ME 101: The Cosmopolitan Globalists discuss the Arab Revolt, the Peel Commission, and the UN Partition Plan

Week III: If you're falling behind on the reading, don't despair

Members of the Arab Higher Committee. From left to right: Former mayor of Jerusalem Ragheb Bey Nashashibi, Grand Mufti Amin al-Husseini, and then-current mayor of Jerusalem, Dr. Hussein al-Khalidhi in Jerusalem, 1936. (Library of Congress)

Announcements

First, after our discussion in class yesterday, we decided to take two weeks to cover this week’s reading material, because I assigned a bit too much for everyone to keep up. So we’ll meet at the usual time next week on Sunday to discuss these topics further, this time after everyone has had a chance to finish the reading.

Second, I’ve coaxed Oren Kessler into joining us on Sunday to discuss his book, Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict.

For those of you who who’ve already finished last week’s reading, this week’s reading is, of course, Palestine 1936. If you can’t get through last week’s reading and Palestine 1936 by next Sunday, read the summary of the Peel Report, then prioritize Palestine 1936 over the full report. But cast your eyes, at least, over the full report and skim for passages that strike you as significant.

I’m trying only to assign reading that can be consulted online because I don’t want this class to be a financial burden on anyone. Also, since interpretations of this history are so contested, it’s especially good to begin with the primary sources.¹ But this week is an exception because Oren is making the time to join us, and it will be a more interesting conversation if everyone has read his book, or a least read as much as they can before next Sunday.