Mandatory Palestine
In 1920, the British Empire took control of a territory that had been part of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries. The League of Nations officially approved this arrangement in 1922 under what became known as the Mandate for Palestine. This legal framework designated the area as a Class A Mandate, meaning it was considered ready to eventually achieve self-governance unlike other mandates with less developed infrastructure. Sir Herbert Samuel arrived on the 20th of June 1920 to become the first High Commissioner, establishing his headquarters within the Augusta Victoria Hospital complex on Mount Scopus. He was a Zionist and former British cabinet minister who would shape the early years of administration.
The political landscape shifted dramatically after World War I when Arab forces revolted against Ottoman rule in 1916. British troops drove out the Ottomans, yet the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence promised Arab independence while the Sykes-Picot Agreement secretly divided the region between Britain and France. This contradiction created deep resentment among Arab populations who viewed these actions as betrayal. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 added another layer by promising support for a Jewish national home within Palestine.
Economic development began quickly once civil administration started. In 1921, Pinhas Rutenberg received concessions to produce and distribute electrical power across the territory. His company attracted shareholders from Zionist organizations and international philanthropists. Palestinian Arabs interpreted this project as evidence that British policy favored Jewish interests over their own economic advancement. The government claimed electrification would benefit all residents equally while simultaneously fulfilling commitments to facilitate Jewish settlement through economic rather than political means.
Between 1920 and 1945, official records show that 367,845 Jews and 33,304 non-Jews immigrated legally into Mandatory Palestine. Another estimate suggests an additional 50,000 to 60,000 Jews entered illegally during the same period. These numbers transformed the demographic composition significantly, with the Jewish population growing from one-sixth to nearly one-third of total inhabitants. Most European immigrants arrived from Germany and Czechoslovakia in 1939 before shifting to Romania and Poland between 1940 and 1944. Yemeni immigration added another 3,530 people during those later years.
Arab rural communities expanded concurrently as villagers reclaimed forested areas and marginal lands to establish new hamlets. Historical geography research indicates substantial intensification of cultivation across the countryside. Despite these parallel developments, Arab resentment grew as antisemitism increased throughout Europe during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Combined with rising Arab nationalism, the expanding Jewish presence created tensions that would eventually erupt into violence.
The British government imposed strict quotas on Jewish immigration which became increasingly controversial toward the end of their rule. Both communities opposed these restrictions for different reasons: Arabs feared further displacement while Jews sought refuge from persecution. Illegal immigration efforts continued despite British naval interceptions, with vessels like the Mefküre being torpedoed by Soviet submarines in February 1942 resulting in nearly 800 deaths. The last refugee boats attempting to reach Palestine during World War II were the Bulbul and Morina in August 1944.
Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam arrived in Palestine from Syria in 1930 to organize an anti-Zionist militant group called the Black Hand. By 1935 he had recruited between 200 and 800 men who used bombs and firearms against Zionist settlers while vandalizing orchards and railway lines. A firefight with police hunting fruit thieves led to his death near Ya'bad on the 20th of November 1935. Huge crowds accompanied his body to its grave in Haifa, generating widespread outrage throughout the Arab community.
Four months later in April 1936, a general strike initiated by the Arab Higher Committee headed by Amin al-Husseini lasted until October of that year. During summer months thousands of Jewish-farmed acres and orchards were destroyed while civilians faced attacks forcing some communities in Beisan and Acre to flee to safer areas. Violence subsided briefly when British authorities sent the Peel Commission to investigate but resumed in autumn 1937 after Arabs rejected partition recommendations.
Over the next eighteen months British forces lost control of Nablus and Hebron before suppressing riots with overwhelming force supported by 6,000 armed Jewish auxiliary police officers. Special Night Squads organized by Charles Orde Wingate conducted raids on Arab villages achieving significant successes in lower Galilee and Jezreel valley. The Irgun retaliated against Arab civilians attacking marketplaces and buses as part of their own campaign. By March 1939 more than 400 Jews and 200 British had been killed while at least 10% of adult Arab males suffered death, wounding, imprisonment or exile.
On the 10th of June 1940 Italy declared war on Britain siding with Nazi Germany and attacked Palestine from the air bombing Tel Aviv and Haifa within a month. German forces under General Erwin Rommel advanced east across North Africa toward the Suez Canal creating what became known as the "200 days of dread" for the Yishuv community. This period directly caused the founding of the Palmach, a highly trained regular unit belonging to Haganah paramilitary groups composed mostly of reserve members.
About 30,000 Jews from Mandatory Palestine served alongside British Armed Forces during World War II with over 700 killed in action. Palestinian Arabs showed no unanimity regarding belligerents though some leaders saw Axis victory as likely outcome securing Palestine back from Zionists and British. Even though Nazis did not hold high regard for Arabs according to racial theory they encouraged Arab support as counterbalance to British hegemony. A German task force led by Kurt Wieland parachuted into Palestine in September 1944 supplying local Arabs with cash arms and sabotage equipment before being captured shortly after landing.
