Mandatory Palestine

Crowded shops. Goods are stalled in the street and men are sitting down, NINO F Scholten Jaffa 01 076.tiff

A world in perplexity (1918) (14780310121)

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Samuelarrival

Palestinian delegation 1929

Resistance of Palestinian men and women

Mandatory Palestine refers to the geopolitical entity established between 1920 and 1948 in the region of Palestine, under the administration of the British Empire, following the end of World War I. This period was marked by significant political, social, and economic changes, laying the groundwork for the modern conflicts and the eventual establishment of the State of Israel and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Background

After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, its territories in the Middle East were divided among the victorious powers. The League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to govern Palestine, with the objective of establishing a "national home for the Jewish people" as stated in the Balfour Declaration of 1917, while also ensuring that "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine."

Administration

The British administration in Mandatory Palestine was tasked with preparing the country for eventual independence. However, the mandate period was characterized by increasing conflict between its Jewish and Arab populations. The British attempted to balance the conflicting demands of the two communities through various policies and partition plans, but these efforts largely failed to quell the violence.

Jewish Immigration and Settlement

One of the key features of Mandatory Palestine was the significant increase in Jewish immigration, spurred by the Zionist movement and later by refugees fleeing persecution in Europe. This immigration led to the growth of Jewish settlements and increased tensions with the Arab population, who opposed the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine.

Arab Resistance and Revolts

The Arab population of Mandatory Palestine, seeking independence and the establishment of a sovereign Arab state, strongly opposed British policies and the increasing Jewish immigration. This opposition manifested in a series of revolts, most notably the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939, which was met with harsh British repression.

The End of the Mandate

The aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust intensified pressures on Britain to resolve the situation in Palestine. The British government, unable to find a viable solution acceptable to both Jews and Arabs, referred the matter to the United Nations. In 1947, the UN proposed a partition plan to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, which was accepted by the Jewish leadership but rejected by the Arab side. The conflict escalated, and in 1948, upon the expiration of the British mandate, the State of Israel declared independence, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war.

Legacy

The period of Mandatory Palestine is critical for understanding the roots of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It set the stage for the demographic and political dynamics that continue to influence the region. The end of the mandate and the partition of Palestine have had lasting impacts on the Middle East, including the displacement of Palestinian Arabs, the establishment of the State of Israel, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors.