On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, famously known as the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. This landmark resolution proposed the division of British-controlled Palestine into two independent states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem designated as an international city under UN administration. The plan was a pivotal moment in modern history, setting the stage for the establishment of Israel in 1948 and igniting a conflict that continues to shape the Middle East today.
The Background to Resolution 181
After World War II, the question of Palestine became increasingly urgent as Jewish refugees sought a homeland in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Britain, which held the mandate over Palestine, struggled to manage escalating tensions between the Jewish and Arab populations. In 1947, Britain referred the matter to the United Nations, which formed a Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP). The committee recommended partitioning the land, allocating roughly 55% of the territory for a Jewish state and 45% for an Arab state, with special status for Jerusalem.
The proposal was met with mixed reactions. Jewish leaders, led by David Ben-Gurion, reluctantly accepted the plan as a step towards establishing a sovereign state. However, Arab leaders vehemently opposed it, rejecting any division of the land and questioning the fairness of the allocation.
The Vote and Its Aftermath
The General Assembly vote took place on 29 November 1947 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. The resolution required a two-thirds majority to pass and succeeded with 33 votes in favour, 13 against, and 10 abstentions. Celebrations erupted among Jewish communities worldwide, while Arab leaders declared the plan unacceptable, vowing resistance.
Following the adoption of Resolution 181, tensions in Palestine escalated rapidly. Civil unrest between Jewish and Arab communities intensified, leading to the outbreak of the 1947–1948 Civil War. On 14 May 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed, prompting neighbouring Arab states to invade, resulting in the Arab-Israeli War of 1948–1949.
