Zionists
USA
1942
Palestine
Arabs
British
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Mandate granted at San Remo Conference,
implicit support for Jewish migration
Thus GB responsible for the region
Splits it as Palestine and Transjordan
World Zionist Organization had its definition
Sharif Hussein had his….
Mayor of Jerusalem led a riot to protest the
mandate
Arab response Syrian National Congress with
Feisal son of Sherif Hussain
Feisal driven out by France and became ruler of
Iraq. His brother Abdallah became king of
Jordan. Descendants still rule Jordan
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Mandate fulfilled British interests
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Protect Suez canal
Access to Gulf oil resources
Administer mandate ot create loyal client states
And adhere to the terms of the mandate which allowed
for Jewish Migration
High Commissioner : Administrative role
First HC: Herbert Samuel. Himself a Zionist and
encouraged immigration
This in part contributed to Arab anger and riots
of 1922
Result: Creation of Transjordan. It was to be
closed off to Jewish immigration
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In fulfilment of the Mandate, development of
infrastructure : roads, railways, hospital,
schools, Police , industry occurred.
However, rising tensions between Jewish and
Arab populations
Frequent riots and strikes
British policy of concessions, commissions,
negotiations fail and increasing use of force:
riot police to break –up demonstrations
By 1930’s warlike situation in Palestine/
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Increased Jewish immigration in the 1930’s
Actions of the Jewish National Agency ( branch of
the World Zionist Orgnaization)
Laying foundations of a state
Political parties created
Ma’pai ( workers ) Party under Ben Gurion took the lead
Elected Assembly
Set up the Hebrew University
Cooperated with British but determined to establish
control over Jerusalem and the Wailing Wall.
◦ This caused serious tensions in 1929 and major riots
broke out.
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Palestinian Arabs wanted end of British rule
and Zionist immigration and settlement
Frequent recourse to riots
Arab resistance to land purchases by the
Zionists
In 1930’s recourse to armed resistance
Resulted in British crackdown: deportations,
prison sentences
In 1936 Haj Amin al-Hussaini the Grand
Mufti of Jerusalem openly allied with Hitler
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Muslim Council formed in 1922 as protest against the
Mandate
A powerful body and controlled Arab life and culture
Controlled by a branch of the al Husseini family
Haj Amin al Husseini was its leader and spokesperson
till he fled Jerusalem in1937
◦ Anti British, anti zionist
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The other organization was the Arab Higher
Committee….an offshoot of an earlier organizaiton
and controlled by a rival family Nashashibi… this
organzation was more pro-British
This division was to the detriment of the Palestinian
cause
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According to the mandate: Zionists could buy land and settle in
Palestine
Hence the Jewish Agency was created to manage the purchases
The Jewish Agency thus became the voice for Jews in Palestine
The Jewish community or Yishuv worked towards creating
institutions
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Knesset
Political Parties
Executive
Judicial system
Histadrut or trade unions
Haganah an underground force set up in 1920
Summing up: where the Arab community was divided , the Jewish
Community was pushing the boundaries and creating the
foundations of a modern state
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Inspite of the Balfour Declaration and the
Mandate, immigration was slow
USA seen as the land of opportunity
By 1929 there were only 175, 000 Jews.
Population increase from 8- 17%
However very rapid increase from 1929, because
of the Depression and Hitler’s policies
By the end of the war the figures stood at close
to 40%
Jews mostly urban dwellers
Palestinian Arabs … worked the land, thus
affected by the Depression more than were the
Jews….
Division among
Arab groups
Arab Higher
committee set up
which encouraged
Civil disobedience
British crackdown
on Arab riots klled
an Arab leader
near Jenin
Protests at land
sales to Jews
Peasant resistance
to increased
Jewish migration
in 1930’s
Demands for an
Arab National
Assembly
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Peel Commission: it submitted its report in 1937
For the first time the idea of Partition is
suggested
Peel Commission report is followed by a Policy
paper called the White Paper which slowed and
then planned to halt Jewish Immigration into
Palestine
White Paper rejected by both sides. Arabs wanted
an end of the Mandate and the Jews wanted the
terms of the Mandate to be applied
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Outbreak of WW2 brings with it Jewish
support for the British.
Jewish Legion fought alongside British which
gained them training in weapons
Post WWII flood of Jewish immigration to
Palestine but not accepted by Britain/
In the US strong support for the Jews.
The Biltmore program demanded the
resumption of Jewish migration
USA for the first time gets involved in the
Palestine question
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Read pages 99-105 Make notes on the
following headings in your notebook
Impact of WWII on the Zionist cause
Harry Truman’s support of the Zionists
Biltmore Program and its significance
Split between Weizmann and Ben Gurion
Arab actions between 1939-1945
British Policy towards Palestine 1945-1947
Anglo American Committee of Enquiry