ASPECTS OF THE HISTORY OF EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST
SECTION I
WEEK 3
The Palestine Mandate to 1948
(Read Pages 196-208 of History of Europe and the Middle East (OUP, 2010).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION A: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MANDATE
SECTION B: THE OPERATION OF THE MANDATE TO 1948
SECTION C: THE AGREEMENTS AND POLICIES
SECTION D: IB ESSAYS QUESTIONS ON THE MANDATE TO 1948
This topic will cover the following asepcts:
The establishment of the Palestine Mandate:
The operation of the Palestine Mandate from 1920 until 1948: in particular the
economic, social and political developments that took place during that time;
increased Jewish immigration;
agreements/policies: in particular the Hope Simpson Report (October 1930), the
Peel Commission (June 1937), and the various White Papers: The Churchill White
Paper (June 1922); Passfield White Paper (October 1930); The White Paper (1939).
SECTION A
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PALESTINE MANDATE
FROM PREVIOUS SECTION ON MANDATES
Palestine was not explicitly mentioned in Hussein-MacMahon correspondence.
The British saw it as west of Damascus and so not “purely Arab”. Palestinians saw
themselves as Arab as Syria and Iraq, and wanted independence.
The problem is the Mandatory Powers had made conflicting promises, or at least
promises open to being interpreted in a conflicting manner.
Sykes-Picot agreed to put Palestine under international control. But, at the end of
the war, Britain decided it was in her interest to control it – as Curzon called it “the
military gate to Egpyt and the Suez canal. “ They also thought their presence there
would enable them to supervise its establishment as a Jewish national homeland.
San Remo recognised the Balfour Declaration.
July 1920, British civilian rule (by Herbert Samuel the Palestine High Commissioner
rather than military rule by General Allenby) began.
As a reaction against this, in December 1920, a group of Palestinians formed the
Arab Executive to fight Zionism. [Zionism not yet explained]
Following Russian pogroms, the first Aliyah began. By 1900 there were about 4,500
Jews in 21 settlements in the Holy Land.
1986 Herzl’s book was published and Zionism as a political movement was born.
The number of immigrants grew, all the more so after the Balfour declaration.
In terms of organisation the Jews set up the Jewish National Fund, to help settlers
purchase land in Palestine.
To ensure the long term objective of establishing a naitonal home, it was decreed
that land bought could never be resold to non-Jews, and settlers encouraged not to
employ local Arabs.
Scholars started to organise a common history, language and religion.
For them Palestine was not a nation so it belonged to no-one.
By 1906 they had orgniased political parties, newspapers and collective farms. By
1909 the Hashomer (Jewish self-defence militia) was created.
By 1922, Article 4 of the Palestine Mandate spoke of an apporpriate “Jewish
Agency” to co-operate with and advise the administration.
The Jews more well organised, inside and outside Palestine, particularly thanks to
the Jewish Agency.
The Arabs lacked a unitary international voice. In Plaestine the Supreme Muslim
Council was very weak and ineffective.
In 1922 the Palestinians rejected a legislative council, for it gave them only 10 out
of 23 seats, despite them being 89% of the population.
In 1935, when they asked to participate in a legislative council, the British, and the
Zionists, rejected the idea.
SECTION B
THE OPERATION OF THE PALESTINE MANDATE TO 1948
in particular the economic, social and political developments that took place during
that time;
increased Jewish immigration;
RISING HOSTILITIES (immigration and land purchase)
May 1921 Jews attacked in Jaffa. They retaliated. This led to the formaion of the
Haganah
Haycraft Commission blamed the Arabs, but said they were acting out of fear of
loss of their livelihood.
1922 (Churchill) White Paper published – stating that not all of Palestine would be
Jewish home, but some of it would.
1929 Wailing Wall riots: Shaw Commission said the cause was Arab disapointment
of national aspirations. It recommended the Hope-Simpson inquiry.
Hope- Simpson expressed concern over econmic conditions of Arabs. With not
enough land to absorb the flow of immigration, it recommended a control on
immigration and land purchase.
These were incorporated into the Passfeild White Paper of 1930.
The Haganah grew into an underground army.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN 1930s
1930-35 jewish population doubled in size. By 1939 = 33% of population.
telAviv was 46,000 in 1931, 135,000 by 1935.
Haifa was the terminus of oil pipeline from Mosul.
Absence of tariffs hurt Palestinian staple farmers.
By 1937 the economic disparages between jews and Arabs in Palestine were
enormous.
Culturally, by 9132 jewish literacy rates were 86%, Arabs 22%.
THE GREAT ARAB REVOLT 1936-39.
It caused formation of Irgun.
Assasination of lewis andrews
And the Peel Commission
SECTION C
THE AGREEMENTS AND POLICIES
the Hope Simpson Report, the Peel Commission, and the various White Papers
OUTCOME OF PEEL COMMISSION
Admitted impossiblity of fulfilling contradcitory obligations; Suggestyed dividing
Palesitne nto 2 states (see p. 295 for their suggested partition)
It was rejected nad violence increased.
