United Nations Palestine Commission

The United Nations Palestine Commission was created by United Nations Resolution 181.^[1] It was responsible for implementing the UN Partition Plan of Palestine and acting as the Provisional Government of Palestine.^[2] The 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and a refusal by the British government to impose a scheme which was not acceptable to both Arabs and Jews in Palestine prevented the Commission from fulfilling its responsibilities.

Reasons for the Palestine Commission

As on 15 May 1948 Palestine; which was a legal entity administered under United Nations Mandate by His Britannic Majesty but was not a sovereign state (it was not self-governing) yet the authority responsible for administration of Palestine on the termination of the British Mandate must perforce change. The role assigned to the United Kingdom in the implementation of the proposals put forward in the majority decision of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestinian Question were not compatible with the declared intentions of the United Kingdom Government. Also since the Mandatory Power intended to withdraw from Palestine without assuming any responsibility for the establishment of a new regime which would not command general consent in Palestine there would be no regularly constituted authority in the evacuated areas unless the United Nations recommended a way in which the gap could be effectively filled.^[3]

To allow for the smooth transition of power after 15 May 1948, Britain as the Mandatory Power was to hand over to the United Nations Palestine Commission as the Provisional Government of Palestine. The United Nations Commission was to be the statutory body for the Government of Palestine and the authority with which the British Mandate authority was to make an agreement regarding the transfer of the assets of the Government of Palestine. The United Nations Commission was also to be the authority for Palestine’s internal administration and for its foreign affairs. The title of the Government of Palestine was to rest on a resolution of the General Assembly.^[3]

Tasks of the Palestine Commission

The committee characterized its responsibilities as follows:

"(i) arranging for the progressive transfer of administrative authority from the Mandatory Power to the Commission and the establishment of Provisional Councils of Government;

(ii) supervision of the functioning of the Provisional Councils of Government, including the maintenance of public order in the transitional period following the termination of the Mandate;

(iii) delimitation of frontiers of the Arab and Jewish States and the City of Jerusalem;

(iv) exercise of political and military control over the armed militia in each of the projected states; including selection of their high commands;

(v) the preparatory work in connection with the establishment of the Economic Union, including the creation of the Preparatory Economic Commission and the maintenance of the economic services with which it will be concerned in the transitional period;

(vi) negotiations on the allocation and distribution of assets;

(vii) maintenance of administration and essential public services following the termination of the United Nations Statute to the city of Jerusalem; and

(ix)[sic] protection of Holy Places."^[4]

Formation

The first meeting was held at 11 am on 9 January 1948 in the Economic and Social Council Chamber of the United Nations, Lake Success, New York;

The Commission's five members were:

Mr. Karel Lisicky (Chairman) from Czechoslovakia
Mr. Raul Diez de Medina (Vice-Chairman) from Bolivia
Mr. Per Federspiel from Denmark
Dr. Eduardo Morgan from Panama
Senator Vicente J. Francisco from the Philippines

Preparations for Government

For the next five months the Palestine Commission familiarised itself with the general affairs of the Government of Palestine^[5] on Currency,^[6] Railways,^[7] 1948 Civil Aviation,^[8] and was kept abreast of events in Palestine by the UK Government^[9]^[10] The Palestine Commission was in consultation with the public bodies in Palestine with regards to forming a Provisional Council of Government although the postal service appeared to be a cause of delays in that process.^[11]

On 27 February 1948 The Palestine Commission adopted the following statement of policy with respect to the continuity of employment of the employees of the Mandatory administration in Palestine, and requested the British Mandatory Power to publish the statement or circulate it to all employees of the present Government in Palestine:

"The United Nations Palestine Commission, being under the terms of the resolution of the General Assembly responsible for the administration of Palestine immediately following the termination of the Mandate, hereby calls upon all present employees of the Palestine administration to continue their service with the successor authority in Palestine when the British Mandate is terminated. It is the policy of the United Nations Palestine commission as the successor authority to maintain services on the same terms and with the same rights for employees as those enjoyed under the Mandatory Government. The Commission requests all present employees of the Palestine Administration to inform at the earliest possible date, the Mandatory Government for communication to the Commission, whether they would be willing to remain in the service of the successor administration of Palestine on such terms."^[12]

