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Salient. Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 42 No. 7. April 9 1979

Historical Background

Historical Background

Throughout recorded history the region had also known much warfare, located as it was at the edge of three continents and there-lore intersecting important trading routes. The area also had a great degree of religious significance. Consequently, it was included in many of the empires of antiquity, from Egyptian to Byzamtiem, before being absorbed for four centuries of atrophy by the Turkish Ottomans.

With British occupation at the end of the First World War begins its modern history. The British government had indicated that it would, "view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. It being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the non-Jewish communities in Palestine." These non Jewish communities at that stage constituted 90% of the population.

This was not the only undertaking the British government had made. The Sheriff of Mecca was promised by the British envoy in Cairo that independence would be granted to the region when hostilities ceased.