Palestine

What is Palestine?

Palestine is a country in the Middle East that once had borders with Syria and Egypt. After 1948, much of Palestine's territory was incorporated into a new state, Israel. Palestine is now made up of two smaller territories, the West Bank and Gaza.

Who controlled Palestine in 1917?

In 1917 Palestine was controlled by the Turkish Ottoman Empire, which was allied in the First World War to Germany and Austria-Hungary. In 1917 Palestine was occupied by the British, who were at war with the Ottoman Empire and its allies.

Why was Palestine important to other countries?

There were 3 reasons why Palestine was important to other countries.

• ❖ Palestine was important to other countries because it was the centre of three world religions and because the Middle East was a region rich with oil.
• ❖ Palestine was important to the Ottoman Empire because Jerusalem is a holy city for the Islamic faith.
• ❖ The British wanted to occupy Palestine to limit French power in the Middle East after the First World War.

What happened to Palestine after the First World War?

Palestine was occupied by the British after the First World War and it became a League of Nations Mandate in 1920, administered by Great Britain.

Who lived in Palestine at the end of the First World War?

At the end of the First World War the inhabitants of Palestine were mainly Palestinian Arabs. Most Arabs were Muslim but a small number were Christian. Jews were a minority group in Palestine.

What was the mandate status for Palestine after the First World War?

The Mandates were countries that had once been colonies of European and the Ottoman Empires. At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 they were given mandate status, meaning they were neither colonies nor independent but would come under the control of the victorious powers, mainly Britain and France. Some would be prepared for full independence, while others would be permanently supervised.

Why did Palestine become a mandate?

The League of Nations saw Palestine as a country that could be independent in the future.