IAFS/JWST 3650 Palestinian Nationalism and Zionism in International Context

Outline Palestine, pan-Islam, and Indian nationalism 1936 Arab Uprising 1937 Peel partition plan and challenges Zionists and Gandhi

1930s: Pan-Islamic Connections 1931 pan-Islamic Congress in Jerusalem: “epoch- making” (Antonius) Mufti as polarizing force Call for more Indian Muslim reps George Antonius

Gandhi and Palestinian Nationalism Akram Zu‘aytir’s adoption of Gandhian methods 1930: Gandhi’s Salt March Zu‘aytir’s attempted march across Palestine Gandhi on Salt March

Gandhi as Time’s Man of the Year (1931)

The Mufti’s Trip to India 1933: Mufti to India for fundraising Government of India concerns –Hajj Amin “spread[ing] propaganda for Palestine Arab case” Hajj Amin

The Mufti’s Trip to India Trip a financial disappointment, “moral” success? –Palestine Police report: “Indian Moslems have shown increased sympathy... And this is what is required to bring pressure on the British Government.”

1936 Arab Revolt Strikes, violence, wide popular support Viceroy’s attention to Indian Muslim interest in revolt August 1936: British declaration of martial law in Palestine, decision to send troops

Peel Commission Proposal 1937: Peel Commission —recognition that Britain’s WWI promises were incompatible —recommendation that Britain partition Palestine into Arab state and Jewish state Peel Plan

Challenges to Peel Plan 1938: Woodhead Commission (aka Technical/Partition/Re-Peel Commission) —Peel partition plan impracticable

Challenges to Peel Plan 1938: British rejection of Palestine partition 1939: PM Neville Chamberlain: “if we must offend one side, let us offend the Jews rather than the Arabs.”

1939 White Paper Limitations on Jewish immigration to Palestine —75,000 over the next five years Zionist vow to “fight the war as if there were no White Paper, and to fight the White Paper as if there were no war.”

Zionist Contacts with Gandhi Efforts to win Gandhi’s support for Jewish state in Palestine Gandhi’s international influence Zionist efforts unsuccessful Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach in 1937

Zionist Contacts with Gandhi Disappointment at advice to use non-violence vs Nazis —Gandhi: “if the Jewish mind could be prepared for voluntary suffering, even the massacre I have imagined could be turned into a day of thanksgiving and joy” —Judah Magnes: Violence against Jews “makes not even a ripple on the surface of German life.... Contrast this with one of your fasts, or with your salt march to the sea, or a visit to the Viceroy, when the whole world is permitted to hang upon your words and be witness to your acts.”

Zionist Contacts with Gandhi 1939 meetings Zionist identity: European or “Eastern”? –Early alignment with British empire –1930s shift: Jews as “Eastern people” Zionist distrust of advice to practice non- violence

Gandhi’s Advice to European Jewry 1946: “The Jews should have thrown themselves from cliffs.”