Proposals for a Palestinian State - 1946

In October 1946 a plan for an independent Palestinian state was published in the Palestinian newspaper

Al Difaa. The plans put forward by Azzam Pasha, secretary-general of the Arab League, were counter proposals to the idea of partitioning of Palestine and establishing a Jewish national home. 

The proposals said firstly that the British High Commissioner should nominate a provisional Government made up of seven Arab and three Jewish  representatives (according to the United Nations in Jews formed 32% of Palestines population). Secondly the provisional Government would then prepare an electoral register (over 18 males only) and hold elections for a Constituent Assembly of 60 members. The Provisional Government would then submit a draft constitution for approval by the Constituent Assembly. 

As soon as the constitution is passed the provisional government would hold elections for a Palestinian parliament, a head of state would be appointed and the British mandate would  come to an end. If carried forward an independent Palestine would have been created by 31st December 1948.

Palestine would not be partitioned and would be a unitary state with a constitution and an elected legislature, freedom of religion would be guaranteed.

There would be an end to Jewish immigration and an end of land sales to Jews (although both of these proposals could be reversed by the elected Parliament but only with a majority of Arab members agreeing). Arabic in schools would be compulsory, although Hebrew could be used as the second official language where Jews formed an absolute majority. 

but Jewish representatives would not exceed one-third of the total number of members of the legislature/parliament. The rights of Jews could only be amended with the consent of a majority of Jewish members.

The Yorkshire Post reported that “the Arab representatives made it clear that they would be prepared to permit Britain to maintain military bases in Palestine”.

The Post also says that “the Arabs suggested that an international conference be called to discuss the Jewish refugee problem. Azzam Pasha, Secretary-General of the Arab League, who gave this information, said that the British delegation to the Palestine conference were favourably disposed towards the suggestion.”

Palestine was partitioned in 1948 but as late as May of that year (one week after Israel had declared independence and a month after the massacre at Deir Yassin) the Arab states were still offering Jews equal citizenship in an independent Palestine, Azzam saying that Jews would be allowed “to be as Jewish as they liked in areas where they predominated” 

This an article from The Daily Herald covering the Arab proposals