Palestinian National Movement in World Wars

Palestinian national movement

During the World Wars, the Palestinian national movement evolved from anti-Ottoman regionalism to active opposition against British Mandatory rule and Zionist settlement. During World War I, Arab leaders sought independence from the Ottoman Empire through alliances with the British, encapsulated in the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence. However, the post-war imposition of the Mandate and the Balfour Declaration shifted their focus toward resisting British policy and expanding Jewish immigration. By World War II, divisions deepened as factional leaders took opposing strategies; some sought Axis backing to end British rule, while others pursued diplomatic avenues. These wartime dynamics catalyzed intense local resistance, shaping the geopolitical trajectory of Palestine and laying the foundation for the subsequent 1948 conflict.

People

Select All Clear All

Birth Death Origin Age (Death)

1853
1874
1880
1880
1882
1883
1886
1894
1895
1898
1908

Timeline

Category
Element

Year	Palestinian national movement
1853	Birth of Musa al-Husayni (Period: 1853 (exact date unknown), Location: Jerusalem (present-day Palestine/Israel region))
1870	Activities as an Ottoman Official
1874	Birth of Chaim Weizmann (Period: November 27, 1874, Location: Motol (present-day Brest Region, Republic of Belarus))
1880	Birth of Zeev Jabotinsky (Period: October 17, 1880 (some sources state October 18), Location: Odesa (present-day Ukraine)) Birth of Vladimir Jabotinsky (Period: October 18, 1880 (some sources state October 17), Location: Odesa (present-day Ukraine))
1882	Birth of Raghib al-Nashashibi (Period: 1881 (some sources state 1882), Location: Jerusalem (present-day Palestine/Israel region))
1883	Birth of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam (Period: December 19, 1882 (alternate theories suggest 1881 or 1883), Location: Jableh (present-day Latakia Governorate, Syria))
1886	Birth of David Ben-Gurion (Period: October 16, 1886, Location: Płońsk (present-day Masovian Voivodeship, Republic of Poland))
1890	Studying Islamic Theology at Al-Azhar University Chemical Research and Acquisition of Doctorate (Chaim Weizmann) Joining the Zionist Movement
1894	Birth of Moshe Sharett (Period: October 15, 1894 (some sources state October 16), Location: Kherson, Ukraine)
1895	Birth of Amin al-Husayni (Period: 1895 (with alternate theories dating around 1893–1897), Location: Jerusalem (present-day Palestine/Israel region))
1898	Study Abroad in Europe and Journalistic Activities Birth of Golda Meir (Period: May 3, 1898, Location: Kyiv (present-day Ukraine))
1900	Studying Civil Engineering at Istanbul University Formation and Activities of the Zionist Youth Movement "Ezra" Joining and Leading Poale Zion Involvement with the Jewish Self-Defense Organization Hashomer
1903	Religious Education and Social Reform in Jableh (Izz ad-Din al-Qassam) Controversy over the Uganda Scheme within the Zionist Movement Participation in the Sixth Zionist Congress Formation of Jewish Self-Defense Organizations in Russia Kishinev Pogrom
1904	Emigration to Britain and Contact with Arthur Balfour (Chaim Weizmann)
1906	Marriage (Chaim Weizmann, Vera Weizmann) Emigration to Palestine (David Ben-Gurion) Emigration to the United States (Golda Meir) Emigration to Palestine with Family (Moshe Sharett)
1907	Marriage (Vladimir Jabotinsky, Joanna (Hanna/Ania) Galperina) Marriage (Ze'ev Jabotinsky, Joanna (Hanna/Ania) Galperina)
1908	Birth of Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni (Period: 1907 (some sources state 1908; exact date unknown), Location: Jerusalem (listed as Ottoman Jerusalem on English Wikipedia and Istanbul on PalQuest))
1910	Education and Youth in Jerusalem (Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini)
1911	Italo-Turkish War Support for the Libyan Resistance Movement
1913	Graduation from Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium (Moshe Sharett)
