Both Jazzar and his predecessor, Dahir, have presided over a tightly controlled Palestine, where trade with Europe as well as taxation is increasing.

They have used their new wealth from these sources to gain influence in Istanbul, which allows them to gain local autonomy and even intermittent control of many areas outside Palestine.

This period ends with Bonaparte's abortive attempt to carve for himself a Middle Eastern empire, during which he considers establishing a Jewish state in the ancient lands of Israel.

Bonaparte, claiming that Jazzar had insulted his envoy, who had proposed the establishment of good relations and the improvement of commercial links, besieges the key port of Acre.

However, his siege artillery is lost to a Royal Navy flotilla under Commodore Sir William Sidney Smith.

Unable now to batter down the ancient walls of the city, the French attempt to seize it at bayonet point, but eight assaults fail to dislodge the Turkish defenders.

Acre is finally relieved when thirty Ottoman ships land 10,000 Anglo-Turkish troops.

With his army weakened by disease—mostly bubonic plague—and poor supplies, Bonaparte orders the burning of the harvest in the surrounding area and, for the first time in his career, is forced to retreat.