Establishment of the Provisional Government

On 12 March the Palestine Commission was requested by the UK Government not to enter Palestine until 2 weeks before the termination of the Mandate.^[13]

On 17 March the Palestine Commission received a communication from the Hebrew Committee of National Liberation informing the Palestine Commission that they will be establishing a Provisional Council of Government of the Hebrew Republic of Palestine by April even though the Palestine Commission would not be in Palestine.^[14]

Communication of 26 April 1948 from the UK informing the UN Palestine commission that they are tardy for not being in Palestine to select the Jewish Provisional Government of Palestine.^[15]

Palestine Commission Adjourns Sine Die

The General Assembly adopted a resolution which relieved the United Nations Palestine Commission from the further exercise of its responsibilities, and its mandate from the General Assembly was effectively terminated on 14 May 1948.^[16]

On its 75th Meeting, 17 May, the Palestine Commission adjourned sine die.

Dr. Karel Lisicky (Czechoslovakia), the Chairman said:

"We disperse with our conscience clear. We have no fear about the judgement of history."

Dr. Lisicky added further

"in view of the fact that we legally cannot disband ourselves, we shall be dead under the legal fiction that we continue."

It was the general view of the Commission members that the General Assembly resolution of 29 November 1947, remained intact and that therefore the Commission was not and could not be legally dissolved.^[17]

Footnotes

^ UN Resolution 181 Archived 18 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
^ UN Doc A/AC.21/7 of 29 January 1948 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b UN Doc 1949.I.13 of 31 December 1948 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Yearbook of the United Nations 1947-48
^ "A/AC.21/7 of 29 January 1948". Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
^ UN Doc A/AC.2l/SR. 50 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 18 March 1948 United Nations Palestine Commission Summary Record of the Fiftieth Meeting
^ UN Doc A/AC21./Agenda 49 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 8 March 1948
^ UN Doc AP/15 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 21 March
^ UN Doc A/AC.21/AP/11 Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine of 21 March 1948
^ UN Archives UK Doc. 64 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 12 March 1948
^ UN Archives A/AC.21/UK/66 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 15 March 1948 Update on events in Palestine
^ UN Doc JA/28 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 15 March 1948 Letter to Dr Ralph Bunche from Aubrey S Eban
^ UN Doc PAL/138 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ UN Doc A/AC.21/14 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine of 12 March 1948. Clarification of the UK position on the Governance of Palestine
^ UN Doc A/AC.21/M/17 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 17 March 1948 Communication Received from Hebrew Committee of National Liberation
^ UN Doc A/AC.21/SR.68 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 26 April 1948 United Nations Palestine Commission Summary Record of the 68th Meeting
^ A/554 Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT ITS HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH PLENARY MEETING HELD ON 14 MAY 1948
^ UN Doc PAL/169 of 17 May 1948 Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[1] UN Resolution 181 Archived 18 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine

[2] UN Doc A/AC.21/7 of 29 January 1948 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[UN_Doc_1949I13-3] UN Doc 1949.I.13 of 31 December 1948 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Yearbook of the United Nations 1947-48

[4] "A/AC.21/7 of 29 January 1948". Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.

[5] UN Doc A/AC.2l/SR. 50 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 18 March 1948 United Nations Palestine Commission Summary Record of the Fiftieth Meeting

[6] UN Doc A/AC21./Agenda 49 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 8 March 1948

[7] UN Doc AP/15 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 21 March

[8] UN Doc A/AC.21/AP/11 Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine of 21 March 1948

[9] UN Archives UK Doc. 64 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 12 March 1948

[10] UN Archives A/AC.21/UK/66 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 15 March 1948 Update on events in Palestine

[11] UN Doc JA/28 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 15 March 1948 Letter to Dr Ralph Bunche from Aubrey S Eban

[12] UN Doc PAL/138 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[13] UN Doc A/AC.21/14 Archived 27 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine of 12 March 1948. Clarification of the UK position on the Governance of Palestine

[14] UN Doc A/AC.21/M/17 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 17 March 1948 Communication Received from Hebrew Committee of National Liberation

[15] UN Doc A/AC.21/SR.68 Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine of 26 April 1948 United Nations Palestine Commission Summary Record of the 68th Meeting

