Ploughing Sand: British Rule in Palestine, 1917-1948 - Hardcover

Shepherd, Naomi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813527651 ISBN 13: 9780813527659

Publisher: Rutgers University Press, 2000

Synopsis

This book recreates British rule in Palestine from the winter of 1917 to the spring of 1948. Between these dates, the Jewish minority turned political weakness into strength, and the Palestine Arabs headed for disaster. How this happened under British administration is the subject of this richly documented account, based on public and private papers, memoirs, and interviews—many never previously published.

After the First World War the British in Palestine were handed an ambiguous brief: to encourage the formation of a “national home” for the Jews and to protect the “civil and religious rights” of the local Arabs. Colonial officials tried vainly to create a pluralist, “composite state” from communities divided by politics, religion, language, culture—even economic and social structure. They attempted to legislate for the benefit of Arabs and Jews alike, but saw many of their laws on immigration and land evaded by both, often in collusion. Trying at first to settle political conflict by persuasion and conciliation, in the end they turned disastrously to force.

This study is the first to reconstruct in detail the workings of the troubled Mandate administration, and the influence of its chief personalities. At the end, with the land records preserved and military equipment consigned to the sea, a leading official complained bitterly that all constructive efforts in Palestine had been like “ploughing sand.”

About this title

From the Inside Flap

This book recreates British rule in Palestine from the winter of 1917-when battle scared troops in flimsy desert gear clambered through mountain chill and mists to Jerusalem-to the spring of 1948 and the last High Commissioner's apologetic departure. Between these dates, the Jewish minority turned political weakness into strength, and the Palestine Arabs headed for disaster. How this happened under British administration is the subject of this richly documented account, based on public and private papers, memoirs, and interviews-many never previously published.

After the First World War the British in Palestine were handed an ambiguous brief: to encourage the formation of a "national home" for the Jews and to protect the "civil and religious rights" of the local Arabs. Nothing in their colonial experience had prepared them for the challenge. Colonial officials tried vainly to create a pluralist, "composite state" form communities divided by politics, religion, culture-even economic and social structure. They attempted to legislate for the benefit of Arabs and Jews alike, but saw many of their laws on immigration and land evaded by both, often in collusion. Trying at first to settle political conflict by persuasion and conciliation, in the end they turned disastrously to force.

This study is the first to reconstruct in detail the workings of the troubled Mandate administration, and the influence of its chief personalities. At the end, with the last laws passed against gambling, the land records preserved, and military equipment consigned to the sea, a leading official complained bitterly that all constructive efforts in Palestine had been like "ploughing sand".

Review

"A work of exhaustive and scrupulous research." -- Tim Garton Ash, The Spectator

"Fine cameo biographies of radical and rebellious women." -- Julia Neuberger, The Times

"Her poignant chronicle of Wilfrid Israel's heroic journey has the fluency and pace of a first-rate thriller." -- Joshua Sherman, Times Literary Supplement

"In a work which reads like a detective story, Naomi Shepherd has uncovered an historical Aladdin's cave of drama and intrigue, casting considerable new light on the efforts that were made to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution." -- Martin Gilbert

"Shepherd's account of Bertha Pappenheim's life and work is exemplary, as, indeed, is her detailed treatment of all the material in this unusual book." -- Elaine Feinstein, Sunday Times

"The Zealous Intruders is as rich in anecdote as in solid historical detail... A fascinating and compelling account." -- Nissim Rejwan, Jerusalem Post

About this edition

• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0813527651
• ISBN 13: 9780813527659
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 290