Arab Revolt Flashcards
What kind of stamps were issued during the Arab Revolt? What is interesting about them?
Stamps to raise funds - Dome of the Rock, Holy Sepulchre, etc. - ‘Palestine for the Arabs’. // Map not political - no Naqab, includes Jordanian territories - reflects that movement was unclear about what it wanted to achieve
What term by Hobsbawm can be used to describe early resistance by Arabs?
“Primitive Rebellion” - seeking redress, return to status quo
Who argues that historians have tended to overestimate the effects of interrelate rivalries on the evolution of nationalism?
Gelvin
Who argues that Assam’s death prompted the revolt?
Nimr
What does Gelvin argue about Qassam’s legacy?
Emerged as champion of marginalised and dispossessed, symbol of resistance. Funeral largest in Palestinian history
Who argues that the appearance of new Arab militants, including Istiqlal party, were key to influencing Palestinian opinion? What did they demand?
Kimmerling - Non-cooperation
When was there key unrest in 1930s before Revolt?
1931 - General strike, political demonstrations, violent exchanges
When was the Istiqlal Party formally formed?
1932
Who argues that the Mufti had limited control over the revolt?
Bowden
Who argues that the rebellion “laid bare the deep rifts in Palestinian society, which ultimately rendered it weak and ineffective”?
Morris
What contributed to eating away at traditional, stabilising and clan-centred social fabric in the 1930s?
‘Dry years’ of early 1930s which precipitated influx of villagers to towns
What were the names of Husseini and Nashashibi’s parties?
Husseini: Palestine Arab Party. Nashashibi: National Defence Party
Where was the Mufti’s reputation better than in some areas, e.g. Central Highland?
Galilee
What does Swedenburg’s study reveal about religious differences?
Underemphasised by interviewees but may be retrospective - by 1980s, nationalism more secular
Who argues there were Muslim-Christian tensions in the revolt?
Portal
What evidence is there for religious divisions in the revolt?
1938 - peasants made Christian women veil.
What does Mattar argue about who dominated and led the revolt?
Argues Istiqlal were a more influential political entity than the Mufti or strike committees
Who suggests that the revolt lasted so long owing to social cohesion?
Kayyali
Who was appointed Mayor of Jerusalem in 1920?
Nashashibi
Who makes a direct comparison between the Revolt and First Intifada? Who does he argue led the revolt?
Morris. Shabab.
Who was ‘The Opposition’?
Fakir and Raghib Nashashibi
Who had rejected the rebellion on economic grounds, thinking it would harm the Palestinian economy?
Taha, citrus grower in Haifa
From where was a middle class, conservative challenge used?
Nablus
Who was not represented in early days of the Revolt and why?
Agrarian workers esp. - not represented in AHC or local national committees - lead taken by urban activists.
What percentage of elites participated in the revolt, according to Kimmerling?
9%, 5% directed military operations
According to Stein, what % of Arabs killed were killed by other Arabs?
16%
What percentage of the British airforce was sent to Palestine and how many men fought, according to Rose?
40%; 20,000.
How did Sakakini describe the early days of the rebellion in his diary?
Life or death struggle
How was the revolt self-identified from the outset?
Thawra - revolt - Great Arab Rebellion
How did interviewers generally explain their participation in Swedenberg’s study?
Nation/homeland - being given away with collaboration of British
How does Nimr describe the General Strike?
Declaration of civil disobedience - refusal to pay taxes, boycott of all official bodies
Where and when was the first National Committee formed?
Nablus, April 19
What did the AHC call for?
End to Zionist immigration and land transfers, and allow popularly elected legislature - warned of armed struggle
Who argues that the AHC and NCs had a hand in setting up rural bands and financing/supplying them?
Morris
What suggests that the strike was not very effective?
Haifa port continued to function, and railways.
What does Morris conclude about the significance of the revolt?
Most significant demonstration of Palestinian-Arab nationalist feeling
What was unsatisfactory about the Peel Commission?
Partition; population transfer of Arabs from Galilee continued British presence (not truly independent - would have been attached to Transjordan). Jews received 1/5 but most of coastal plain and Gailee. Enclave in British hands included Jerusalem and other significant cities.
