British Perspective on the Role of Jews and Arabs in Palestine in the formation period of the State of Israel in 1946–1948

Abstract

In the years 1946–1948 a conflict between the Arab and the Jewish communities took place in Palestine. The struggle ended in the victory of the Jewish side and formation of the State of Israel. In the period in questions the British authorities played an important role in these events. It was the decisions of London that determined, until May 1948, the situation in Palestine. Therefore, it is worth petting to know the opinions of British elites on the subject of Jewish and Arab communities. In particular, its opinions on the topic of the political power of the two enemies should be recognised. This issue can be partially explained on the basis of British documents and, in particular, on the basis of reports of the commander of the Transjordan Army, J. B. Glubb. It needs to be stated that the Empire elites did in fact recognise political strength of the Jewish community, but they did not recognise its military potential. Simultaneously, London overrated the military potential of Arabs. The motives of the Zionist movement and the level of its determination were not understood at all. Such a state of awareness contributed to the creation, among the British military and civil elites, of an anachronistic image of both sides of the conflict. Probably in consequence this helped London to make the disastrous decision to withdraw from Palestine in May 1948. This was tantamount to consent for war in this region. Numerous traces of evidence indicate that the British hoped for the possibility of the return of their forces as troops rescuing the weaker Jewish side, however the result of the conflict dealt a decisive blow to British dominance in the region.