Arab Resistance and the Palestinian Revolt (1936-1939)

The growing Jewish population and land purchases fueled resentment among Palestinian Arabs, who saw their land and political future threatened. Between 1920 and 1936, violent clashes erupted between Arab and Jewish communities, with Britain often caught in the middle. Frustrated by British policies, Palestinian Arabs launched the Great Arab Revolt from 1936 to 1939, demanding an end to Jewish immigration, land sales to Zionist organizations, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The revolt began with strikes and demonstrations, but soon escalated into armed conflict. British forces responded with harsh repression, including mass arrests, home demolitions, and military campaigns against Arab fighters. Thousands of Palestinians were killed or imprisoned, and the leadership of the Palestinian nationalist movement was severely weakened. The British, recognizing the unsustainable nature of their rule, issued the 1939 White Paper, which limited Jewish immigration and proposed an independent Palestine within ten years. However, the onset of World War II delayed these plans.

Economic and Land Disputes

One of the most contentious issues during the mandate period was land ownership. Jewish organizations, supported by international funding, purchased land from absentee landlords, often displacing Palestinian tenant farmers. This led to economic displacement and growing resentment among Palestinian Arabs, who saw their livelihoods threatened. The British attempted to regulate land sales, but their efforts were inconsistent and largely ineffective in addressing Arab grievances.

At the same time, Jewish communities developed modern agricultural and industrial sectors, benefiting from international financial support. The economic gap between Jewish and Arab communities widened, fueling further animosity and competition.

The British Mandate in Palestine

Under the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Britain pledged support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, while also promising to protect the rights of the existing Arab population. This contradictory policy led to rising tensions between Jewish and Arab communities. The League of Nations officially granted Britain the mandate over Palestine in 1920, with the terms formally established in 1922. The mandate included provisions for implementing the Balfour Declaration while also ensuring the political and economic well-being of the local Arab population.

As Jewish immigration to Palestine increased, particularly in response to growing anti-Semitism in Europe, tensions between Jewish and Arab communities intensified. The British administration struggled to balance its commitments to both groups, often implementing policies that exacerbated existing divisions.

Political and Social Impact

The British mandate fundamentally changed the political landscape of Palestine. British governance introduced new political institutions, but these were often manipulated to maintain control rather than foster true self-determination. The British reliance on divide-and-rule tactics, favoring one group over another at different times, deepened tensions between Jews and Arabs.

Additionally, the influx of Jewish immigrants, supported by Zionist organizations, transformed Palestine’s demographics. The establishment of Jewish settlements and economic institutions created parallel societies that operated independently of the Arab population. This separation contributed to a growing sense of political and national identity among both groups, further polarizing the region.

The Road to Partition and the Legacy of Mandatory Palestine

After World War II, international pressure mounted for the establishment of a Jewish state, particularly in light of the Holocaust. Jewish immigration to Palestine surged, and violent clashes between Jewish paramilitary groups, Arab fighters, and British forces escalated. The British, unable to control the situation, referred the issue to the newly formed United Nations in 1947.

The UN proposed a partition plan that divided Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem designated as an international city. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, but Palestinian Arabs and neighboring Arab states rejected it, viewing it as unjust and favoring Zionist aspirations. As tensions boiled over, Britain withdrew from Palestine in May 1948, effectively ending the mandate. Immediately after British withdrawal, Jewish leaders declared the establishment of the State of Israel, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs in what became known as the Nakba ("catastrophe").

The British mandate system had a lasting and deeply destabilizing impact on Palestine. Conflicting promises, inconsistent policies, and demographic shifts fueled tensions that erupted into open conflict. The failure of the mandate to establish a peaceful framework for governance led to the violent partition of Palestine and the emergence of one of the most complex and enduring conflicts in modern history. The legacy of the mandate period continues to shape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today, underscoring how colonial-era policies can have long-term consequences for national identity, sovereignty, and regional stability.