Module 3: Palestine, Zionism, and the British Mandate

Palestine, Zionism, and the British Mandate

After World War I, the region of Palestine underwent significant transformations, especially following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, which had ruled the area for centuries. In the aftermath of the war, Palestine came under British control as part of the League of Nations' mandate system. The British Mandate for Palestine, formalized in 1920, aimed to establish a national home for the Jewish people while also ensuring the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities, primarily the Palestinians. This period marked a pivotal point in the complex history of Palestine, as competing nationalisms began to emerge and intensify.

The Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which the British government expressed support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, significantly fueled the Zionist movement. Zionism, which sought to establish and develop a Jewish state, gained momentum during the mandate period as Jewish immigration to Palestine increased. This influx of Jewish settlers, supported by international backing and financial resources, heightened tensions between Jewish and Arab communities. Palestinians, who had lived in the region for generations, began to feel marginalized and threatened by the growing Zionist presence, leading to increasing political and social unrest.

As the 1920s and 1930s progressed, relations between Jews and Palestinians became increasingly strained, marked by violent clashes and protests. Palestinians began to organize politically in response to their concerns about land ownership and cultural identity. The British administration struggled to balance the competing demands of both communities, leading to a cycle of conflict that would define the region for decades to come. The legacy of the Balfour Declaration and the policies of the British Mandate would lay the groundwork for future disputes and contribute to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shaping the trajectory of Palestine in the tumultuous years that followed.