1914	World War I Elected as Representative of Jerusalem to the Ottoman Parliament
1915	Development of Acetone Production Method During World War I Expulsion by Ottoman Authorities (David Ben-Gurion) Zionist Activities in the United States and Recruitment for the Jewish Legion Support for the Creation of the Jewish Troop "Zion Mule Corps" Joining Poale Zion Support for the Creation of the Zion Mule Corps
1917	Marriage (David Ben-Gurion, Paula Munweis) Establishment of the Jewish Legion Realization of the Balfour Declaration Marriage to Morris Meyerson Marriage (Golda Meir, Morris Meyerson)
1918	Appointment as Chairman of the Zionist Commission (Chaim Weizmann) Meeting with King Faisal Activities in the Zionist Commission Appointment as Mayor of Jerusalem (Musa al-Husseini)
1919	Formation of Political Demands of the Palestinian National Movement Resistance Movement Against French Mandate in Syria Armed Resistance to the French Mandate Founding of Ahdut HaAvoda
1920	Activities as a Leader of the Palestinian National Movement Appointment as Mayor of Jerusalem (Raghib al-Nashashibi) Activities as a Moderate Leader of the Palestinian National Movement Death Sentence by French Military Court on Al-Qassam Relocation to Haifa (Izz ad-Din al-Qassam) Appointment as Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque (Izz ad-Din al-Qassam) Activities in the Haifa Branch of the Young Men's Muslim Association Appointment as President of the World Zionist Organization (Chaim Weizmann) Founding and Leadership of the Histadrut Armed Conflicts Between Arabs and Jews in Palestine Policy Conflicts and Departure from the Zionist Movement Activities in the Histadrut Study in London and Participation in Labor Zionism Dismissal as Mayor and Appointment as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Arab Congress (Musa al-Husseini) 1920 Jerusalem Riots and Jabotinsky's Trial 1920 Nebi Musa Riots
1921	Dispatch of Diplomatic Delegations to Britain Emigration to Palestine and Settlement in Merhavia (Golda Meir) Appointment as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (Amin al-Husseini)
1922	Marriage (Moshe Sharett, Tzipora) Appointment as President of the Supreme Muslim Council (Amin al-Husseini)
1923	Founding of the Betar Youth Movement
1925	Establishment of the Revisionist Zionist Organization HaZohar Establishment of the Revisionist Zionist Organization Joining the Editorial Staff of the Newspaper 'Davar'
1927	Enrollment and Withdrawal from the American University in Cairo (Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini)
1928	Editing the Hebrew Newspaper 'Doar HaYom'
1929	Denial of Re-entry to Palestine (Ze'ev Jabotinsky) Denial of Re-entry to Palestine (Vladimir Jabotinsky) 1929 Buraq (Wailing Wall) Riots
1930	Organization of the Black Hand Formation of Mapai and Taking Office as Party Leader (David Ben-Gurion)
1932	Organizational and Fundraising Activities in the United States
1933	Joining the Palestine Arab Party Founding of the Holy War Organization Appointment as Head of the Political Department of the Jewish Agency (Moshe Sharett) Assassination of Chaim Arlosoroff 1933 Jaffa Anti-British Demonstration
1934	1934 Jerusalem Mayoral Election and Mayor Replacement Marriage (Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini, Wajiha al-Husseini) Establishment of the Daniel Sieff Research Institute Death and Funeral Death of Musa al-Husayni Founding of the National Defence Party
1935	Taking Office as Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive (David Ben-Gurion) Establishment of the New Zionist Organization 1935 Killing of a British Police Officer Declaration of Armed Struggle Death of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Battle near Ya'bad and the Death of Al-Qassam Funeral and Impact on the National Movement
1936	Arab Revolt in Palestine Appointment as Chairman of the Arab Higher Committee (Amin al-Husseini) Participation in the Arab Higher Committee Battle of Al-Khader
