Palestinian Economy: British Mandate Era (1918-48)


Figure 1.--The photo was taken in Nazareth (al-Nāṣira) at the 'Virgin's Fountain', in the early-20th century either in the final years of the Ottoman era or the first years of the British Mandate era. We can see the rags ab=nd traditional clothing of poor Palestinian children. This was the situation of a substantial prt of the Arab population. It is a timeless image. This would how people dressed two millennia earlier in Jesus' time. Since the times of Jesus till modern touristic era, Nazareth was a poor village far from important towns. Arab propaganda would have us believe that the sad state of affairs in Palesyine is the wirk of the British and Jews. In fact, the economy in Palestine improved for Arabs during the Mandate era. It is only since the Palestinians launched the Interfda (1987) that the economy began to collapse.

One poorly persued topic is the Palestinian economy and the impact of the influx of Jewish settlers to Palestine. Anti-Jewish sentiment among the Arabs existed before the Zionist settlement. There is not doubt that the influx gave rise to increased anti-Jewish sentiment. This is a normal reaction in any country, just as the Irish immigration in America gave rise to anti-Irish sentiment. Into this volitile mix the Grand-Mufti of Palestine promoted violence against the Jews. This dynamic has been fairly well documented. Less well addressed in the economic condition of the Palestinians and the impact of the Jewish Zionist immigration. Palestinans commonly complain that the Jews purchased land from poor Paestinians. The objection here is that the resulting land was lost to the Palestinian community. Palestinian poverty was of course something the Jews did not create or the West. It was a fact when the Britishtook Palestine (1918). It was the result of Ottomon and Arab backwardness and the failure to enter the modern world. We have seen reports that the economic impact of the Jewish immigration was to stimulate the Palestinian economy and the Palestinians thus benefitted economically from the growth in the econonmy. One authot maintains that not only did the Palestinian economy grow more rapidly than was the case during the Ottoman Era, but it grew more rapidly than was the case for neigboring Arab-populated areas like Lebanon, Syria, Jorsdan, and Egypt. Our information on this is still limited. We do know that the Arab population increased, one indicator of a thriving economy. We are not sure, however, of this was the result of a rising birthrate or immigration from neigboring Arab states. This is another topic we hope to persue.

Anti-Semitism

One poorly persued topic is the Palestinian economy and the impact of the influx of Jewish settlers to Palestine. Anti-Jewish sentiment among the Arabs existed before the Zionist settlement. The attack on the Jews of Safed show the undercurrents of abti-Semitisn among Palestinian society. There is not doubt that the influx gave rise to increased anti-Jewish sentiment. This is a normal reaction in any country, just as the Irish immigration in America gave rise to anti-Irish sentiment. Into this volitile mix the Grand-Mufti of Palestine promoted violence against the Jews. This dynamic has been fairly well documented.

Economic Situation

Less well addressed in the economic condition of the Palestinians and the impact of the Jewish Zionist immigration.

Land Purchases

Palestinans commonly complain that the Jews purchased land from poor Paestinians. The objection here is that the resulting land was lost to the Palestinian community.

Palestinian Poverty

Palestinian poverty was of course something the Jews did not create or the West. It was a fact when the Britishtook Palestine (1918). It was the result of Ottomon and Arab backwardness and the failure to enter the modern world.

Income Levels

We have seen reports that the economic impact of the Jewish immigration was to stimulate the Palestinian economy and the Palestinians thus benefitted economically from the growth in the econonmy. One authot maintains that not only did the Palestinian economy grow more rapidly than was the case during the Ottoman Era, but it grew more rapidly than was the case for neigboring Arab-populated areas like Lebanon, Syria, Jorsdan, and Egypt. The Arab community by the late 1930s were some of the best off peopkle in the Arab world in terms of per capita consumtion. They were among the most affluent in the Middle East. Wages of Arabs in Palestine were higher than in most neighboring countries. The principle reason for this is Zionist investments in Palestine. The result was economic benefits to both Jews and Arabs.

Economic Expansion

Zionist investment and British Wold War II spending significantly expanded the econolmy of Palestine. Much od the increased economic productivity came from Palestine's Jewish community. One estimate suggests that about one-third of the population was Jewish yet they were responsible for about 80 percent of the econmic productivity. Here a factor was that the Jews brought modern European manufacturing and farming methods with them. The Arabs were primarily involved in traditional agriculture.

Population Increase

Our information on this is still limited. We do know that the Arab population increased, one indicator of a thriving economy. We are not sure, however, of this was the result of a rising birthrate or immigration from neigboring Arab states. This is another topic we hope to persue. Arab immigration is a potentially controversial topicbecause the modern Palestinian claim is based on the fact that the Plestinians lived on the land before the arrival of the Zionist Jews.

British Economic Activity

The economic situation among Palestinian Arabs does appear to have improved during the Mandate era. There was no major British policies or investment program that as far as we can tell that was responsible for the economic growth. The one British project of any importance during the mandate era was improvements at the port of Haifa. British investment did become more important during the World War II era. The major factor, however, that differentiated Palestine from the rest of the Arab world was the Zionist Jewish immigration and investment.

Education

One of the important reforms that Britain instituted in Palestine was public education. This was a major departure for the British. Britain was the major colonial power in the world, but British colonial policy did not inclue founding and funding public school systems, xcept in the ominions with British populations. And it was a departure for the Arabs who gave little attention to education beyond Mosque schools for a small number of boys who rceived Koranic religious instruction. The Ottomoms had opened schools in the cities, but a limited number of boys and vurtually no girls attended. The British began a much more expansive public school system. Not only would schools be opened in the city to eucate many nore boys, but schools would also be opened for girls. In addition, schools would be opened in rural areas. And the children would be tught in Arabic. No Arab country had ever experienced anything like this. It could not, however, be done immeiately. Schools had to be built and teachers trained. The lack of trained Arab teachers was the major impediment. Another major problem is that many Palestinians did not want to send their children, especially girls, to a secular public school. This different attitide toward education wa a major difference between Arabs and Jews. Despite the many diffuculties, the Palestiniona by the end of the British Mandated were the best educated Arab people.









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Created: 10:03 AM 2/18/2013
Last updated: 11:57 PM 1/2/2018