Day: September 8, 2025

RESOLVING RESOLUTION 181 – A NEW LOOK AT THE UN’S PARTITION PLAN of 1947

Misguided Western concepts for the Middle East and hope for Gaza

By Neville Berman

Despite the superb oratory ability of Winston Churchill to rally Britain during the Second World War, the Conservative Party and Churchill were defeated in the 1945 elections. Clement Atlee, the Labour Party leader became Prime Minister and Ernest Bevin was appointed as Foreign Secretary.  

Bevin was determined to see to it that the Balfour Declaration, with its promise of a “national home for the Jewish people in Palestine” would not be implemented. He placed restrictions on the number of Jews who could immigrate to Palestine, and implemented a naval blockade to prevent shipments of arms for the Jews in Palestine. In addition, Britain armed, trained, and sent a British general by the name of Glubb Pasha to lead the Jordanian army known as the Arab Legion.  

In February 1947, faced with continuing violent opposition by both Jews and Arabs in Palestine to British administration, Britain decided to terminate its Mandate and hand it back to the United Nations to decide what should be done with the territory.

On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted on Resolution 181 known as the Partition Plan for Palestine. The plan called for two separate states, a Jewish State and an Arab State. The word Arab and not Palestinian was used as the term Palestinian referred to both Jews and Arabs living in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea at the time.

Passage of Resolution 181. President of the United Nations General Assembly Oswaldo Aranha announcing the assembly’s adoption of the proposal to partition Palestine, November 29, 1947.
 

In 1947, there were 57 members of the United Nations. The Resolution was adopted by 33 votes in favour, with 13 objections,10 abstentions and 1 country, Thailand, not attending. All 10 Muslim countries that were members of the UN voted against the resolution. Cuba, Greece and India joined the ten Muslim countries in objecting. The vote was carried by a 72% majority. The area offered to the Jews was a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea and the desert area south of Beersheba stretching down to Eilat on the Red Sea. Almost none of the biblical land of Israel was offered to the Jews. Despite this, the Jews accepted the plan. The Arabs rejected it outright.

What is often overlooked is that the Partition Plan included an important third partition. The cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, would be placed under international administration. The intention of this clause was to ensure that the Jews would not control this area and that all the main Christian holy sites would be controlled by international administration. It seems reasonable to assume that the words “international administration” was used as a synonym for European Christian countries controlling these important religious sites.

This clause ensured that the Partition Plan received the approval that it got. Despite the fact that the Catholic Church had established its headquarters in Rome, and other Christian break away movements were also established in Europe, Jerusalem and Betlehem will always remain central to Christianity. With the exception of the Evangelical Christians in America, most Christian churches oppose Jewish sovereignty over the holy sites of Christendom and especially sovereignty over Judea (West Bank) which is part of the heartland of biblical Israel. This position is evident in the latest rush of western countries to support a Palestinian State that will encompass Judea.  

The United States of America, led by President Truman, was the first country to recognize the Jewish State. However, the American State Department under George Marshall, was opposed to this decision. He believed that supporting Israel would offend the Arabs and jeopardise Arab oil supplies to America. Marshall refused to supply Israel with a single bullet. This policy continued for the next 19 years. It was only after the Six Days War in 1967, that America began supplying Israel with military assistance. 

Meeting of Minds. President Harry Truman who sent his telegram recognising Israel 11 minutes after Ben-Gurion proclaimed the country’s existence on May 14, 1948 is seen here (left) meeting with Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Abba Eban (center) and Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion during their visit to the US in Jan. 1951. (Israel Government Press Office)

On May 14, 1948 the British Mandate of Palestine ended. The last act by the British before leaving, was to hand the British built fort at Latrun to the Arabs. The fort controlled the road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The British were determined to see to it that the Jewish State would not get Jerusalem.   

The same day that Britain withdrew, Ben Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the sovereign State of Israel. Five Arab countries immediately launched a war of annihilation against the Jewish state. Both Britain and America were of the opinion that Israel would not survive more than a month. After that, there would be a huge outcry of crocodile tears proclaiming how sorry the world was for the latest annihilation of the Jews. What they had overlooked was that the Jews in Israel were not alone. Millions of Jews in the diaspora supported Israel. American Jews donated the money needed to buy arms and fighter aircraft from Czechoslovakia. Thousands of Jewish volunteers from all over the world came to help Israel.

