Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 4:01 pm Post subject: The Peel Commission Partition Plans 1938
Introduction
The increase in Jewish immigration to Palestine in the 1930s, soon provoked fresh trouble. Palestinian nationalist groups led by the Husseini family and others demonstrated against the mandate and, in 1936, the unrest turned into widespread riots in Palestine. The riots were also used by Palestinian clans to settle accounts. The British, aware of the possibility of looming war, responded with with emergency measures and repression, and sought a solution.
The Peel Commission of 1937, sent to investigate the causes of the unrest, resulted in a report and White Paper. Their major recommendations were partition of the land into two unequal states, and population transfer:
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Those areas, therefore, should be surveyed and an estimate made of the practical possibilities of irrigation and development as quickly as possible. If, as a result, it is clear that a substantial amount of land could be made available for the re-settlement of Arabs living in the Jewish area, the most strenuous efforts should be made to obtain an agreement for the transfer of land and population. In view of the present antagonism between the races and of the manifest advantage to both of them for reducing the opportunities of future friction to the utmost, it is to be hoped that the Arab and the Jewish leaders might show the same high statesmanship as that of the Turks and the Greeks and make the same bold decision for the sake of peace.
The solution was extremely unfavorable to Zionists, since the it recommended a second partition of Palestine, leaving a very small area for Jewish settlement.
After considerable debate, the Zionist executive accepted the Peel plan, despite the small size of the state on offer, because of the urgent need, that was felt even then, to provide a haven for the Jews of Europe. Strong objections to the Plan were raised in the Zionist executive because of doubts about the morality of transfer,
Berl Katznelson: an influential leader of the Mapai party favored transfer, including "compulsory" transfer. However, the "compulsion" was to come about as the result of agreement, and not through war or violent action. He wrote:
Quote:
"The matter of population transfer has provoked a debate among us: Is it permitted or forbidden? My conscience is absolutely clear in this respect. A remote neighbour is better than a close enemy. They will not lose from it. In the final analysis, this is a political and settlement reform for the benefit of both parties. I have long been of the opinion that this is the best of all solutions.... I have always believed and still believe that they were destined to be transferred to Syria or Iraq."
(At the World Convention of Ihud Po'alei Tzion, August 1937. Al Darchei Mediniyutenu: Mo'atzah 'Olamit Shel Ihud Po'ali Tzion (c.s.)-Din Vehesbon Maleh, 21 July-7 August [1938], [Full Report of the World Convention of Ihud Po'alei Tzion, C.S.] (Tel Aviv,: Central Office of Hitahdut Po'alei Zion Press, 1938).
The subsequent Woodhead Commission, officially known as the Palestine Partition Commission discussed several different partition plans, all were rejected by Arab representatives, and ultimately the partition plan was abandoned. However or the recommendation for continued suspension of Jewish immigration remained in force
Ami Isseroff
Click on link to see LEAGUE OF NATIONS MANDATES, P A L E S T I N E REPORT of the PALESTINE ROYAL COMMISSION, C.495.M.336.1937.VI.
Geneva, November 30th, 1937.
http://www.mideastweb.org/peelmaps.htm _________________ He who is merciful with the cruel, will end-up being cruel to the merciful
- Kohelet Rabba 7:16
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