Figure 1.-- Violence in Palestine escalated as a result of the U.N. partition vote (November 1947). The British were at first in place to control the violence, but as the British withdrew, fully expecting he Jews to be wiped out, the violence escalated. The press caption here read, "A white Jewish ambulance, with a British soldier riding aboard, carries wounded Jews through a crowd of Arabs at Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem as British soldiers keep watch in Dec. 1947. The Arabs, who were imprisoned inside Jerusalem’s Old City during curfew hours, did not attack the ambulance." The photograph was dated December 1, 1947. Note the smiling faces in the crowd, we believes this reflects approval for Jewish casulaties.

The response to U.N. Resolution 181 partitioning Palestine was an increase in the violence that had racked the British mandate since the end of World War II (1945). Sniping and mall unit attacks increased as did bombing. Given that the vote went against the Arabs, it is not difficult to see it was the Arabs that were moved toward acts of violence. The violence seems more associated with Arab opposition to the U.N. partition and the Jewish defensive actions, but as with virtually everything associated with this issue, the Arabs and Jews have different views. The six Arab nations in the General Assembly staged a walkout in protest to the vote. The New York Times reported after the vote, “The walkout of the Arab delegates was taken as a clear indication that the Palestinian Arabs would have nothing to do with the Assembly’s decision. The British have emphasized repeatedly that British troops could not be used to impose a settlement not acceptable to both Jews and Arabs, and the partition plan does not provide outside military force to keep order. Instead, it provides for the establishment of armed militia by the two nascent states to keep internal order.” The British with a well-armed force had been able to keep the two sides at bay and prevent them from acquiring weapons, at least heavy weapons. Here the Arabs had a huge avntage, borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt all of which had no problem with supplying arms to Arab irregulars. The Jews on the other hand had only the sea to obtain weapons, and the Royal Navy made this very difficult. As the British began withdrawing their forces, it was inevitale that the communal violence would increase. As the British troops left, thousands of Palestinian Arabs were expelled or fled. Many Jews also withdrew into Jewish designated areas by the U.N. partition plan. There is an ongoing historical debate as to whether the Palistians fled or were expelled. Three is no doubt that both occurred. Just to what extent the Palistinians were expelled is probably a question that is lost to history. There undoubtedly were atrocities, but these were committed on both sides. We find it a little difficult to believe that the poorly armed Jewish militias could have forced out so many Palistinians given that Palistinian irregular forces were also armed. Also radio broadcasts from the Front Line Arab states encouraged Palistinians Arabs to flee so that their armies could better attack Jewish forces without the fear of civilian casualties. Gen. Nasser himself broadcast warnings to regional Palestinian Arabs to evacuate so that the invading Arab armies could 'drive the Jews into the sea.' Much of the Palistianian movement occurred after Israel dcalared independence (May 4, 1948). Again this seems strange that with well armed Arab armies entering Palestine that the Palestinian civilians could have been expelled in such numbers. We do not mean to suggest that no Palistinian Arabs were expelled. It certainly occurred. We simply believed that what occurred after the U.N. Partition vote was violence on both sides and the movement of the Palistinians is a much more complicated matter than sugested by most Arab sources.

Post World War II Violence

Response to the U.N. Partition Plan

With the U.N. Nations General Assembly voting to approve the partition of Palestine, violence esclated. Arabs began to escalate attacks on Jews. This began most notably in Jerusalem. Arabs in Jerusalem began rioting and attacking Jews (November 30 and December 1 1947). The Palestinian irregulars cut off the roads into the city, leaving the Jews there without adequate food, water, and fuel. This was the beginning of a protracted seige. Civil order quickly desintegrated throughout the Mandate. There were many ambushes of busses and trucks. This was Arab attacks on Jews. The situation in Jerusalem developed into a full blown blockade. One particularly violent episode was the Haifa refinery riots. Palestinians massacred Jews at Gush Etzion. Jews killed Palestinians at Deir Yassin. Sorting out the who is responsible for what becomes very difficult. Arab partisans tend to mention only the Jewish attacks. Isreali partisans focus on the Arab attacks. One way of assessing an author's work is looking to what degree he or she mentions the attacks made by both sides.