In 1948, six hundred thousand Jews were living in Israel.  They miraculously managed to repulse the attacks of 5 Arab armies. The Arab Legion took East Jerusalem and Judea, the area now known as the West Bank. Not a single country accused Jordan of occupying East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Jordan immediately expelled all the Jews living in East Jerusalem and destroyed all the synagogues in the area under their control. Israel paid a heavy price for its independence, losing 1% of its Jewish population. After the war, Ben Gurion paid tribute to those Jews in the diaspora that supported Israel. He stated:

 “You came to Israel in our greatest hour of need. Without you we could not have succeeded.”

In the years following the war, over 800,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries. All their property and belongings were confiscated. Over 650,000 arrived penniless in Israel. They had lived in the Middle East for thousands of years and spoke fluent Arabic and used Hebrew for prayers. They were immediately granted Israeli citizenship. The beginning of the ingathering and return of the Jews to the land of Israel as predicted by the Jewish Prophets was clearly evident. 

After the Israeli victory in the War of Independence, not a single Arab country wanted to accept Palestinian refugees as immigrants. They were placed in refugee camps to be cynically used to threaten Israel. The UN established a special body called UNRWA that has a mandate not to solve the Palestinian refugee problem, but to perpetuate it. Palestinian refugee rights have been extended to all descendants of the original refugees. There are over 100 million refugees in the world. None of them have the rights of Palestinian refugees.

In 1948, Israel did not gain control of all of Jerusalem or Judea. The Christian world could live with that. In1967, President Nasser, the charismatic leader of Egypt promoted Pan Arabism and threatened Israel with annihilation. On the morning of June 5, 1967, Israel in a pre-emptive air force attack, destroyed almost the entire Egyptian air force on the ground.  In six days, Israel gained control of all of Jerusalem, the Golan heights, all of Judea, (West Bank) Gaza and the Sinai. 

Intent to Destroy Israel.  Shortly before the Six Day War in June, 1967, Egypt’s president, Gamal Abdel Nasser expressed on May 27, “Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight …” and then followed up next day with “We will not accept any … coexistence with Israel. … Today the issue is not the establishment of peace between the Arab states and Israel…”
 

This created a huge problem for the Church, especially the Catholic Church, that had been preaching for over 2,000 years that Christianity had replaced Judaism, and that the Jews were a wandering people without a homeland, and had been forsaken by God. The events that took place between 1948 and 1967 clearly demonstrated that none of this was true. In 1988, Jordan renounced its claim to East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The rush to recognize a Palestinian State by Western countries in the next UN General assembly, will increase the tsunami of hatred and antisemitism that is presently spreading across the world. It will not solve anything. No amount of appeasement will satisfy militant Islamists. They are not interested in co-existence. Their aim is a world dominated by Sharia law. Democracy, the rule of law, human rights and women’s rights are the very opposite of the teachings of the holy Quaran. Militant Islam threatens the very foundational pillars of Western civilization from within. It’s time to face reality. The worst possible decision is appeasement.

There are 22 Arab countries in the Middle East. Creating a non- viable 23rd Arab country called Palestine is not a solution. It will not solve the Palestinian refugee problem. It will provide another base for Iran, Turkey and Russia to spread chaos across the middle east. The situation in the middle east will become even more complicated and explosive. The UN now has 195 member countries. It is obsessed with demonizing the only Jewish State in the world. It has lost all its moral authority. The Palestinians have refused 5 offers of a state living side by side with Israel. The best that the Palestinians can now be offered is autonomy in Area A and part of Area B of the Oslo Accords and autonomy in Gaza.  

Facing the Future. A Gaza child holding a rifle with a Hamas terrorist in a photo found by Israeli forces. Is this the best a Hamas leadership can offer the future generations of Gaza? (Photo: Hamas)

Surprisingly, Gaza can actually become a success story. There is a high probability of huge deposits of gas off the coast of Gaza. Drilling will cost hundreds of millions and will never take place if Hamas is in control of Gaza. The funding for rebuilding Gaza should start with the confiscation of the billions of dollars that the Hamas leaders living in exile have stolen from the people of Gaza. If gas is discovered, loans and grants to fully rebuild a peaceful and prosperous Gaza will be forthcoming. The return of all the hostages and the removal of Hamas is the prerequisite for solving the problems in Gaza. Without getting rid of Hamas, there will never be progress. Now is the time for the people in Gaza to seize the opportunity that has arisen. They need to realize that a better future is in their hands. They need to help kick Hamas out of Gaza.



