BRITAIN IN PALESTINE
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In spite of the efforts of Zionists from the beginning of the 20th century to paint a picture of Palestine as an empty land, the country had a varied and multi-class population, from peasants to professionals, across three religions, and with access to modern facilities such as newspapers, education, transport, cultural activities, and the everyday pursuits of any complex society. Those Jews who recognised that there was already a significant population, 90% of whom were Arab, argued that an influx of Jews could bring ‘civilization’ to the country.
“…most of the Arabs are pastoral, not cultivators. They wander to and fro on the earth, and are not likely to be injured by close connection with the Jewish element.”
– Col. Josiah Wedgwood, British MP
The People of Palestine
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In the early years of Zionism, Palestine was described as ‘a land without people for people without a land’. Even after the First World War, supporters of a Jewish state in Palestine tried to deny the existence of Palestinian Arabs and, indeed, their status.
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