Who called for an end to the strike in September?
Filastin - citrus crop
To what did the British cut the monthly quota of immigrants?
4,500 to 1,800
When was partition rejected and when did violence resume?
July 1937 - September
How many Palestinians were deported to the Seychelles?
200
How many Palestinians and Jews were killed?
3000; 400.
What does Kelly argue about the brutality of British tactics?
So extreme and widespread that they were as much a cause as response to violence
How many homes were destroyed in Jaffa?
220
How did the government indirectly facilitate ‘incitement’ in rural areas?
By exiling urban rebels to the countryside
How many supernumerary Jewish policemen were recruited and armed in the early phase of the revolt?
2,700
When was a ‘hardline’ approach taken? What was the international context?
1938 - Munich Agreement offered some respite and new HC MacMichael replaced Wauchope.
What were some of the new policies adopted by the British during the ‘hardline’ period?
Arabs forced to carry IDF cards; collective punishments; 17 battalions; curtailment of orange exports.
When were there Irgun bombs?
1937-8
Why does Morris argue the revolt collapsed?
Enlarged British military presence and its vigorous operations - resulted in physical destruction of rebel bands, alienation of rural population. Violent split in Arab camp.
How many urban elite does Morris suggest fled?
30,000
What does Nimr argue that rebels had in the beginning phase of the revolt?
Common national, political and economic objectives - hence successful mobilisation of public support
What city was in rebel hands for three months in 1938?
Beersheba
Who did not think Britain’s response was harsh enough?
Permanent Mandates Commission
How does Khalidi suggest the revolt can be seen as a success?
No armed revolt of colonised successful in interwar years achieving full national independence. General Strike the longest anti-colonial strike of its kind until that point in history.
What key commander died during the revolt?
al-Hajj Muhammed
What does Cohen argue defined the revolt by the end?
Corruption and crime
What suggests that there were religious divisions during the revolt?
1936 leaflet called Christians violators of national interest.
What does Morris argue was the impact on the Yishuv?
“Propelled the Jewish sector in the direction of autarky”
What two prominent families collaborated with the Zionists?
Dajani and Nashashibi clans
To whom did F. Nashashibi have ties?
Elyashar of Jerusalem’s Jewish Committee. University together in Beirut.
When did the Nashashibis leave the AHC?
July 1937
How does Morris describe the N-H conflict?
“Low key civil war within a revolt”
What three key decisions did collaborators make?
To not join the rebellion; to wage military campaign against rebels/H; to accept aid and provide assistance to Zionists
To what does Cohen attribute the Nashashibis decision to collaborate?
Personal mortal danger and threat of political extinction
At which battle did Nashashibi defeat H?
Battle of Bani Na’im
What provoked the Abu Ghosh’s collaboration?
Assassination of Yusuf Abu Ghosh. Revenge. Also own interests - village rebels had attempted to overturn social order, attacking former AG masters
What mayors supported Nashashibi?
Of Jaffa, Gaza, Bethlehem
Why was the legitimacy of the national leadership relatively fragile?
Not based on mass participation, party or organisation - loyalty and patronage
What was the name given to those elites who collaborated in anger at the rise of rebels from lower classes?
“Aristocratic bandits”
What does Cohen argue was the relationship between the Zionists and Druze in this period?
Druze strengthened ties to Zionists to point to collaboration
What were the implications of labelling the violence a ‘pogrom’?
At once belittled phenomenon; demonised Arabs, comforted Jews (didn’t have to admit they were facing a national movement)
What fraction of attacks were on Jews and their property?
1/4 - Kimmerling
Who argues that the revolt dismantled Palestinian civil society, taking it decades to rebuild?
Schanzer
What does Nimr argue is the significance of the revolt for Palestinian collective memory?
First organise armed resistance; first grassroots movement; forced Britain to re-occupy; involved majority
Who argued that “perhaps no event has been more momentous in Palestinian history than the Great Arab Revolt”?
Kimmerling
What does Kimmerling argue was the impact on Palestinian society?
“Muted cultural revolution” - e.g. adoption of keffiyeh instead of fez, tarbush.
