The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict #20: Navigating the Unknown After the War's End
The Beginning of Civil Administration in the Land of Israel
After the British Empire's occupation of the Land of Israel in World War I, it fell under a British military government without a regulated legal and international status. Following the San Remo Conference, civilian administration began on July 1, 1920, with Herbert Samuel appointed as the first High Commissioner. In his role as the king's proxy, he led both military and civil governance, ultimately answerable to the British Colonial Office and the Minister of Colonies.
Civil Government
The British governed the civil administration in Palestine (EI) under the "Law of Jurisdiction for Foreign Countries." This law designated "the word of the king in council" as the governing reference for Palestine (EI), shaping regulations and norms that governed relations between the government and citizens, as well as among citizens.
The Mandate for Palestine
The Mandate is an international treaty approved by the League of Nations on July 24, 1922, designated the British Empire as the ruling power in the Land of Israel, aiming to fulfill the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917. This formed the basis for governing life in the region, both internationally and domestically. In 1922, the British enacted the King's Word in Council on the Land of Israel as a constitutional document, leading to orders that regulated life in the land, some still in effect today. Despite the written mandate, the British considered Israel part of the British Empire.
What’s The Legal Status of the Mandate?
The mandate document acknowledged the historical connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, emphasizing the principles of the Balfour Declaration, including establishing a national home for the Jews. Approved by the League of Nations on July 24, 1922, it prohibited the permanent cession or lease of Israeli territory to foreign powers and mandated the encouragement of dense Jewish settlement.
Let the Mandate Begin!
In 1922, the League of Nations granted the British Empire a mandate over the Land of Israel, encompassing both the western Land of Israel and eastern Transjordan. The mandate aimed to fulfill the Balfour Declaration and establish a national home for the Jewish people. Transjordan was administratively separated in the same year, remaining part of the mandate but managed independently, according to Winston Churchill's decision. In order to comply with the requirements of the League of Nations Charter, as approved in the Paris Peace Conference, which emphasized that communities formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire had reached a stage of development where their existence could be recognized as independent nations, the Jewish community in Israel initiated actions to meet the criteria.
The official commencement of the mandate was in September 1923, with Britain granting autonomy over Transjordan in May 1923 by separating this region, which was no longer tied to the Balfour Declaration. Transjordan’s autonomy continued until 1946. In 1923, territorial changes involved the exchange of lands in the Golan Heights under the British mandate for lands in the Metula area under the French mandate.
From Blueprint to Reality: Establishing a State
To meet future mandate conditions for an independent state, the Jewish community established bodies essential for managing an independent country. This period shaped the leadership of the Jewish community and its settlements, which founded crucial institutions for an independent state by the mandate's end, even without knowing when that day would happen.
Like disciplined geeks, the Jewish leaders immediately started doing their homework as defined by the League of Nations. Unlike the Arabs, they established the institutions required to establish an independent state. The Jews in the Land of Israel understood the meaning of homework and carried out the work, which included many difficulties and challenges. The Palestinian Arabs never realized they were given homework. The Palestinian Arabs came from a primitive culture, where leaders systematically prevented the education of the public by intimidation, violence, and using religion to brainwash them that this was God's will. Many leaders of the Arab world advocate this method to this day and perpetuate that the public who serves them will never progress, will never get to be free, won't get an education, and won't get to live in financial well-being.
Those who neglect homework fall behind.?
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Here are key institutions established by the nerdy Jewish leaders:
Selected Institutions (1927):
The selected Jewish institutions collectively known as the "Knesset of Israel" included three bodies: the "Assembly of Representatives (Mandatory Palestine)," a parliamentary entity; the "Jewish National Committee," the executive arm; and the "Chief Rabbinate of Israel" They addressed vital aspects of daily life, including relief, education, culture, and religious services.
Jewish Agency (1929):
According to the Balfour Declaration, the British government engaged with a "proper agency" of the global Jewish community. In 1929, the "Jewish Agency for Israel" was formed, uniting entities like the "Zionist Commission," "Zionist General Council," and "The Eretz Israeli Ministry." Operating as a "foreign ministry" for the state-to-be, it focused on immigration, absorption, and settlement.
Histadrut (1920):
Established as the "General Histadrut of the Workers in the Land of Israel," it served as a robust trade union for Jewish workers. Additionally, it generated employment sources and economic entities crucial for the country's development, including construction companies, an insurance company, and a newspaper publisher. The Histadrut cared for workers' well-being and health through "Mishan" and the General Health Insurance Fund (Klalit Health Care).
Haganah (1920):
The "Hagana" played a primary role in building the country's military power. It served as the foundational element from which the Israel Defense Forces emerged after the state's establishment.
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