The Palestine Mandate was a geopolitical entity established by the League of Nations in 1922, following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I. Here are key aspects of the Palestine Mandate:
Historical Context
- After World War I, the territories of the Ottoman Empire were partitioned under the Treaty of Sèvres. The League of Nations then assigned Britain the mandate to administer Palestine, formalized in the Palestine Mandate document.
- The mandate was part of the broader Mandate System designed to administer former territories of the German and Ottoman Empires until they could govern themselves.
Objectives and Provisions
- The mandate had dual objectives: to put into effect the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which supported the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, while also ensuring that the rights and status of other sections of the population were not prejudiced.
- It included provisions for the establishment of a Jewish Agency to advise and cooperate with the British administration in matters related to the Jewish community in Palestine.
- The mandate also outlined the creation of a legislative council, though this was never fully implemented.
Administration
- The British High Commissioner was the highest authority in Palestine, with responsibilities for both civil and military administration.
- The British administration faced challenges from both Arab and Jewish communities. The Arab population largely opposed the idea of a Jewish national home, while Jewish groups were dissatisfied with British policies they perceived as obstructing Jewish settlement and statehood.
Key Events
- 1920-1921: Arab riots against the Jewish population, leading to the Jaffa Riots and subsequent British inquiry commissions.
- 1936-1939: The Arab Revolt in Palestine, a significant uprising against British rule and Jewish immigration.
- 1937: The Peel Commission recommended partitioning Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, which was largely rejected by both communities.
- 1939: The White Paper of 1939 restricted Jewish immigration and land purchases, aiming to address Arab grievances but was seen by Jewish leaders as a betrayal.
- 1947: The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine proposed the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states, with Jerusalem under international administration. This plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by the Arab League.
End of the Mandate
- The Palestine Mandate officially ended on May 14, 1948, when Britain withdrew from Palestine, and the State of Israel declared its independence. This led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the War of Independence by Israelis and the Nakba (Catastrophe) by Palestinians.
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