Zionist Commission
Encyclopedia
The Zionist Commission for Palestine was a group chaired by Chaim Weizmann
, president of the British Zionist Federation following British promulgation of the pro-Zionist
, Balfour Declaration of 1917. The Commission was formed in March 1918 and went to Palestine
to study conditions and make their recommendations to the British authorities. The Zionist Commission, including Weizmann and Israel Sieff
as secretary, reached Palestine on 14 April, 1918; it ran into difficulties with the British military administration (OETA), which was far from sympathetic to Zionist aspirations. The Commission had gone to Palestine with the consent of the British Government and stayed there for some years.
The Commission carried out initial surveys of Palestine and aided the repatriation of Jews sent into exile by the Ottoman Turks during World War I
. It expanded the Palestine Office, previously founded by the ZO in 1908, into small departments for agriculture, settlement, education, land, finance, immigration, and statistics.
In June 1918, representing the Zionist Commission, Weizmann traveled to southern Transjordan
to meet Emir Feisal, during the British advance from the south against the Ottoman Empire
in World War I
. The intended purpose was to forge an agreement between Feisal and the Zionist movement to support an Arab Kingdom and Jewish settlement in Palestine, respectively. Neither side considered it necessary to consult the wishes of the Palestinian Arabs.
Arab opposition to establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine was led by Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
as early as 1920. He was active in both opposing the British in order to secure the independence of Palestine as an Arab State, and led violent campaigns against Jews, including the 1920 Palestine riots
. He demanded the disbanding of the Zionist Commission and the expulsion of its leaders; this demand was ignored by the British military administration. On 19 April 1920, elections were held for the Assembly of Representatives of the Palestinian Jewish community
. The Palin Report 1920
on the April riots, submitted in August 1920, though never published, was critical of both sides. By the time the Report was presented, the British Occupied Enemy Territory Administration had been replaced by a High Commissioner
, Sir Herbert Samuel
. Weizmann became president of the Zionist Organization (ZO) in 1920
Further rioting took place between 1 and 7 May 1921. In October 1921, the Haycraft Commission of Inquiry
laid the blame for the Jaffa riots
of May 1921 on the Arab community, but otherwise the report was not acted upon.
In 1921, the Commission became the Palestine Zionist Executive, which acted as the Jewish Agency for Palestine, to advise the British mandate authorities on the development of the country in matters of Jewish interest.
Chaim Weizmann
Chaim Azriel Weizmann, , was a Zionist leader, President of the Zionist Organization, and the first President of the State of Israel. He was elected on 1 February 1949, and served until his death in 1952....
, president of the British Zionist Federation following British promulgation of the pro-Zionist
Streams of Zionism
The Zionist Movement was produced by various philosophers representing different approaches concerning the objective and path that Zionism should follow. The principal common goal was the aspiration to establish an independent state for the Jewish people. However, the method of action needed was...
, Balfour Declaration of 1917. The Commission was formed in March 1918 and went to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
to study conditions and make their recommendations to the British authorities. The Zionist Commission, including Weizmann and Israel Sieff
Israel Sieff
Israel Moses Sieff, Baron Sieff was a British businessman.He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University. One of the theatres at the Manchester Grammar School is named in his honour....
as secretary, reached Palestine on 14 April, 1918; it ran into difficulties with the British military administration (OETA), which was far from sympathetic to Zionist aspirations. The Commission had gone to Palestine with the consent of the British Government and stayed there for some years.
The Commission carried out initial surveys of Palestine and aided the repatriation of Jews sent into exile by the Ottoman Turks during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It expanded the Palestine Office, previously founded by the ZO in 1908, into small departments for agriculture, settlement, education, land, finance, immigration, and statistics.
In June 1918, representing the Zionist Commission, Weizmann traveled to southern Transjordan
Transjordan
The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...
to meet Emir Feisal, during the British advance from the south against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The intended purpose was to forge an agreement between Feisal and the Zionist movement to support an Arab Kingdom and Jewish settlement in Palestine, respectively. Neither side considered it necessary to consult the wishes of the Palestinian Arabs.
Arab opposition to establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine was led by Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Haj Mohammed Effendi Amin el-Husseini was a Palestinian Arab nationalist and Muslim leader in the British Mandate of Palestine. From as early as 1920, in order to secure the independence of Palestine as an Arab state he actively opposed Zionism, and was implicated as a leader of a violent riot...
as early as 1920. He was active in both opposing the British in order to secure the independence of Palestine as an Arab State, and led violent campaigns against Jews, including the 1920 Palestine riots
1920 Palestine riots
The 1920 Palestine riots, or Nabi Musa riots, took place in British Mandate of Palestine April 4–7, 1920 in and around the Old City of Jerusalem....
. He demanded the disbanding of the Zionist Commission and the expulsion of its leaders; this demand was ignored by the British military administration. On 19 April 1920, elections were held for the Assembly of Representatives of the Palestinian Jewish community
Yishuv
The Yishuv or Ha-Yishuv is the term referring to the body of Jewish residents in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel...
. The Palin Report 1920
Palin Report 1920
The Palin Report or Palin Commission of Inquiry examined the rioting in Jerusalem between 4 and 7 April 1920. It foresaw increasing problems between the various parties and the administration.-Commission operations:...
on the April riots, submitted in August 1920, though never published, was critical of both sides. By the time the Report was presented, the British Occupied Enemy Territory Administration had been replaced by a High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
, Sir Herbert Samuel
Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel
Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel GCB OM GBE PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Early years:...
. Weizmann became president of the Zionist Organization (ZO) in 1920
Further rioting took place between 1 and 7 May 1921. In October 1921, the Haycraft Commission of Inquiry
Haycraft Commission of Inquiry
The Haycraft Commission of Inquiry was set up to investigate the Jaffa riots of 1921, but its remit was widened and its report entitled "Palestine: Disturbances in May 1921"...
laid the blame for the Jaffa riots
Jaffa riots
The Jaffa riots were a series of violent riots in Palestine on May 1–7, 1921, which began as a fight between two Jewish groups but developed into an attack by Arabs on Jews during which many were killed...
of May 1921 on the Arab community, but otherwise the report was not acted upon.
In 1921, the Commission became the Palestine Zionist Executive, which acted as the Jewish Agency for Palestine, to advise the British mandate authorities on the development of the country in matters of Jewish interest.