From Neutrality to Critic of British Mandate Policy: Anglican Women Teachers and the Arab-Jewish Conflict in Palestine, 1936-1948

Abstract

Already in the 1880s the English bishop in Jerusalem defined the Anglican Church's role in the area as that of "peace. maker" between the different religious communities. During the Mandate period the church adopted the same strategy, but because of the increasingly nationalist character of the Palestine society, the challenge during this period was nationalist hostility. With its dual promises to the Arab population on the one hand and the Jews on the other, the British rulers aimed at a policy of neutrality towards and equal treatment of both groups, a policy also adopted by the Bishop in Jerusalem. The schools established in Palestine by the Anglican church played a part in this strategy since their aim was to a create a peaceful, multi-cultural environment and were open to Christian, Muslim as well as Jewish pupils. Tolerance was thus a key word in their work to create small "league of nations" within the school premise.