World War Two

On 20 April 1946, the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry releases its final report, recommending the immediate admission of 100,000 Jewish displaced persons into Mandatory Palestine—but stopping short of endorsing the creation of a Jewish state.

Established in November last year, the Committee was created to investigate the plight of European Jews following the Holocaust and determine a viable political path forward for Palestine. President Truman’s letter to Prime Minister Attlee in August 1945 had called for urgent solutions, particularly regarding Jewish immigration, while the British sought to share the political burden of the Palestine question with the U.S.

Comprising six American and six British members, the Committee has since toured DP camps across Europe and visited Palestine, interviewing over a hundred witnesses, including Zionist leaders, Arab representatives, and international experts. Despite divergent ideological leanings among the members, today’s report is presented as a unified recommendation.

The central recommendation—to admit 100,000 European Jewish refugees to Palestine without delay—is a response to the appalling conditions in the DP camps.

However, the report also delivers a major political blow to the Zionist movement by recommending against the establishment of a Jewish state. It instead proposes that Palestine remain a bi-national state under British trusteeship, governed with equal rights and protections for both Jews and Arabs.

It also outlines the need for economic development and the establishment of a legislative council and calls for restrictions on land sales and immigration to be reviewed. The Committee explicitly condemns terrorism and violent resistance from Jewish militants while also warning of growing Arab hostility.

Today’s release immediately sets off heated reactions in both London and Washington. Zionist groups express disappointment over the rejection of a Jewish state, while Arab leaders vehemently oppose the immigration proposal.

Picture: Members of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry standing next to the Western Wall
Source: Central Zionist Archives (via Harvard University Library)

1 week ago | [YT] | 2,612



@tylercamp563

Time to solve the problems with ethno-nationalism with more ethno-nationalism!

1 week ago | 66

@kritinjpaulraj

It's just a minor addition guys, nothing great is gonna happen of it right? Right? RIGHT?

1 week ago | 279

@ripdippy6964

The British drew lines on a map what possibly could go wrong here

1 week ago | 156

@fredrikcarlstedt393

Surely this will work out fine for everyone involved .

1 week ago | 10

@hecksters423

SURELY this would totally lead to decades-long understanding. And that Palestine would, in no way, be completely erased from the face of the Earth or anything.

1 week ago | 154

@Padoinky

And to this day, there still is no peace

1 week ago | 105

@XXXTENTAClON227

Phew that was close

1 week ago | 29

@alibloushi5749

Seems the land wasn’t promised by god but by US and UK

1 week ago (edited) | 57

@Pinakij

Everything worked out great🇮🇱🇵

1 week ago | 34

@jb76489

Good. Palestine needs more diversity. It’s our strength you see

1 week ago | 7

@mutolover3851

A truly dark day

1 week ago | 1

@raresdumitras3291

What violent resistance from Jewish militants in 1946? Any link towards a good article?

1 week ago | 1

@joepetto9488

The Western powers literally could not have handled the situation worse. The British even had put people into camps on Cyprus. No one was happy and the ramifications of these mistakes are still being felt today. The British Political lineup in the 1890s to the 1950s are in an ultimate sense the most responsible for all major conflicts we have seen from 1900 to 2025.

1 week ago | 139

@dolnick7

So much bloodshed could have been avoided by not caving to radical Zionism.

1 week ago | 88

@univeropa3363

Should have been Utah or Wessex.

1 week ago | 12

@St.Smitty

Ya, but why?? Do what they did even do this?

1 week ago | 1

@aftonair

Mistake! Give them part of Germany.

1 week ago | 0

@archiveacc3248

Gooooood morning sunshine!

1 week ago | 3

@stevenstreets695

Such a little light shines so bright in such a dark world and time.

1 week ago | 6

@cyrilsagesser18

How can you talk about that without mentioning that it's illegal to transfer a group of people into territories that are occupied? That's against international law. Displaced people have a right to return, which in this case would be the respective places in Europe and not Palestine.

1 week ago | 10