Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The end of World War II brought the issue of Palestine to the forefront of international attention. The British Mandate for Palestine, established after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, was increasingly unsustainable due to rising Arab nationalism and Zionist aspirations. The horrific revelations of the Holocaust further intensified Jewish demands for a homeland. By 1947, Britain announced its intention to withdraw from Palestine by May 1948, leaving the fate of the region uncertain and setting the stage for a violent confrontation between Arabs and Jews who both laid claim to the land. This period witnessed a dramatic escalation of tensions, culminating in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
The Post-War Context and British Withdrawal
Following WWII, the British faced immense pressure to resolve the Palestine question. The influx of Jewish refugees seeking refuge after the Holocaust, coupled with growing Arab resistance to Zionist settlement, made maintaining order increasingly difficult and expensive. In 1947, facing mounting domestic and international pressure, the British government referred the Palestine issue to the United Nations.
The United Nations Partition Plan (Resolution 181)
In November 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, also known as the Partition Plan. This plan proposed dividing Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, with Jerusalem placed under international control. The Jewish leadership accepted the plan, albeit with reservations, while the Arab Higher Committee rejected it outright, viewing it as an unjust imposition on the Arab majority population. The plan allocated approximately 55% of the land to the Jewish state and 45% to the Arab state.
Escalating Violence and Preparation for Conflict
The rejection of the Partition Plan by the Arab side led to an immediate escalation of violence. Arab militias, such as the Army of the Holy War, and Jewish paramilitary organizations, like the Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi, engaged in increasingly frequent clashes. Both sides began preparing for the inevitable conflict following the British withdrawal.
- Jewish Preparations: The Haganah, the largest Jewish paramilitary organization, began stockpiling arms and training fighters. They aimed to secure the territory allocated to the Jewish state and potentially expand its borders.
- Arab Preparations: Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, began mobilizing their forces, though their level of preparedness varied significantly. The Arab Higher Committee sought to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state altogether.
The Breakdown of Order and the Outbreak of War
As the British withdrawal date approached, the security situation deteriorated rapidly. The British attempted to maintain order but gradually reduced their involvement, creating a power vacuum. By April 1948, fighting had intensified, with control of key cities and territories contested. The official declaration of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, triggered the invasion of Palestine by neighboring Arab states, marking the beginning of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The conflict resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, known as the ‘Nakba’ (catastrophe), and the establishment of Israel as a sovereign nation.
Key Players and Their Objectives
| Player | Objective |
|---|---|
| Zionist Leadership | Establish a Jewish state in Palestine. |
| Arab Higher Committee | Prevent the establishment of a Jewish state and maintain Arab control over Palestine. |
| British Government | Withdraw from Palestine while minimizing further conflict. |
| United Nations | Find a peaceful resolution to the Palestine question. |
Conclusion
The British withdrawal from Palestine in 1948 was a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle East. The escalating violence, fueled by competing national aspirations and the failure of the UN Partition Plan, led to a full-scale war and the displacement of a large Palestinian population. The conflict laid the foundation for decades of ongoing tensions and remains a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today. Understanding this historical context is crucial for comprehending the complexities of the region and the challenges to achieving a lasting peace.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.