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Beginning on 2 March 1947, martial law was enforced by the British military for 15 days in Jewish sectors of Mandatory Palestine; the order was in response to a series of terrorist attacks. Eight operations were carried out the day prior by the Zionist militant organizations the Irgun and Lehi against British vehicles, installations, and personnel. The attacks were conceived as part of a response to strict security measures implemented by Britain and the country's referral of the Mandate to the United Nations. The deadliest incident on 1 March occurred at the British Officers' Club in Jerusalem which was bombed and subsequently became the site of a gunfight. As many as 19 British soldiers were killed.

The British High Commissioner implemented martial law the following day in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, as well as other cities; the declaration affected civil services and governing. British soldiers arrested terrorist suspects throughout Palestine before martial law was lifted on 17 March. Throughout its duration, clashes between British personnel and Zionist militants continued.

Background

By February 1947–in response to political unrest and the kidnappings of British officials–the British government evacuated women, children, and non-essential male civilians from Mandatory Palestine; later in the month, Britain announced its intent to terminate the Mandate, referring the matter of the future of Palestine to the United Nations. All British soldiers and policemen still stationed in the Mandate were subsequently concentrated into security zones in major cities. In a secret order on 10 February, which represented a change in tactics, the Zionist militant organization Irgun considered everyone British an enemy, no matter the position they held. The security measures led to Arab unrest in the Mandate and an increase in purchases of black market goods–an "indication of preparations for trouble".

On 1 March, the Irgun and Lehi coordinated a large scale terrorist operation, targeting British personnel throughout the Mandate. The organizations claimed that the attacks were in response to Britain's heightened security and their referral of the Mandate to the United Nation. Eight attacks occurred on the day; the militants made use of land mines, mortars, and explosives to destroy military vehicles, installations, and personnel. The deadliest incident–perpetrated by the Irgun–occured at the British Officers' Club in Jerusalem. Twelve British officers were killed when militants under the cover of machine gun fire raided the building, planted and detonated explosives, and subsequently engaged in a gunfight. Twenty British personnel were killed and 30 wounded on 1 March.

Martial law

The British High Commissioner's response was swift. By 2 March, martial law was declared in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, most of Tel-Aviv, Givatayim, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, and Petah Tikva with the objective of pressuring the Jewish Agency which had not been cooperating in the campaign against terrorism. Maj. Gen. Richard Gale, the military governor of Tel-Aviv, reflected on the order: "Martial law shall be declared. It is not to be viewed as a punishment, although there will be no avoiding suffering caused to residents through the fault of irresponsible individuals".

Indeed, the order had serious implications for the Jewish populace of the affected areas. Civil services were suspended and the power of civil leadership, including the courts system, was transferred to military govenors; British soldiers were granted policing authority and movement in and out of areas under martial law required permits. Arabs were affected too by the price of goods and the dismissal of thousands of daily wage workers. Tel Aviv unexpectedly became a major centre of employment and adjacent communities–otherwise cut off from the city–requested to be incorporated into the boundaries of martial law.

British soldiers facilitated the arrests of terrorist suspects throughout the Mandate. In Jerusalem, where a massive manhunt was underway for the suspects in the British Officers' Club bombing, a four year-old Jewish girl was killed by British forces on patrol. With cooperation from Jewish civilians, sixty suspects were arrested during martial law. Despite security measures, terrorist activity by the Irgun and Lehi resumed, resulting in the deaths of 14 British personnel and 15 civilians between 1 and 13 March.

Aftermath

The High Commissioner revoked martial law on 17 March, concluding its objectives were met and that the order was inadvertently affecting Arabs as well. Although the British received some assistance from the Jewish populace and the Jewish Agency, the Colonial Office assessed that their cooperation was ineffective in combating terrorism. An estimated $10,000,000 in economic losses were reported for the Jewish community in the 15 days under martial law.

References

1. Golani 2013, pp. 186–188.
2. ^ Levenberg 1993, p. 82.
3. ^ Levenberg 1993, p. 83.
4. ^ Golani 2013, p. 192.
5. Cohen 1982, p. 238.
6. ^ Golani 2013, p. 193-194.
7. ^ Levenberg 1993, p. 84.
8. ^ Golani 2013, p. 196.
9. "300,000 Palestine Jews Under Martial Law; Agency Protests Sweeping Measures". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 3 March 1947. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
10. "Martial Law Lifted in Palestine Today; 15-day Military Rule Cost Jews $10,000,000". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 17 March 1947. Retrieved 13 June 2018.

Bibliography

• Cohen, Michael (1982). Palestine and the Great Powers, 1945-1948. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691638775. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Golani, Motti (2013). Palestine: Between Politics and Terror, 1945-1947. University Press of New England. ISBN 978-1-61168-387-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Levenberg, Haim (1993). Military Preparations of the Arab Community in Palestine, 1945-1948. Psychology Press. ISBN 0-7146-3439-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)