and internationally.

However, the agreement did not just contain his ambitions; it laid down long-term strategic foundations aimed at fragmenting the Arab region, with Palestine emerging at the heart of this vision as a geographical and human barrier between Egypt and the Levant. This was an early step that later paved the way for the establishment of the Zionist project.

Today, more than 180 years after that agreement, the current Arab reality can be seen as a direct extension of the policies initiated by colonial powers since the 19th century.

Muhammad Ali Pasha and the Arab Empire Project

Muhammad Ali Pasha's rise began in the early 19th century as he cemented his authority over Egypt and built a strong state militarily and economically. Within less than three decades (1811-1840), he was able to expand his influence over a vast area stretching from the Ethiopian Highlands and the highlands of Yemen in the south to the outskirts of Istanbul in the north, including most of the Arabian Peninsula.

Thus, Egypt under his leadership controlled the most important trade routes and hubs between the East and the West, which had long been the focal point of global power struggles since the age of major geographic discoveries.

However, this rapid ascent complicated Muhammad Ali's relations with the Ottoman Empire, characterized by fluctuations between cooperation and conflict, and can be divided into two main phases:

Phase One: Cautious Cooperation (1811-1827)

In the early years of his rule, Muhammad Ali understood that stabilizing his internal authority and implementing his reforms required rapprochement with the Ottoman Sultan, so he rendered notable military services:

Between 1811 and 1817, he led campaigns against the Wahhabis and the Saudis, who sought to control Mecca and Medina, achieving a temporary victory that allowed him to extend his influence over the Arabian Peninsula, benefiting from trade routes through the Red Sea.

In 1821, he again responded to the Sultan's call and sent his forces to confront the Greek revolution, but his ambitions to enhance Egypt's influence clashed with the interests of Britain and France, which supported the Greek nationalist movement for strategic and cultural reasons.

This phase showed that cooperation between Egypt and the Sublime Porte was a temporary alliance imposed by circumstances, while the divergence of goals remained strong.

Phase Two: Open Conflict (1830-1840)

Over time, it became clear that Muhammad Ali sought an independent project away from Ottoman domination. In 1830, he decided to confront the Ottoman Sultan directly, sending his son Ibrahim Pasha at the head of a powerful army to Syria, where he entered Damascus without resistance. Ibrahim continued his advance northward, achieving a series of victories over the Ottomans until he reached Konya in 1833, becoming close to Istanbul itself.

This rapid advance led the Ottoman Sultan to appeal to Russia for help, resulting in the 1833 Kütahya Peace, which granted Muhammad Ali semi-complete control over Egypt, Sudan, the Arabian Peninsula, Crete, Syria, Palestine, and Cilicia. This peace represented the zenith of Muhammad Ali's power and a decisive turning point in the balance of power in the region.

The Phantom of the Arab Empire

Muhammad Ali Pasha's rise and rapid expansion raised concerns among major European powers, especially Britain, France, and Russia, as they viewed his ambitions as a project to build a powerful Arab empire that threatened their strategic interests in the Arab Mashreq.

In 1825, Muhammad Ali told French General Boyer of his intention to enlist a new army to control the Levant and reach the Tigris and Euphrates, in addition to controlling Yemen, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the port of Suakin, and raising Egyptian flags in the Arabian Gulf.

His son Ibrahim Pasha shared this ambition, affirming that his armies would not stop until they reached "the borders of the lands where the inhabitants do not speak Arabic," clearly expressing a dream of Arab unity.

In a report by the Austrian envoy in 1833, it was clarified that Muhammad Ali's policy aimed to establish an Arab empire comprising Egypt, Sudan, the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and Iraq. This ambition made Britain realize that Muhammad Ali sought to control global trade routes through the Red Sea, which posed a direct threat to its route to India.

Austrian diplomat Brokus von Austin wrote warning that Muhammad Ali's army was "trained and proud of its victories, and possesses a strong fleet and sufficient resources to build a major regional power," pointing to the danger of the resurgence of Arab nationalism that could lead to a shift in the balance of power in the region.

Due to these concerns, European powers labeled Muhammad Ali's project as the "Phantom of the Arab Empire" and sought to unite their efforts to contain it and prevent any attempts to establish a unified Arab entity in the Mashreq.

The London Agreement of 1840: The Beginning of Systematic Fragmentation

With Muhammad Ali's forces reaching the outskirts of Anatolia, major powers recognized that the situation required urgent collective intervention. After a year of negotiations, the London Agreement was signed on July 15, 1840, between Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, while France found itself isolated. The agreement stipulated:

Granting Muhammad Ali hereditary rule over Egypt.

Assigning him the administration of Palestine (the province of Acre) for life only.

Obliging him to return all his other possessions to the Sultan.

In case of refusal, his rule would be limited to Egypt only.

If he refused again, military actions would be collectively taken against him to remove him.

Muhammad Ali initially rejected the conditions, prompting Britain and its allies to land forces in Beirut and besiege Acre, which fell in November 1840, forcing him to sign later. According to the final settlement of 1841, his rule was limited to Egypt and Sudan only, with strict restrictions imposed:

Capping his army at only 28,000 soldiers.

Prohibiting him from building warships.

Obliging him to pay an annual tribute to the Ottoman state.

The aim of the agreement was not just to curtail Muhammad Ali, but to reshape the Arab Mashreq to ensure that no regional power could rise in the future.

Palestine as a Strategic Barrier

After containing Muhammad Ali's project, Britain devised a long-term strategic plan focused on:

Fragmenting the Arab Mashreq into small entities; to weaken any future regional power.

Creating a human barrier in Palestine that separates Egypt from the Levant and prevents any Arab unification project.

In this context, the role of Lord Palmerston, the British Foreign Secretary, emerged, who adopted the vision of his nephew Lord Shaftesbury, which combined the Protestant belief in the return of Jews to the "promised land" with British strategic interests in the region.
Palmerston affirmed in his correspondence that "settling Jews in Palestine" would achieve two main goals:

Enhancing British influence in the Arab Mashreq.

Establishing a population barrier that prevents a repeat of Muhammad Ali's experience or the rise of any united Arab power.

Thus, the policies of 1840 laid the practical foundation for the idea of a human barrier, which later transformed into the Zionist project, and is today manifested in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

In summary, the London Agreement of 1840 represents a central station for understanding the roots of the current Arab reality. It initiated a long-term colonial project aimed at:

Fragmenting the Arab Mashreq and preventing any unification project.

Weakening Egypt and isolating it from its regional surroundings.

Reutilizing Palestine as a strategic location serving the interests of major powers.

Today, nearly two centuries later, the region continues to bear the effects of those policies; the struggle over Palestine, the Arab division, and the ongoing international influence in the Arab Mashreq, all represent links in a chain that began when the major powers convened in London in 1840.

Reading that era gives us a deeper understanding of the region's past and present, revealing how old colonial projects continue to shape our reality to this day.