Mandatory Palestine
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 White Paper of 1939, 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.
Terms to Know
Anti-Semitism – Hatred or discrimination against Jews. Anti-Semitism was widespread in Europe, leading to violent attacks, restrictions on Jewish rights, and eventually the Holocaust. This discrimination strengthened the desire for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Arab – A person who belongs to the ethnic group that primarily speaks Arabic and shares cultural traditions. In Mandatory Palestine, most Arabs were Muslim, with a smaller number of Christian Arabs. Many Palestinian Arabs opposed British rule and Jewish immigration to the region.
Balfour Declaration (1917) – A statement by Britain’s government that supported the creation of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. This angered Palestinian Arabs, who feared they would lose their land and political control.
Holocaust (1941–1945) – The mass murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Holocaust increased support for the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, as many Jewish survivors had nowhere else to go.
Jerusalem – A holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. During Mandatory Palestine, Jerusalem was a center of religious and political tensions between Jews and Arabs. The 1947 UN Partition Plan proposed making Jerusalem an international city, but after the 1948 war, it was divided between Israel and Jordan.
Jews – A religious and ethnic group with historical ties to the land of Palestine/Israel. Many Jews moved to Palestine during the British mandate, especially as part of the Zionist movement and to escape persecution in Europe.
Nakba (1948) – The term used by Palestinian Arabs to describe the events of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the creation of Israel. Many Palestinians became refugees and were not allowed to return to their homes.
Partition – The idea of dividing Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan, giving Jews and Arabs different parts of the land. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, but Arab leaders rejected it, leading to war in 1948.
White Paper of 1939 – A British policy that limited Jewish immigration to Palestine and restricted their ability to buy land. Britain issued this to ease tensions with Arab leaders, but it angered Zionists, especially as Jews were facing persecution in Nazi Germany.
Zionism – A political and cultural movement that began in the late 1800s, aiming to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Many Jews moved to Palestine under the British mandate, leading to tensions with Arab communities.