The British administration in Palestine was accepted by the League of Nations in 1923 as part of portioning the Ottoman Empire after the end of the First World War.
United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) was formed in 1947 at the request of Britain and it gave its proposals for the partition of Palestine.
The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a plan created by the United Nations which suggested the partition of Palestine at the end of the British Mandate. On 29th November 1947, UN General Assembly adopted the plan as Resolution 181 (II).
The Resolution recommended the creation of an independent Jewish and Arab state and a Special International Regime for the city of Jerusalem. The Partition Plan was a 4 page document attached to the resolution which provided for the termination of the Mandate, withdrawal of the British troops and creating boundaries between the two states and the city of Jerusalem. Part 1 of the plan stated that the British must withdraw from Palestine as soon as possible and no later than 1st August 1948 and the two new states should be created within two months but no later than 1st October 1948. The Plan also stated for the Economic Union between the two states and to protect the minorities in these regions.
The Plan was accepted by the Jews even with its limitations but the Arabs rejected it stating that it violated principles of national self determination in the UN Charter which gave the people right to decide their own destiny.
The Partition Plan with Economic Union was not accepted as planned by the UN General Assembly and civil war broke out in the area. British forces withdrew from Palestine and the issue of Palestine is still a major issue in contemporary times which has no foreseeable easy solution.
References:
- Lowe Norman, Mastering Modern World History, 5th edition, Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
- Calvocoressi Peter, World Politics 1945-2000, Dorling Kindersley Pvt Ltd, 2008.
- Prior Michael, Zionism and the State of Israel: A Moral Enquiry, Routledge, 1999.
