Notables and nationalism: A history of Palestinian Arab politics, 1917-1939

This thesis analyzes the Palestinian national movement between 1917 and 1939. It focuses on the social structure and economic problems in Palestinian Arab society and how these factors contributed to the political challenges that confronted the national leadership. The Palestinian Arab leaders of this era are remembered today for their unwillingness to accept the terms of the British Mandate. Their position stayed more or less consistent throughout the period under review, as did their opposition to Jewish land purchase and immigration to the region. These were the two major tenets of the Zionist movement and critical objectives of the mandate itself. The continued opposition of the Palestinian leaders and the persistence of the issues they faced did not amount to a static situation. There were various social and economic changes taking place in Palestine. These changes adversely affected the lower classes and weakened the position of the ruling class. As the plight of the Palestinians worsened, the national leaders remained caught in political gridlock that further eroded their position. In addition to these factors, there were outside forces that determined the trajectory of the Palestine mandate and the state of its Arab population. After World War I, a series of externally imposed political constraints were key factors in determining the range of political options available to the Palestinian leadership and the possible sources of national identity. Living under the British Mandate and experiencing the effects of Jewish settlement created a common platform for the development of a unique Palestinian identity, one that set the Palestinians apart from the other Arab peoples. Even though they coalesced as a distinct national people, political divisions kept the Palestinians from forming the united front that was needed to address the situation.