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Build up of tension in Palestine (Pre-1919 and the partition of the…

- - - - This was turned on it's head however thanks to the Balfour declaration, in 1917. Balfour was a leading Zionist, and stated that Britain was in 'favour [of] the establishment...of a national home for the Jewish people'
        
        The Balfour Letter of 1919 reiterated the Balfour declaration, stating Britain (and 3 of the other great powers) were 'committed to Zionism, whether it is right or wrong'.
- - - - There were divisions be Jewish extremists and moderates. Leading moderate Ben Gurion insisted that Nazism should be fought against first, then independence form the British could be organised. He was integral to the arrest of leading members of Jewish terrorist groups as he gave intelligence to the British.
      - In 1944, Irgun leader Menachem Begin proclaimed a Jewish revolt had began
    - - This caused Jewish terrorism to rise, resulting in bridges and roads to be destroyed and banks were raise in order to finance their attacks. By 1946, 100,000 British Soldiers were stationed in Palestine to maintain order
        
        The British were severe in their dealing with the Jewish terrorists, but this only lost them support from the moderates. In 1946, the Irgun bombed the King David Hotel, The British Military headquarters , killing 91 and injuring 45. The British response was to arrest leading Jewish figures, including politicians. Ben Gurion fled to Paris to avoid arrest
        
        Violence continued and the British were unable to handle it. It was costing the nation financially and the lives of British soldiers. It was also under constant criticism for the way they handled the refugees. In Feb 1947, the British gave up it's mandate over Palestine and asked the UN to take over responsibility
- - - - This lead the 2 groups to become violent, and both had a common enemy, the British. In 1921, a failed immigration ban saw fighting between the 2 groups in Jaffa (now Haifa) increase, and 30 Jews were killed, along with 339 wounded, along with 116 dead Arabs and 232 wounded. These were mainly by the hands of the British police and Army
        
        The number of Jews in Palestine had increased to 150,000 by 1930 due to Russian and Polish anti-semitism. This increased again by 1940 (to 450,000) due to the rise of the Nazis. In 1933 and 1935, 30,000 and 62,000 Jews migrated respectively (this was due to the election of Hitler and the Nuremberg Laws) .The Jews also brought all their money with them, which they invested into their new homeland. This came to about $250 million (or $3 Billion in todays money)
        
        In 1936 the Arabs went on a general strike and a revolt broke out. It lasted 3 years, and in the first 6 months 89 Jews were killed and 300 injured. 21,000 British soldiers were sent to keep the peace, including the organisation of Jewish Special Night Squads to attack Arab villages.
        
        The Arabs believed that the British favoured the Jews due to the disproportionate fines, sacking of Arab homes due to suspicions of them holding arms, and the torture of Arab prisoners. Several Arab mayors were hanged. By 1938, the revolt resulted in:
        
        The deaths of 1138 and injuring of 196 Arab Rebels
        
        The deaths of 292 and the injuring of 649 Jews
        
        The deaths of 69 and the injuring of 233 British Soldiers
        
        The Peel Commission of 1937 suggested a southern Arab state and a northern Jewish state to ease the tensions. The Jews accepted the proposal, but the Arabs didn't, unwilling to hand over any territory they considered theirs by right. They continued their revolt
        
        A further commission was considered in 1938, which gave the Arabs more land, but despite this was rejected by the Arabs again. The MacDonald Report of May 1939 outlined that Britain intended to create an independent Palestinian state within 10 years 'in which Arabs and Jews share in government'.
        
        A quota was also set which stated that 10,000 Jewish immigrants were permitted per year for 5 years after 1939, and the Arabs could allow more if they wanted to after this date, otherwise Jewish immigration was not permitted. Both the Jews and the Arabs rejected the proposals
        
        The deaths of 486 and the injuring of 636 Arab Civilians