About the writer:

Accountant Neville Berman had an illustrious sporting career in South Africa, being twice awarded the South African State Presidents Award for Sport and was a three times winner of the South African Maccabi Sportsman of the Year Award.  In 1978 he immigrated to the USA  to coach the United States men’s field hockey team, whereafter, in 1981 he immigrated to Israel where he practiced as an accountant and then for 20 years was the Admin Manager at the American International School in Even Yehuda, Israel.  He is married with two children and one granddaughter.





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

FROM PLONSK TO A NATION

Tracing Ben Gurion’s roots from small town in central Poland to forging a nation.

By Motti Verses

This coming October 16 will mark another birthday of a leader whose wisdom we could certainly use in today’s roller-coaster reality. Born back in the 19th century in 1886, he is sadly no longer with us. While most people, myself included, tend to honor his memory by visiting his grave in Sde Boker, this time I decided to pay tribute in a different way: by tracing David Ben Gurion’s roots in Poland.

On our way back from Gdańsk to Warsaw Chopin Airport, we turned off the highway to a small, easily overlooked town: Płońsk, 70k/ms north of Warsaw. Israel’s founding prime minister was born here, and I was determined to find the house where he first saw the light of day. Thanks to modern technology, the task was surprisingly easy. Without it, it would have been nearly impossible, as there are no road signs directing visitors there.

It was a moving visit. The oval-shaped old town plaza is tiny, ringed with homes of bygone eras. Among them stood a turquoise-colored building that, according to images on my phone, matched the one I was seeking. Once a restaurant, now closed, it bears a “For Rent” sign in the window. Perhaps this is a golden opportunity for a Jewish investor to acquire the property and give it a purpose worthy of its history. A modest black plaque announces that David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s founding prime minister, was born here.

Food for Thought. From the outside, a visitor would know that this small turquoise building had once been a restaurant but could be excused for not knowing that long before had been the childhood home of one of the most iconic nation-builders of the 20th century – David Ben Gurion.(Photo: Motti Verses)

Back then, he was still David Grün, growing up in a modest Jewish household. At the time, Płońsk was part of the Russian Empire (today, Poland) and had a vibrant Jewish community that made up roughly half its population. His father, Avigdor Grün, was a teacher and an active member of the Ḥovevei Zion (“Lovers of Zion”) movement, which inspired young David with the ideals of Jewish national revival.

As a teenager, Ben-Gurion joined Poale Zion, a socialist-Zionist youth group, and even began teaching Hebrew to local children. Life in Płońsk’s close-knit shtetl, shared with both Jews and Poles, shaped his worldview: he saw the necessity of Jewish self-reliance while also recognizing the challenges of coexistence. In 1906, at the age of 19, he emigrated to Eretz Israel  and the rest, as they say, is history.

Płońsk to Palestine. David Ben-Gurion (bottom center)  in white shirt at a gathering of “Poalei Tzion” (Jewish worker youth movement) in Płońsk before his emigration to Eretz Israel/Palestine in 1906 still under the rule of the Ottoman Turks. In the back row, right of the flag, stands his father, Avigdor Grün. (Photo: Ben-Gurion Archives)

Today, Płońsk commemorates him with various educational initiatives. The Płońsk Memorial House (Dom Pamięci w Płońsku) tells the story of his youth and of the once-thriving Jewish community. Located just across the narrow street from the turquoise house, it is dedicated to the intertwined history of Polish and Jewish residents who lived together in Płońsk for nearly five centuries. The museum is housed in a restored early 20th-century two-story brick building that once served as both a pharmacy and a residence. The project reflects a broader goal: to preserve the shared memory of both communities, foster intercultural dialogue, and honor the legacy for visiting descendants of Płońsk’s Jews as well as tourists interested in the town’s history and its connection to David Ben-Gurion.

