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The truth about Britain's withdrawal from Palestine: How did it trigger the outbreak of war?
The 1948 Palestine War broke out in the British-ruled Palestine region. During the war, Britain withdrew from Palestine and Zionist forces occupied the territory and subsequently established the State of Israel, with more than 700,000 Palestinians fleeing or being expelled. This was the first war of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the wider Arab-Israeli conflict. The war was divided into two main phases, the first of which was the civil war from 1947 to 1948, when violence escalated rapidly after the United Nations voted to approve a partition plan for Palestine.
Throughout the course of the war, heavy casualties were inflicted on both sides, and the ensuing flight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians created a situation known today as the "Nakba" (or "disaster").
Background
The war of 1948 was the climax of three decades of conflict between Jews and Arabs. Under British rule, with the authorization of the League of Nations, Britain established the Jewish National Home, which aroused dissatisfaction and resistance among local Arabs.
Jewish immigration to Palestine
The Zionist movement was formed in Europe with the aim of re-establishing a Jewish homeland. The first wave of immigration, known as the First Aliyah, took place from 1882 to 1903 and encouraged the Jewish people to establish agricultural settlements and strive for national status. However, the Arab residents at that time did not realize the impact of this movement until after 1909, when Arab national consciousness gradually awakened and opposed Jewish immigration.
World War I and the Balfour Declaration
During World War I, Palestine became a battle line between the Ottoman Empire and Britain, and the conflict between Jews and Arabs temporarily subsided during this period. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration explicitly supported the establishment of a "national home" for the Jews in Palestine, making the future of Palestine a sensitive focus.
Violence during the early years of the British Mandate
As the Jewish community grew, tensions between Jews and Arabs increased. Large-scale violent incidents broke out in 1920, 1921 and 1929, and violence and confrontation continued to intensify. Despite Arab opposition to Jewish immigration, some influential Arab families sold land to Jews.
Arab Revolt 1936-1939The Arab Revolt of 1936 dealt a severe blow to the British and Jewish communities due to a surge in Jewish immigration and the plight of rural residents, and left Palestinian Arabs vulnerable on the eve of the 1948 war.
Jewish Rebellion and British Rule
As discontent with British rule grew, Jewish militant groups such as the Irgun and Haganah began to carry out terrorist attacks and sabotage, further exacerbating social unrest and tensions.
1947 United Nations Partition Plan
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations adopted the Partition Plan, attempting to resolve the conflict between Jews and Arabs by dividing Palestine. However, Arab leaders rejected the plan, declaring that Palestine should belong to its original inhabitants.
The outbreak of war
On May 14, 1948, with the end of the British Mandate, the State of Israel was established. The next day, Arab League troops entered Palestine, marking the outbreak of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The Arab armies attacked on all fronts, but cooperation among the various parties was quite poor.
The situation at the time, as documented in UN documents, showed continued conflict and mutual distrust, which accelerated the deterioration of the situation.
First ceasefire and continued tension
In June 1948, the United Nations declared a ceasefire. During the ceasefire, both sides continued to violate the agreement and continued to prepare for the next phase of military operations. As the war continues, the conflicts and hatred between ethnic groups will be further deepened.
Looking back on this history, was Britain’s withdrawal the root cause of the escalation of this conflict?