As many as 12,000 Palestinian Arabs volunteered to fight for Britain including mayors from Nablus and Gaza plus media figures like those working at Radio Palestine and Falastin newspaper. One hundred twenty Palestinian women also served within Auxiliary Territorial Service units. On the 3rd of July 1944 British government consented establishing Jewish Brigade Group which shipped to Italy joining Eighth Army under Fifteenth Army Group fighting Spring Offensive Italian Campaign.
The Peel Commission proposed partitioning Palestine into two states in 1937: a small Jewish state requiring transfer of its Arab population and an Arab state attached to Emirate of Transjordan. Arabs rejected this outright while Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion convinced Zionist Congress to approve recommendations equivocally as basis for further negotiation. Ben-Gurion wrote privately that partition represented only first step toward possession of entire land believing every increase in power facilitated getting hold country entirely.
Following London Conference held February and March 1939 British Government published White Paper limiting Jewish immigration from Europe restricting land purchases proposing independent state replacing mandate within ten years. Yishuv viewed this as betrayal especially given increasing persecution facing Jews across Europe leading Zionists organize Aliyah Bet program illegal immigration into territory. Lehi extremist group staged armed attacks against British authorities though Jewish Agency hoped persuade Britain allow resumed immigration cooperating during Second World War.
UN Special Committee on Palestine conducted hearings issuing report the 31st of August 1947 recommending creation independent Arab and Jewish states with Jerusalem placed under international administration. Seven members including Canada Czechoslovakia Guatemala Netherlands Peru Sweden Uruguay supported plan while three others India Iran Yugoslavia favored single federal state containing both constituent parts Australia abstained. UN General Assembly voted 33 to 13 adopting Resolution 181 II the 29th of November 1947 making adjustments boundaries between proposed states.
British Parliament passed legislation terminating mandate receiving Royal Assent the 29th of April 1948 announcing intention end mandate midnight the 14th of May 1948. Only remaining British forces existed Haifa area and Jerusalem when last High Commissioner General Sir Alan Cunningham left city for port departing by sea afternoon same day. David Ben-Gurion declared establishment Jewish State Eretz-Israel known State Israel coming effect moment termination mandate at midnight.
Provisional Government asked United States recognition frontiers specified UN Plan Partition immediately replied recognizing provisional government de facto authority. Palestine Government formally ceased existing status British forces still process withdrawal changed occupiers foreign territory Palestine Police Force stood down disbanded personnel evacuated alongside military forces blockade lifted Palestinian citizens ceased being British protected persons passports no longer giving protection.
Over following days approximately 700 Lebanese 1,876 Syrian 4,000 Iraqi 2,800 Egyptian troops crossed borders starting 1948 Arab Israeli War. Around 4,500 Transjordanian troops commanded partly by thirty-eight British officers resigned commissions weeks earlier including overall commander General John Bagot Glubb entered region encompassing Jerusalem environs responding Haganah Operation Kilshon moving areas designated part Arab state by UN partition plan. War lasting until 1949 saw Israel expand encompass about seventy-eight percent former British Mandate territory with Transjordan seizing subsequently annexing West Bank Kingdom Egypt taking Gaza Strip.
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Common questions
When did the British Empire take control of Mandatory Palestine?
The British Empire took control of a territory that had been part of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries in 1920. The League of Nations officially approved this arrangement in 1922 under what became known as the Mandate for Palestine.
Who was the first High Commissioner of Mandatory Palestine and when did he arrive?
Sir Herbert Samuel arrived on the 20th of June 1920 to become the first High Commissioner. He established his headquarters within the Augusta Victoria Hospital complex on Mount Scopus and served as a Zionist former British cabinet minister who shaped early administration years.
What were the immigration numbers into Mandatory Palestine between 1920 and 1945?
Official records show that 367,845 Jews and 33,304 non-Jews immigrated legally into Mandatory Palestine between 1920 and 1945. Another estimate suggests an additional 50,000 to 60,000 Jews entered illegally during the same period.
When did Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam die and where did it happen?
Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam died near Ya'bad on the 20th of November 1935 after a firefight with police hunting fruit thieves. He had arrived in Palestine from Syria in 1930 to organize an anti-Zionist militant group called the Black Hand.
Which countries supported the UN Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947?
Seven members including Canada Czechoslovakia Guatemala Netherlands Peru Sweden Uruguay supported the plan while three others India Iran Yugoslavia favored a single federal state containing both constituent parts. Australia abstained from the vote which adopted Resolution 181 II the 29th of November 1947.