WHITE PAPER OF MARCH 1939
Palestine should not become a Jewish State.
Limit immigration to 15,000 a year for 5 years.
Accept 25,000 Jewish refugees
Restirc land transfer to Jews to specific zones
Grant Palestine independence within 10 years.
Zionists rejected it and began to look more to the US
Arab Highr Commission also rejected it because it did not offer immediate
indpednence.
WW2 broke out and Hitler made Zionists more resolute.
SECTION D
IB ESSAYS QUESTIONS ON THE PALESTINE MANDATE
UP TO 1948
I
1. In what ways did Britain’s failure to follow a clearly defined policy between
1917 and 1948 lead to instability in the Palestine Mandate?
You should address the tensions between Arabs and Jews because of
land shortages,
fluctuating immigration
and promises made during the First World War.
You should also be aware of the main sequence of events from Balfour Declaration to the
declaration of independence in May 1948.
Things you could refer to are:
Churchill’s White Paper 1922
Commission of Enquiry into Wailing Wall Riots 1930
MacDonald.s .Black Letter. 1931
Peel Commission 1937, leading to partition plan
Round Table Conference 1939
Increase in terrorism after the war
King David Hotel incident, July 1946
UNSCOP being sent to investigate the situation, 1947
UN vote for partition, November 1947
Uncertainty over withdrawal process etc.
2. Identify and comment on the causes of instability in Palestine in the years 1919–
1939.
Areas to consider are initial political problems as a consequence of contradictory war-time
promises (Balfour Declaration, McMahon-Hussein letters etc.) and subsequent British
policies which appeared contradictory to both communities.
Immigration – problems associated with Jewish immigration: there should be an awareness
that rates varied (early 1920s about 8 000 a year, mid 1920s an increase, late 1920s a decline,
peak in the mid 1930s). If arguing that this was a major factor then it must be related to levels
of instability.
Land purchase also likely to be cited as a cause of instability. Should be some consideration of
scale and linked to distribution of Jewish population (many Jews urban dwellers).
Mention in passing key events such as the Wailing Wall Riots etc.
Include a critical analysis as to extent of problems caused by immigration, land
purchase, inconsistent policies etc.
Comment on context of the establishment of the Mandate and whether the conflict between
Zionism and Palestinian nationalism was inherent.
3. To what extent did British policies increase existing tensions between Arabs and
Jews in Palestine in the years 1920–1948?
Most argue that British policies were inconsistent and contradictory. Make sure you know
what these policies were (e.g. Churchill’s 1922 White Paper, the events surrounding the
Wailing Wall riots, MacDonald’s Black Letter, Peel Commission, policies during Second
World War, immigration restrictions etc.).
Also examine existing tensions (religious differences, Zionist programmes, issues of land
ownership, economic disparity, confusion during withdrawal
process).
Show detailed knowledge of events plus analytical comment on rising tensions.
In your analysis will link British policies to increasingly tense situation but consider issues
beyond the purely political and attempt to reach a judgment on the contribution made by
British policies.
4. “Immigration and land purchase were the main causes of tension between Jews
and Arabs in Palestine in the inter-war years.” To what extent do you agree with
this statement?
Levels of immigration varied throughout this period (approx 8000) a year in the 1920s, rising
and falling, peaking in 1936 (160 000). Jews still only accounted for a third of population.
Land Purchase was clearly a Zionist policy. Initially in the 1920s uncultivated land was
bought but by the end of the decade Land Purchase became more of a political issue and from
1930s onwards land purchase was often strategic, Jewish population still essentially urban.
These factors should be linked to points when tensions were high.
Other factors to be considered could include the relationship of both communities with the
British, the effectiveness of the Yishuv as opposed to Arab failure to establish a political
structure.
Detailed knowledge of both areas and which accept that tensions were caused by them.
identify when tensions were highest and may also identify other causes of tensions. Challenge
the statement. Link tensions to political issues: Zionism versus Palestinian Nationalism.
Considers the political context thoroughly possibly including conflicting wartime promises.
5. In what ways, and to what extent, was Zionism responsible for tensions in the
Palestine mandate up to 1948?
A definition of Zionism would be a good starting point for this question.
Consider Zionist immigrations before First World War to set a context. Other issues to consider
could include British policy and its contradictory nature, Arab unwillingness to compromise, the
impact of Nazi anti-Semitic policies in the 30s and post 1945, also post-45 reference may be made
to British weakness and her unwillingness to support increased immigration from Europe which
contributed hugely to tensions.
6. Analyse the problems faced by Britain as a mandatory power in Palestine up to 1939.
Many factors to be considered:
conflicting war-time promises,
hostility between Arabs and Jews leading to violence,
external pressures such as Zionist influence and German immigration in the 1930s exacerbating
already existing tensions,
inconsistent policies, etc.
The shifts in British policies also posed a problem.
Identify the major problems or argue that underlying tensions meant that Palestine was
nearly impossible to govern effectively.