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1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine: Difference between revisions

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In [[1936]], the [[Arab]] leadership in the [[British Mandate of Palestine]], led by Haj [[Amin al-Husayni]], declared a [[general strike]] to protest Jewish immigration (which by then was already limited by British authorities). The strike quickly deteriorated into a violent rebellion which lasted approximately three years.
In [[1936]], the [[Arab]] leadership in the [[British Mandate of Palestine]], led by Haj [[Amin al-Husayni]], declared a [[general strike]] to protest Jewish immigration (which by then already by British authorities) The a which .
One of the following two competing explanations are generally given for those riots, depending on the partiality of the speaker:


[[Image:Husseini-Hilter-Berlin.jpg|thumb|The revolt was led by Amin al-Husayni. During WWII, the Grand Mufti became an ally of Hitler]]
* Discontent and feuds with the British leadership's tolerance of Jews
* Muslim fears of becoming a minority in what they considered their territory.


Rather than inflicting economic damage to the Jewish population, the strike resulted in a sharp economic rise for the Jews of Palestine. The uprising deteriotated into violence, with armed gangs conducting attacks on British and Jewish targets and many lesser acts of violence, often against civilians. The British responded by greatly expanding their military forces and clamping down on Arab society. Many of the practices later adopted by Israel, including "administrative detention" (imprisonment without charges or trial), house demolitions, and so on, derive from British practice during this period. More than 100 Arabs were hanged. The main Arab leaders were arrested or expelled. Amin al-Husayni fled from Palestine to escape arrest.
Rather than inflicting economic damage to the Jewish population, the strike resulted in a sharp economic rise for the Jews of Palestine. The uprising deteriotated into violence, with armed gangs conducting attacks on British and Jewish targets and many lesser acts of violence, often against civilians. The British responded by greatly expanding their military forces and clamping down on Arab . Many of the practices later adopted by Israel, including "administrative detention" (imprisonment without charges or trial), house demolitions, and so on, derive from British practice during this period. More than 100 Arabs were hanged. The main Arab leaders were arrested or expelled. Amin al-Husayni fled from Palestine to escape arrest.


The mainstream Jewish defense organization, the [[Haganah]] (Hebrew for "defense"), maintained a policy of restraint (''havlaga'') during this period with a few notable exceptions. On the other hand, the smaller [[Irgun]] organization (also called by its acronym Etzel), adopted a policy of retaliation and revenge. Their actions, which included setting off bombs in public places, killed hundreds of civilians and did not have the effect of quelling Arab violence.
The mainstream Jewish defense organization, the [[Haganah]] (Hebrew for "defense"), maintained a policy of restraint (''havlaga'') during this period with a few notable exceptions. On the other hand, the smaller [[Irgun]] organization (also called by its acronym Etzel), adopted a policy of retaliation and revenge. Their actions, which included setting off bombs in public places, killed hundreds of civilians and did not have the effect of quelling Arab violence.


In 1939, after three years of rioting, the unrest was put down by the British administration with the help of Jewish volunteers from the Hagana. The British government issued a White Paper and, in effect, reversed their support of the [[Balfour Declaration 1917|Balfour Declaration]] by announcing an absolute limit of only 75,000 on future Jewish immigration to Palestine.
, , with the help of Jewish volunteers from the Hagana , of , .


== See Also: ==
* [[British Mandate of Palestine]]
*[[Arab Revolt]]
*[[Arab Revolt]]
* [[Peel Commission]]

* [[Woodhead Commission]]
* [[White Paper of 1939]]
[[Category:Israeli history]]
[[Category:Israeli history]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]

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Revision as of 21:34, 15 August 2004

In 1936, the Arab leadership in the British Mandate of Palestine, led by Haj Amin al-Husayni, declared a general strike to protest the demographic and otherwise impact brought by Jewish immigration to Palestine. The strike rapidly deteriorated into a violent rebellion which lasted approximately three years. The revolt was driven primarily by (Muslim) Arab hostility to Britain's tolerance of Jewish immigration (limits to which by then already imposed by the British Mandate authorities) and land purchases. The Arabs argued this was to lead in them becoming a minority in what they considered their territory and future nation-state. They demanded immediate elections which, based on their demographic superiority, would have resulted in a government under their control.

File:Husseini-Hilter-Berlin.jpg
The revolt was led by Amin al-Husayni. During WWII, the Grand Mufti became an ally of Hitler

Rather than inflicting economic damage to the Jewish population, the strike resulted in a sharp economic rise for the Jews of Palestine. The uprising deteriotated into violence, with armed gangs conducting attacks on British and Jewish targets and many lesser acts of violence, often against civilians. The British responded by greatly expanding their military forces and clamping down on Arab dissent. Many of the practices later adopted by Israel, including "administrative detention" (imprisonment without charges or trial), house demolitions, and so on, derive from British practice during this period. More than 100 Arabs were hanged. The main Arab leaders were arrested or expelled. Amin al-Husayni fled from Palestine to escape arrest.

The mainstream Jewish defense organization, the Haganah (Hebrew for "defense"), maintained a policy of restraint (havlaga) during this period with a few notable exceptions. On the other hand, the smaller Irgun organization (also called by its acronym Etzel), adopted a policy of retaliation and revenge (including against noncombatants). Their actions, which included setting off bombs in public places, killed hundreds of civilians and did not have the effect of quelling Arab violence.

Even though 20,000 British troops, operating with the help of Jewish volunteers from the Hagana, were sent to the British Mandate of Palestine, the Great Revolt continued to rage for over three years. By the time order was restored in March of 1939, more than 3000 Arabs, 2000 Jews, and 600 Britons were killed.

See Also: