The absorptive capacity of Palestine, 1882-1948

Middle Eastern Studies

Volumn 33, Issue 2, 1997, Pages 338-361

  Reichman, Shalom ^a   Katz, Yossi ^a   Paz, Yair ^a  

^a NONE

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 0007051193     PISSN: 00263206     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/00263209708701156     Document Type: Review

References (68)

1. G. F. McCleary, The Malthusian Population Theory (1953); D. V. Glass (ed.), Introduction to Malthus (1953).
2. G. F. McCleary, The Malthusian Population Theory (1953); D. V. Glass (ed.), Introduction to Malthus (1953).
3. A.B. Wolfe, The Optimum Size of Population. Problems in the U.S. and Canada, edited by L. J. Dublin (Boston and New York, 1926), p. 72; A.B. Wolfe, The Theory of Optimum Population, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (1936).
4. A.B. Wolfe, The Optimum Size of Population. Problems in the U.S. and Canada, edited by L. J. Dublin (Boston and New York, 1926), p. 72; A.B. Wolfe, The Theory of Optimum Population, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (1936).
5. W.S. Thompson, Danger Spots in World Population (NewYork, 1929), p. 213.
6. The discussion is taken from H.S. Halevi, Regarding the Absorptive Capacity of Israel (Jerusalem, 1943), p.4 [in Hebrew].
7. Ibid., Halevi is relying upon V. Fallon, La Belgique est-elle surpeuplée? (Paris: Congrès International de la Population, 1937), vii, pp.85-8.
8. H. Dalton, 'The Theory of Population', in Economica, VIII (March 1928) pp.30, 32-3.
9. Halevi, pp.3-6.
10. Other aspects of the question of Palestine's absorptive capacity were also explored; see A. Bonne, 'Changes in the Concept of Agricultural Absorptive Capacity in Palestine', in The Return to Zion, Vol.I, The Zionist Library (Jerusalem, 1950), pp.241-53 [in Hebrew]; N. Halevi, 'The Political Economy of Absorptive Capacity: Growth and Cycles in Jewish Palestine under the British Mandate', in Middle Eastern Studies, Vol.19 (1983), pp.456-65; S. I. Troen, 'Scientific Research and the Issue of the Economic Absorptive Capacity of Eretz-Israel', in Studies in Zionism, the Yishuv and the State of Israel (Sde-Boqer 1991), pp.481-95 [in Hebrew].
11. Other aspects of the question of Palestine's absorptive capacity were also explored; see A. Bonne, 'Changes in the Concept of Agricultural Absorptive Capacity in Palestine', in The Return to Zion, Vol.I, The Zionist Library (Jerusalem, 1950), pp.241-53 [in Hebrew]; N. Halevi, 'The Political Economy of Absorptive Capacity: Growth and Cycles in Jewish Palestine under the British Mandate', in Middle Eastern Studies, Vol.19 (1983), pp.456-65; S. I. Troen, 'Scientific Research and the Issue of the Economic Absorptive Capacity of Eretz-Israel', in Studies in Zionism, the Yishuv and the State of Israel (Sde-Boqer 1991), pp.481-95 [in Hebrew].
12. Other aspects of the question of Palestine's absorptive capacity were also explored; see A. Bonne, 'Changes in the Concept of Agricultural Absorptive Capacity in Palestine', in The Return to Zion, Vol.I, The Zionist Library (Jerusalem, 1950), pp.241-53 [in Hebrew]; N. Halevi, 'The Political Economy of Absorptive Capacity: Growth and Cycles in Jewish Palestine under the British Mandate', in Middle Eastern Studies, Vol.19 (1983), pp.456-65; S. I. Troen, 'Scientific Research and the Issue of the Economic Absorptive Capacity of Eretz-Israel', in Studies in Zionism, the Yishuv and the State of Israel (Sde-Boqer 1991), pp.481-95 [in Hebrew].
13. P. Smolenskin, Let Us Reexamine Our Ways, cited by Arthur Hertzberg, The Zionist Idea (Jerusalem, 1970), p.111 [in Hebrew].
14. P. Smolenskin, Let Us Reexamine Our Ways, cited by Arthur Hertzberg, The Zionist Idea (Jerusalem, 1970), p.111 [in Hebrew].
15. H. Merhavia, Zionism: A Collection of Political Documents (Jerusalem, 1944), pp.29 [in Hebrew].
16. C. R. Conder, Tent-Work in Palestine I, (London, 1878), pp.223-32.
17. C.R. Conder, 'Eastern Palestine', A Lecture delivered for the Western Tent of the Chovevei Zion Association, 1882; E. Elath, 'Claude Renier Conder', in Eretz Yisrael, Vol. VII (The L.A. Mayer Volume), Jerusalem, 1964, pp.168-70 [in Hebrew].
18. C.R. Conder, 'Eastern Palestine', A Lecture delivered for the Western Tent of the Chovevei Zion Association, 1882; E. Elath, 'Claude Renier Conder', in Eretz Yisrael, Vol. VII (The L.A. Mayer Volume), Jerusalem, 1964, pp.168-70 [in Hebrew].
19. Ahad Ha'Am, 'Truth from the Land of Israel', in The Complete Works of Ahad Ha'Am (Tel Aviv-Jerusalem, 1947), pp.23-7 [in Hebrew].
20. Ibid.
21. M. Ussishkin, Our Zionist Program (Warsaw, 1905), p.35 [in Hebrew].
22. M. Shilo, 'Changing Attitudes in the Zionist Movement Towards Immigration to Eretz-Israel (1904-1914)', in Cathedra 46 (1988), pp.109-122 [in Hebrew].
