Arthur James Balfour

British Foreign Secretary, who issued the Balfour Declaration (1917), influencing the British Mandate of Palestine.

Faisal I of Iraq

Arab leader who briefly ruled Syria before being ousted by the French and later became the first King of Iraq under the British mandate.

David Lloyd George

British Prime Minister during the post-WWI negotiations that shaped the mandates.

Abdullah I of Jordan

Brother of Faisal I, he became Emir of Transjordan under British oversight.

Georges Clemenceau

French Prime Minister, who played a major role in securing French control over Syria and Lebanon.

Shukri al-Quwatli

Syrian nationalist leader and later president who opposed French rule.

T.E. Lawrence

British officer who supported Arab nationalism but saw it undermined by the mandate system.

Chaim Weizmann

Zionist leader who lobbied for Jewish settlement in Palestine under British administration.

Important People