Sign of the Times. A modest black plaque informs that Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion was born in this house.(Photo: Motti Verses)

What struck me most was a remarkable mural on one of the nearby building walls. This vibrant graffiti artwork tells the story of Israel and Ben-Gurion. It was created by the multifaceted Polish artist Bruno Neuhamer (also known as Bruno Althamer), a draftsman, illustrator, sculptor, and street artist. The mural was unveiled on October 26, 2021, during the Jewish Culture Festival in Płońsk. The project was realized in cooperation with the city authorities, the local cultural center, and the Israeli Embassy in Poland.

Mural of Memories. Located on a wall of a tenement house at 6 Warszawska Street in Płońsk, Bruno Neuhamer’s mural tells the story of Israel and the life of Ben-Gurion, including the legendary image of the Prime Minister standing on his head which he did from childhood in Płońsk to old age in Israel, including on Tel Aviv beach.  (Photo: Motti Verses)

The central image shows Ben-Gurion balancing on his head,  inspired by a 1957 photograph by Paul Goldman, preserved at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. According to historical accounts, young Ben-Gurion often fainted, and his doctor prescribed headstands as a remedy. A habit he maintained well into later life. Beyond the literal image, the pose – as I saw it – carries a deeper metaphor: to achieve something great, one sometimes must turn the world upside down.

“HISTORY IS NOT WRITEN, HISTORY IS MADE”.  This is the last line in the Murial’s inscription on the life of Ben Gurion that appears in Polish, English and Hebrew. (Photo: Motti Verses)

In Ben-Gurion’s case, this is the story of a boy from Płońsk who did just that, ultimately founding a nation. The mural is filled with details: exotic plants, tanks with raised barrels, adding layers of meaning. At first, the tanks seemed out of place, yet in today’s reality, Neuhamer’s choice feels prophetic. The mural left me thoughtful, even melancholic, about Israel’s present and image in the world.

Early Life. One of the exhibits relating to David Ben Gurion in the Płońsk Memorial House. (Photo: Motti Verses)

As an Israeli visiting Płońsk, I felt a mix of emotions. Walking the same streets that young David once knew was like touching the roots of modern Israel’s story. It was a reminder that a boy from here turned the world upside down to create a nation. There was a strong echo of resilience, dreams, and lives stretching from Poland to Israel, along with sadness for the absence of the once-vibrant Jewish community, erased by the Holocaust. The silence where synagogues, schools, and children’s laughter once filled the air was palpable. And yet, there was also warmth: many Polish young people today take pride in commemorating their town’s connection to Israel. Płońsk still holds a living link to the Jewish people. An encouraging reality in our times.

Past Preserved. Across the street from Ben Gurion’s childhood home is the entrance to Płońsk Memorial House. (Photo: Motti Verses)

It was pleasantly cool in Płońsk this August. In winter, average temperatures here hover around 0 °C (32°F). My thoughts drifted to young David’s reality, and to the stark contrast of his later life in the Middle East-especially during the sweltering hot days of the Negev desert in Sde Boker. Quite a change, and quite a challenge.

You don’t need more than an hour to see Płońsk; everything is small and close together. But if you’re in the area, make the stop – it will certainly be worth it.

It will also be both enlightening and rewarding to see how from this small town emerged a giant of the 20th century that defied insurmountable obstacles and challenges to forge a nation on their ancestral land that today hosts the largest core Jewish population in the world, with 7.2 million, followed by the United States with 6.3 million.

The man who did headstands knew where and when to stand where and when it mattered!



*Feature picture: Birth of a Nation. The writer stands in front of Ben-Gurion’s childhood home in Płońsk, Poland. (Photo: Motti Verses) 




About the writer:

The writer, Motti Verses, is a Travel Flash Tips publisher. His travel stories are published on THE TIMES OF ISRAEL  https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/motti-verses/. And his hospitality analysis reviews on THE JERUSALEM POST, are available on his Linkedin page LinkedIn Israelhttps://il.linkedin.com › motti-verse…Motti Verses – Publisher and Chief Editor – TRAVEL FLASH TIPSAnd his hospitality analysis reviews on THE JERUSALEM POST, are available on his Linkedin page LinkedIn Israelhttps://il.linkedin.com › motti-verse…Motti Verses – Publisher and Chief Editor – TRAVEL FLASH TIPS.





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).