The Arab Revolt, 1936-1939
In the early spring of 1936, British domination of the eastern Mediterranean came under serious challenge for the first time since 1918. The Italian-Ethiopian war was drawing to a close with a troublesome loss of prestige for Britain, which adamantly opposed, but was unable to prevent, Italian adventurism in Africa. To make things worse, Italian agents were busy spreading anti-British propaganda throughout the region in an effort to enhance their own position at Britain's expense. A real threat of a war between Italy and Britain seemed to be emerging. During April, negotiations were being concluded for the AngloEgyptian treaty (signed August 21) and the Anglo-Iraqi treaty (ratified June 30), agreements that moved these Arab countries toward independence. These developments, along with the highly divisive issue of the legislative council that the high commissioner had reintroduced, contributed to a state of tension in Palestine. Many Arab leaders came to believe that the hour was at hand to force Britain to make some major concessions to Arab nationalism and the demand for Arab selfdetermination in Palestine.
It was not long before a flagrant outrage perpetrated against the Jews of Palestine set in motion a series of events that rocked the country for a good part of the year. On the night of April 15, ten automobiles traveling the Tulkharm-Nablus road were stopped and their occupants robbed by Arab bandits. Three of the travelers who were Jews were separated from the rest, and shot. Because the three were selected for execution only because they were Jewish, anti-Arab feeling rose dra