Types of Attacks

Sniping and mall unit attacks increased as did bombing.

Responsibulity

Noth sides were involved in the violenc. Given that the vote went against the Arabs, it is not difficult to see it was the Arabs that were moved toward acts of violence. And with the U.N. Partion Plan. Jewish groups were o longer focused on he British. The violence seems more associated with Arab opposition to the U.N. partition and the Jewish defensive actions, but as with virtually everything associated with this issue, the Arabs and Jews have different views. The six Arab nations in the General Assembly staged a walkout in protest to the vote. The New York Times reported after the vote, “The walkout of the Arab delegates was taken as a clear indication that the Palestinian Arabs would have nothing to do with the Assembly’s decision.

British Withdrawl

The Ney Tork Times reported, "The British have emphasized repeatedly that British troops could not be used to impose a settlement not acceptable to both Jews and Arabs, and the partition plan does not provide outside military force to keep order. Instead, it provides for the establishment of armed militia by the two nascent states to keep internal order.” The British with a well armed force had been able to keep the two sides at bay and prevent them from acquiring weapons, at least heavy weapons. Here the arabs had a huge advantage, borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt all of which had no problem with supplying arms to Arab irregulars. The Jews on the other hand had only the sea to obtain weapons, and the Royal Navy made this very difficult. As the British began withdrawing their forces, it was inevitale that the communal violence would increase.

Palistinian Exodus

As the British troops left, thousands of Palestinian Arabs were expelled or fled. Many Jews also withdrew into Jewish designated areas by the U.N. partition plan. There is an ongoing historical debate as to whether the Palistians fled or were expelled. Three is no doubt that both occurred. Just to what extent the Palistinians were expelled is probably a question that is lost to history. There undoubtedly were atrocities, but these were committed on both sides. We find it a little difficult to believe that the poorly armed Jewish militias could have forced out so many Palistinians given that Palistinian irregular forces were also armed. Also radio broadcasts from the Front Line Arab states encouraged Palistinians Arabs to flee so that their armies could better attack Jewish forces without the fear of civilian casualties. Gen. Nasser himself broadcast warnings to regional Palestinian Arabs to evacuate so that the invading Arab armies could 'drive the Jews into the sea.' Much of the Palistianian movement occurred after Israel dclared independence (May 4, 1948). Again this seems strange that with well armed Arab armies entering Palestine that the Palestinian civilians could have been expelled in such numbers. We do not mean to suggest that no Palistinian Arabs were expelled. It certainly occurred. We simply believed that what occurred after the U.N. Partition vote was violence on both sides and the movement of the Palistinias is a much more complicated matter than sugested by most Arab sources.

Specific Attacks

With the United Nations General Assembly voting to approve the Partition Plan (November 1947), violence ecalated. Arabs began to escalate attacks on Jews. This began most notably in Jerusalem. Arabs in Jerusalem began rioting and attacking Jews (November 30 and December 1 1947). The Palestinian irregulars cut off the roads into the city, leaving the Jews there without adequate food, water, and fuel. This was the beginning of a protracted seige. Civil order quickly desintegrated throughout the Mandate. There were many ambushes of busses and trucks. This was Arab attacks on Jews. The situation in Jerusalem developed into a full blown blockade. One particularly violent episode was the Haifa refinery riots. Palestinians massacred Jews at Gush Etzion. Jews killed Palestinians at Deir Yassin. Sorting out the who is responsible for what becomes very difficult. Arab partisans tend to mention only the Jewish attacks. Isreali partisans focus on the Arab attacks. One way of assessing an author's work is looking to what degree he or she mentions the attacks made by both sides.

Created: 9:11 AM 11/3/2017
Last updated: 3:36 PM 11/4/2017