[16] A/554 Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT ITS HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH PLENARY MEETING HELD ON 14 MAY 1948

[UN_DocPAL169-17] UN Doc PAL/169 of 17 May 1948 Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine

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v t e List of modern conflicts in the Middle East
1910s	Italo-Turkish War World War I Middle Eastern theatre Battle of Robat Karim Arab Revolt Armenian genocide Assyrian genocide Mount Lebanon starvation Unification of Saudi Arabia Simko Shikak revolt 1919 Egyptian revolution Turkish War of Independence Anglo-Turkish War Al-Jazeera Front Greco-Turkish War Turkish–Armenian War Franco-Turkish War Revolts United States Mahmud Barzanji revolts
1920s	Franco-Syrian War Iraqi Revolt (1920) Intercommunal conflict in Mandatory Palestine Adwan Rebellion Arab separatism in Khuzestan Great Syrian Revolt Sheikh Said rebellion
1930s	Ararat rebellion Ahmed Barzani revolt Simele massacre Saudi–Yemeni War (1934) Goharshad Mosque rebellion 1935–1936 Iraqi Shia revolts 1935 Yazidi revolt 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine Dersim rebellion
1940s	World War II Italian bombing of Palestine Allied invasion of Iraq Syria–Lebanon campaign Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran 1943 Barzani revolt Al-Waziri coup Al-Wathbah uprising Kurdish separatism in Iran Iran crisis of 1946 Arab–Israeli conflict 1948 Arab–Israeli War Suez Crisis 1967 Six-Day War 1973 Yom Kippur War 1982 Lebanon War
1950s	1952 Egyptian revolution 1953 Iranian coup d'état Jebel Akhdar War Cyprus Emergency Suez Crisis Yemeni–Adenese clan violence 1958 Lebanon crisis 1958 Iraqi revolution 1959 Mosul uprising
1960s	Cyprus crisis of 1963–1964 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict First Iraqi–Kurdish War Second Iraqi–Kurdish War Dhofar Rebellion North Yemen civil war Feb. 1963 Iraqi coup Mar. 1963 Syrian coup Nov. 1963 Iraqi coup Aden Emergency 1964 Hama riot Israeli–Palestinian conflict 1948 Palestine war First Intifada Second Intifada 1966 Syrian coup d'état
1970s	Black September in Jordan Yemenite War of 1972 Turkish invasion of Cyprus Shatt al-Arab clashes Lebanese Civil War Political violence in Turkey Islamist uprising in Syria 1977 Shia uprising in Iraq NDF Rebellion Yemenite War of 1979 Iranian Revolution Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution 1979 Qatif Uprising Grand Mosque seizure 1979–1980 Shia uprising in Iraq
1980s	Iran–Iraq War 1980 Turkish coup d'état Kurdish–Turkish conflict Turkey–PKK conflict South Yemen civil war 1986 Egyptian conscripts riot 1986 Damascus bombings 1987 Sharjawi coup d'état attempt Mecca massacre Abu Nidal's executions
1990s	Gulf War (1990–1991) 1991 Iraqi uprisings Terror campaign in Egypt (1990s) Yemeni Civil War (1994) Iraqi Kurdish Civil War Islamic insurgency in Saudi Arabia (2000–present) Operation Desert Fox al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen 1999 Shia uprising in Iraq
2000s	Iraq War Balochi insurgency in Iran 2004 Qamishli riots Houthi insurgency in Yemen Iran–Israel proxy conflict 2006 Lebanon War Fatah–Hamas conflict South Yemen insurgency
2010s	2011 Bahraini uprising Egyptian Crisis Sinai insurgency Insurgency in Egypt (2013–present) Syrian civil war Turkish involvement in Syria Syrian War spillover in Lebanon Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) War in Iraq (2013–2017) Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) Yemeni crisis Yemeni civil war (2014–present)
2020s	2021 Beirut clashes Israel–Hamas war Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present) Red Sea crisis
This list includes World War I and later conflicts (after 1914) of at least 100 fatalities each Prolonged conflicts are listed in the decade when initiated; ongoing conflicts are marked italic, and conflicts with +100,000 killed with bold.