The Judaization of Haifa at the Time of the Arab Revolt

Abstract

Under the British Mandate, Haifa was one of three large and important cities in Palestine. In that period far-reaching changes began that altered Haifa's character beyond recognition. The British government rapidly strengthened its status and established a solid infrastructure in the country. This infrastructure made for the dynamic and robust development of the city, which left its mark in geographic and economic respects. By 1928 Haifa had risen to the rank of largest industrial centre in Palestine. With the completion of the port in 1933 Haifa became the hub of government and international enterprises. The effects of this dynamic development were especially evident in the expansion of the city's built-up area and the enlargement of its population. Recognition of the importance of Haifa to the Jewish national interest increased together with the development of the city. The development of the Jewish settlement in Haifa was characterized from the start by the formation of isolated territorial spots, without any continuity between them. Therefore, the ambition of the Yishuv (the Jewish community in Eretz Israel) leadership was to create such a physical continuity, thereby creating territorial unification of the Jewish domain. Land purchases were in the hands of several bodies, each of which operated separately in keeping with its financial strength, while recognizing the importance inherent in the city and its future. This perception grew greatly in significance at the end of the 1920s, when David Ben-Gurion became convinced of the need to strengthen Haifa as a vital centre for the Jewish state. Thereafter a Zionist policy began to take shape intended to increase settlement in Haifa and make it a city with a Jewish majority. In time Ben-Gurion named this policy 'the Judaization of Haifa'. However, until the outbreak of the acts of hostility in 1936 BenGurion's idea made no meaningful gains. This was partly due to economic causes, but more especially to the very wide dispersal of the Jewish communities which impeded more than anything the creation of the desired connection between them; in addition, there was the difficulty of populating the new lands.