Jewish Immigration

What was the Jewish immigration of 1917?

Jews were going to live permanently in the land of Israel.

Why did Jews immigrate to Palestine?

Jewish people went to Palestine after 1917 for several reasons.

• ❖ Many lived in small communities across Europe, America and the British Empire and wanted either a home in Palestine or a nation for Jews.
• ❖ Some Jews were Zionists and believed in the establishment of a Jewish nation in Palestine, through either negotiation or force.
• ❖ Jewish people in Europe had faced centuries of persecution and many believed only a Jewish state in Palestine could protect them.
• ❖ Initially, Jewish immigration to Palestine was encouraged by some British politicians. They believed Jewish people would work hard to 'improve' Palestine.

When did Jews immigrate to Palestine?

There were several phases of Jewish migration to Palestine:

• ❖ Jewish immigration into Palestine was permitted between 1919 and 1936. After 1936 the British imposed strict limits following the Arab uprising which was sparked by the mass arrival of Jewish people.
• ❖ After 1936, Jews fleeing persecution in Europe continued to arrive in Palestine. The appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany in January 1933 saw migration from Germany and Central Europe surge throughout the decade. By 1940, 450,000 Jews lived in Palestine.

What did Jews do in Palestine after they immigrated?

Many Jews who moved to Palestine after the Balfour Declaration established farms and businesses. Some believed this activity was the foundation of a new Jewish state.

How did Jewish immigration lead to tension?

Jewish immigration led to rising tensions between Jews and Arabs. There were a series of violent clashes between the two communities over land ownership throughout the 1920s and 1930s, leading to an Arab uprising in 1936.