Historical Background

Under the Ottoman Empire, Palestine was a diverse region, home to Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The Ottoman administration maintained relative stability, but tensions between religious communities occasionally flared.

• Religious Diversity: The region was religiously diverse, with a majority Muslim population and significant Christian and Jewish minorities.
• Local Governance: The Ottomans allowed a degree of local autonomy, with religious communities managing their own affairs through the millet system.
• Economic Conditions: Palestine was a largely agrarian society, with agriculture forming the backbone of the economy.

Following World War I, the British took control of Palestine under a League of Nations mandate, leading to increased tensions between Jewish and Arab communities as Jewish immigration accelerated.

• Balfour Declaration: The British government’s 1917 declaration supporting the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
• Immigration and Land Purchases: Increased Jewish immigration and land purchases fueled Arab fears of dispossession and led to growing tensions.
• Arab Revolt (1936-1939): A major Arab uprising against British rule and Jewish immigration, leading to significant violence and repression.

In 1947, the United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. This plan was accepted by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs, leading to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

• Partition Borders: The plan proposed dividing Palestine into roughly equal areas for Jews and Arabs, with complex borders and shared economic resources.
• Jerusalem: The plan designated Jerusalem as a corpus separatum, an internationally administered city due to its religious significance.
• Rejection and War: The Arab states and Palestinian leadership rejected the plan, leading to conflict as the British withdrew and Israel declared independence.