Synopsis:

United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) & its Recommendations

In May 1947, at the request of the United Kingdom, the UN formed this committee to prepare a report and recommendation for Palestine that would be presented at the next session of the General Assembly. The majority proposal was to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish States where Jerusalem would be international (see map provided). The minority proposal recommended the creation of a federal unitary State, with Jerusalem as its capital.

11 UNSCOP Members were: Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, India, Iran, the Netherlands, Peru Sweden, Uruguay and Yugoslavia

Although the majority opinion was voted on and accepted, neither solution was adopted as protests broke out. In May of 1948, civil war broke out between the Arabs and the Jews and lasted until May 1, 1949 when the State of Israel was formally established.

Suggested Activities