Part 3 of 3

How was the British Mandate a ‘poisoned chalice’? What was the reaction to Jewish immigration to Palestine? How was the British Mandate a ‘poisoned chalice’? What was the reaction to Jewish immigration to Palestine?

1919 League of Nations gives Britain mandate over Palestine Britain had authority over Palestine until the region was ready for self-government Some said that Britain was given a “poisoned chalice” What might this mean?

“The Mandate Years” After WWI, the area had become the British mandate of Palestine. When Jewish immigration accelerated, friction was created between Jews and Palestinian Arabs After 1945, Zionists and Palestinian Arabs wanted individual nations and both felt they had claim to Palestine. Britain withdrew in 1947 and the U.N. proposed that the country be partitioned 50/50

1920’s and 30’s socialist Kibbutzim movement New cities such as Tel Aviv developed next to Arab Jaffa. Arab tenant farmers were often evicted from land bought by Zionists from absentee Arab landlords. 1920’s and 30’s socialist Kibbutzim movement New cities such as Tel Aviv developed next to Arab Jaffa. Arab tenant farmers were often evicted from land bought by Zionists from absentee Arab landlords.

Year No. of kibbutzim Kibbutz Population , , , , , , , ,300 Organization

Jewish % rose from 20% to 30% in 3 years Arab guerrilla groups attacked railways, Jewish settlements, destroyed orchards etc Jewish defense group – the Haganah radicals created Irgun and the Stern Gang.

Population of Palestine by religions [15] [15] YearMuslimsJewsChristiansOthers ,17783,79071,4647, ,147174,60688,90710, ,551474,102125,41312, ,076,783608,225145,06315,488 Why do you think immigration increased so dramatically in 1941? Why are the British in a difficult position? Much of the immigration to Palestine was illegal. There were Arab riots and attacks on Jews. What should the British do? What are their options?

1936 German children’s book

Illustration from a children's book. The headlines say "Jews are our misfortune" and "How the Jew cheats." Germany, 1936.

“The bride is beautiful but she’s married to another man” Watch Part 1 BBC Documentary - The Birth of IsraelPart 1 BBC Documentary - The Birth of Israel Explain what is meant by the quote above What did some of the early Zionists warn the conference after visiting Palestine? Other Zionists argued that Arabs would be glad to see them – why?

The US and many European powers tried to slow the flow of Jewish immigration to Palestine British threatened to cut immigration to 25,000 a year Haganah established an intelligence arm – Mossad – to help illegal immigrants

Stern gang argued the British were like Nazis and terrorism was justifiable in order to expel them. One member was future Israeli PM Yitzhak Shamir. Irgun leader – Menachem Begin, also a future PM. Shamir ordered the killing of Lord Moyne, a close friend of Churchill in Cairo 1944.