white paper1- who's responsible for the plight of the 1948 palestinian refugees?

7/31/2019 White Paper1- Who's responsible for the Plight of the 1948 Palestinian refugees?

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WHITE PAPER #1

Interestingly enough, as scholars investigating the plight of 1948 Refugees, one

cannot deny that the responsibility falls largely in the hands of both the British and

Palestinian Leaders. The latter, is of course, in reference to Rashid Khalids overall

argument concerning this question, over who was responsible for the plight of 1948

Palestinian Refugees?

Khalids main argument is that the complete collapse of Palestinian socially,

military, diplomatic solution in the 1948-49 war is because of the failure of the 1936- 39

revolt and its lasting effects. He claims that it was not the new historian perspective of the

result of war; rather it is the British and predominately the Palestinian leadership. In

particular he puts much of the emphasis of blame on Hajj Al-min al-Hussayni, who

served British interests during the mandate period leading up to the Al-Nakhba. Not only

did he put down a growing nationalist movement in Palestine during the years prior to

1936-1939, but after his exile. He continued to lead without knowing the situation in

Palestine and the growing threat of Zionism, this is signified in both his rejection of the

Peel Commission and the White Papers. While the Peel Commission granted national

home for Arab Palestinians and the white papers would have halted both Jewish

immigration and land purchases. Many Palestinian leaders felt that, while maybe unfair to

the Arab majority, they should accept these terms, yet Hussayni rejected them.

Another important factor is the re-division of the already divided leaders and socital

class in Palestine, caused by the failure of the Great Revolt. The politics of notables

basically is the concept of feuding families, such as the nashibbis and hussenis, yet also

local loyalties to cities and villages split the community. The economic consequence of


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the revolt, especially the boycott hurt the Palestinians Industry. The ensuing worldwide

economic collapse resulted in hundreds of farmers (Felhadin) who could not make ends

meet, so they moved to the cities and urban centers. This created increasing burden on the

Palestinian upper class, which only widened the divide between elites and lower classes.

The British played a major role in the lack of leadership or any political

cohesiveness, which ultimately led to the collapse of the Palestinian society in 1948-49

war. They appointed a grand mufti (Husyani), to govern over the ulema (muslim clergy),

which was a complete reversal of Islamic law. Also, the British had their own interests in

the region, which can be seen in the Balfour declaration, McMchoan-Hussayni

Correspondence and the Skyes-Picot agreement.he most significant consequence of the

Revolt was that British opposition to Arab Palestinians, was solidified in the Arab revolt,

which resulted in confiscating arms, killing or exiling their leaders and increased

presence of British troops. The most significant factor was the Palestinian political realm

and representation, or lack thereof, which was completely disproportionate, in terms of

the Yishuv and Jewish Agency, who were backed by British support.

In 1948, when the civil war finally came about, the Palestinian Arabs were in

complete disarray; politically, economically, socially, diplomatically, and militarily.

From 1948s onslaught, the consequences of the great revolt set the tone for an utter

capitulation of Palestinian society. Also it was highly probable, in contrast to the highly

organization and motivated Yishuv, who were backed by British. Ultimately, Palestinian

leaders call to abandon their homes, came to embody sentiments of al Nahkba. Thus, the

question regarding Palestinian plight of 1948, stems from failures on part by the


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Palestinian leadership, as well as, Pro-Zionist sentiment within British policy

implementation.

Works Cited

1. Palestinian IdentityKhalidi Rashid, Columbia, 1997.

2. Benny Morris

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