The UN, Palestine, and the Genesis of Israel: Clarifying Misconceptions

Understanding the historical context surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948 and the role of the United Nations (UN) in the process is crucial. This article aims to clarify several misconceptions about the UN partition plan and its impact on the region.

Background and Context

In 1947, the United Kingdom, which had been administrating Palestine under a League of Nations mandate since 1920, decided to hand over the "Palestine question" to the United Nations. This transfer of responsibility set the stage for a series of significant decisions and events that would shape the future of the region.

The UN Partition Plan and Resolution 181

The UN, after considering various alternatives, proposed a resolution to terminate the British Mandate and divide Palestine into two independent states: one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem declared an international city. This resolution, known as UN Resolution 181 (II), was adopted on November 29, 1947, with 33 countries voting in favor, 13 against, and 10 abstaining.

Clarifying Misconceptions

1. Myth: The UN gave the entire land of Israel to the Jews after WW2

Total and absolute transfer of land to the Jews is a myth. Instead, the UN plan proposed partitioning the area where both peoples were living, aiming to create two independent states.

2. Myth: The Ottoman Empire gave the land to the Jews in 1920

The Ottoman Empire indeed ceded some of its land in 1920 to end its involvement in WW1, but this land was designated as a "national home for the Jewish people," not as a full-fledged state. The British, through the Balfour Declaration of 1917, supported the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people within the borders of Palestine.

3. Myth: The UN abrogated a British promise to the Arabs

The British, in their administrative role, indeed made conflicting promises to both the Jews and the Arabs. The UN partition plan recognized the existing communities and aimed to create a fair partition between them, rather than abrogating any previous promises.

The Jewish Community in Palestine

The Jewish community in Palestine had been growing steadily for decades. By 1947, there were approximately 600,000 Jews in Palestine and another 300,000 attempting to enter from Europe, mostly Holocaust survivors. The term "Palestine" referred to an area of land rather than a specific political entity.

4. Myth: The British gave the Arab region of Jordan to Palestinians

In 1921, the British did transfer a significant portion of mandate Palestine to the Hashemite family, establishing the Arab Emirate of Transjordan. This area was later renamed the Kingdom of Jordan.

5. Myth: The UN proposed a plan that Arabs backed

The UN partition plan faced significant opposition from the Arab world, which rejected the proposal and launched military attacks against the nascent Jewish state.

Conclusion

While the UN plan aimed to create two independent states within Palestine, the ethnic and political complexities of the area made implementation challenging. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 resulted from the UN partition plan, which was met with both celebration and resistance. Understanding these historical contexts is essential for a comprehensive grasp of the region's modern history.