1937	Withdrawal from the Arab Higher Committee Dissolution of the Arab Higher Committee and El-Husseini's Exile in 1937
1938	1938 Battle of Bani Na'im
1939	World War II World War II - Middle East Theatre Military Training and Commissioning as an Officer in Iraq Campaign for the Creation of a Jewish Army During World War II Participation in the London Conference Publication of the 1939 British White Paper
1940	Death of Zeev Jabotinsky Death of Vladimir Jabotinsky
1941	The Holocaust and the Issue of El-Husseini's Collaboration Exile to Nazi Germany and Collaboration (Amin al-Husseini) Assassination of Fakhri al-Nashashibi 1941 Anti-British Coup in Iraq 1941 Anti-British Revolt in Iraq Anglo-Iraqi War Farhud (Baghdad Anti-Jewish Riots) Meeting with Adolf Hitler
1942	Rescue and Transport Issue of the Tehran Children
1943	Recruitment of Muslim Soldiers for the Waffen-SS Stay and Military Training in Saudi Arabia
1944	Promoting the Establishment of the Jewish Brigade
1945	Escape from Custody of French Authorities
1946	Relocation to Egypt and Arms Procurement (Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini) Appointment as Head of the Political Department of the Jewish Agency (Golda Meir) Operation Agatha (Mass Arrest of Jewish Agency Leaders)
1947	Dispatch of Delegation to the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine 1948 Palestine War Diplomatic Activities for the UN Palestine Partition Plan 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine Appointment as Commander of the Army of the Holy War (Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini)
1948	First Arab-Israeli War Taking Office as Israel's First Prime Minister and Defense Minister (David Ben-Gurion) Request for Arms Assistance to the Military Committee of the Arab League Battle of Al-Qastal and the Death in Action of Abd al-Qadir Death of Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni Death in Action and Funeral Establishment of the Israel Defense Forces Israeli Declaration of Independence Signing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence Altalena Affair Establishment of the All-Palestine Government
1949	Appointment as Cabinet Minister in the Jordanian Government and Governor-General of the West Bank (Raghib al-Nashashibi) Appointment as Minister of Labor and Immigration Policy (Golda Meir) Arab-Israeli Conflict and Retaliatory Operations Taking Office as the First President of Israel (Chaim Weizmann) Israel's Admission to the United Nations
1951	Death of Raghib al-Nashashibi Death
1952	Death of Chaim Weizmann
1953	Relocation to and Development of the Negev Region (David Ben-Gurion)
1954	Taking Office as the 2nd Prime Minister of Israel (Moshe Sharett)
1955	Lavon Affair
1956	Appointment as Foreign Minister and Building Relations with African Nations (Golda Meir) Resignation as Foreign Minister and Withdrawal from Frontline Politics (Moshe Sharett) Suez Crisis (Second Arab-Israeli War)
1964	Establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Decline of Political Influence Death and Reburial of Remains in Jerusalem
1965	Formation of the Labor Party and Appointment as Party Secretary-General (Golda Meir) Death of Moshe Sharett
1967	War of Attrition
1969	Taking Office as Prime Minister of Israel (Golda Meir)
1970	Retirement from Politics (David Ben-Gurion)
1971	Protests by the Black Panther Movement
1972	Munich Massacre
1973	Debate on Government Responsibility for the Yom Kippur War Yom Kippur War (Fourth Arab-Israeli War) Death of David Ben-Gurion
1974	Resignation as Prime Minister and Retirement from Politics (Golda Meir) Death of Amin al-Husayni
1978	Death of Golda Meir
Unknown	Marriage (Amin al-Husseini, detailed full name unconfirmed, Period: Unknown, Location: Unknown) Marriage (Raghib al-Nashashibi, Ida Aldoroti, Alice, Period: Unknown, Location: Unknown) Marriage (Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, Amina Nanu, Period: Unknown, Location: Unknown)

Map

Category
Element

Asia World

People Timeline

Palestinian National Movement in World Wars