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Some seventy-five years after the boundaries of the British Mandate for Palestine were set, the State of Israel still lacks a defined territory and agreed-upon boundaries, except for its boundary with Egypt. This book examines this unusual situation, concentrating especially on the perceptions of territory and boundaries within the Zionist movement.
Galnoor discusses the period from the first territorial decision in 1919 up to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, placing special emphasis on the relatively unknown Zionist, Palestinian, and Arab positions regarding territorial partition in 1937. And he argues that although dramatic changes have occurred in the international and regional arena, the partners to the conflict, the security considerations, and the international dilemmas, the 1937 decision contained the parameters of the choices that have confronted Arab and Israeli leaders ever since. His findings are of direct relevance to the ongoing Arab-Israeli peace negotiations, which once again revolve around the trade-off between national goals and territorial aspirations.
"The merits of this study are of an uncommon order. It is an impressive use of rich historical materials by a political scientist to clarify crucial concepts — state, nation, territory, sovereignty, boundaries — and to probe fundamental issues. Galnoor examines the relative importance of geography and politics, pragmatism and ideology, in the choice among options on a fateful issue that is suffused with passion; the decision process; coalition-building; and the role of perceptions and attitudes in political behavior, in this case a turning point vote by a national movement. It is a highly analytical work, with a well-articulated framework and clearly defined categories, concepts, and research questions." — Michael Brecher, McGill University
"I found this book fascinating. As I read, I was constantly discussing it with those around me. It illuminated the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict from a perspective I had not thought much about." — Joel S. Migdal, University of Washington
Illustrations
Tables
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One. State, Territory, and Boundaries: A General Discussion
Territorial Behavior
The Roles of Territory
Territory and the State
Territory and the Nation-State
Geopolitics and International Relations
Boundaries
Territorial Decisions
Chapter Two. The Background
Boundaries of Palestine (E.I.)
Establishment of the Royal Commission: External Events
Establishment of the Royal Commission: Internal Events
Chronology of Main Events
Chapter Three. The Predecision Phase
Jewish Testimony Before the Royal Commission
El-Husseini's Testimony Before the Royal Commission
Zionist Attempts to Influence the Commission's Report
The Internal Debate Before Publication of the Report
Recommendations of the Royal Commission
Chapter Four. Choice Analysis
Main Choices
Positions at the Decision Crossroad, 1937
The Arguments
Chapter Five. Predecision Positions
Initial Reactions to the Report
Division Within the Labor Parties and the Left
Division Within the Center and the Right Parties
Division Within the Religious and Ultra-Orthodox Parties
Additional Positions
Positions on the Eve of the Decision
Chapter Six. The Opponents
Opposing the State
Statehood: The Question of Timing
Sovereignty, Yes; Partition, No
Summary of the Opponents' Positions
Chapter Seven. The Undecided
Extent of Territory
Boundaries and Security
Demography and the Question of "Transfer"
Territories for Peace
Chapter Eight. The Proponents
Partition Without Preconditions
Partition as the "Right" Solution
Total Support
Summary of the Proponents' Positions
Chapter Nine. The Decision
The Main Resolutions
The Opposition
The Decision-Making Process
The Decision: Instrumental Pragmatism
In the Wake of the 1937 Decision
Chapter Ten. 1937 and Its Aftermath
Land and Settlement Policy: 1936-1939
The "Arab Question" in the Zionist Decision
State, Territory, and Boundaries: The Meaning of the 1937 Decision
Territorial Decisions
Chapter Eleven. Territorial Decisions in the Zionist Movement (1919-1949)
1919
1937
1947
Conclusions
Notes
Bibliography
Archives
Index