23. Y. Thon (ed.), The Warburg Volume (Tel Aviv, 1948), pp.156, 205-6 [in Hebrew]. The comments were published in Altneuland and Die Welt between the years 1904 and 1907.
24. Ibid., p.216; Philippson's statement as published in the paper Berliner Tageblatt on January 29,1916, is also cited by Thon, op.cit. P. 216. An evaluation similar to the one expressed by Philippson was issued by the Turkish Prime Minister. However, one should view the latter's statement against the backdrop of the isolationist mood that enveloped the Ottoman Empire after 1908 and its apprehension that immigrants would enter Palestine. See M. Eliav and David Wolffson, The Man and His Times - The Zionist Movement 1905-1914 (Tel Aviv, 1977), p.244 [in Hebrew].
25. Ibid., p.216; Philippson's statement as published in the paper Berliner Tageblatt on January 29,1916, is also cited by Thon, op.cit. P. 216. An evaluation similar to the one expressed by Philippson was issued by the Turkish Prime Minister. However, one should view the latter's statement against the backdrop of the isolationist mood that enveloped the Ottoman Empire after 1908 and its apprehension that immigrants would enter Palestine. See M. Eliav and David Wolffson, The Man and His Times - The Zionist Movement 1905-1914 (Tel Aviv, 1977), p.244 [in Hebrew].
26. Thon, op.cit., p.217.
27. E.W.G. Masterman, 'Palestine: Its Resources and Suitability for Colonization', Geographical Journal (July 1917), pp.12-32.
28. M. Blanckenhorn, 'Der Boden Palÿaustinas', in Pro Palÿaustina (Berlin: Heft V., 1918), p.32.
29. C. Ballod, 'Palÿaustina als jÿuudisches Ansiediungsgebiet', in Pro Palÿaustina (Berlin Heft II, 1918).
30. Y. Tischler, The Settlement of Palestine: A Plan for the Construction of the Land and Absorbing Our Sons-the Builders [N.P.], 1947, pp.9-11 [in Hebrew].
31. A. Ruppin, Three Decades of Palestine (Jerusalem, 1937), p.74 [in Hebrew].
32. Palestine Royal Commission Report (hereafter PRCR) Presented by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, July 1937, London, Printed and Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office Document #5479, p.22.
33. Herbert Samuel estimated in 1920 (before being appointed High Commissioner) that the total area that was suitable for cultivation in Palestine and not actually being cultivated was 1.6 million dunams. Regarding the development plans of Herbert Samuel, see in detail: G. Biger, An Empire in the Holy Land (New York and Jerusalem, 1994), pp.79-87; S. Hattis-Rolef, 'Sir Herbert Samuel's Policy of Economic Development', in Cathedra (1979) pp.70-90 and especially p.86 [in Hebrew].
34. Herbert Samuel estimated in 1920 (before being appointed High Commissioner) that the total area that was suitable for cultivation in Palestine and not actually being cultivated was 1.6 million dunams. Regarding the development plans of Herbert Samuel, see in detail: G. Biger, An Empire in the Holy Land (New York and Jerusalem, 1994), pp.79-87; S. Hattis-Rolef, 'Sir Herbert Samuel's Policy of Economic Development', in Cathedra (1979) pp.70-90 and especially p.86 [in Hebrew].
35. Regarding the development of the connection between immigration policy to Palestine and the economic absorptive capacity, see: M. Mossek, Palestine Immigration Policy under Sir Herbert Samuel (London, 1978), pp.117-46. The appendix to the volume cites the text of the various immigration ordinances, see also M. Mossek, 'Herbert Samuel and the Shaping of the Original Patterns of Immigration Policy', in Studies in the History of Zionism (Jerusalem, 1970), pp.286-310 [in Hebrew].
36. Regarding the development of the connection between immigration policy to Palestine and the economic absorptive capacity, see: M. Mossek, Palestine Immigration Policy under Sir Herbert Samuel (London, 1978), pp.117-46. The appendix to the volume cites the text of the various immigration ordinances, see also M. Mossek, 'Herbert Samuel and the Shaping of the Original Patterns of Immigration Policy', in Studies in the History of Zionism (Jerusalem, 1970), pp.286-310 [in Hebrew].
37. Mossek, 1970, op.cit. pp.145-6; PRCR, pp.297-304.
38. Mossek, 1970, op.cit. pp.145-6; PRCR, pp.297-304.
39. In the wake of the Riots of 1929, a Royal Investigation Committee headed by Sir Walter Shaw, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, was dispatched to Palestine. One of its principal findings, as published in March 1930 was that the World Zionist Organization did not scrupulously observe the requirement of regulating Jewish immigration to conform with economic absorptive capacity. This had given rise to a class of Arabs who were dispossessed of their land. In the light of the Shaw Committee's findings, a professional commission headed by Sir John Hope-Simpson, an international expert in settlement, who had worked in the period following the First World War on the resettlement of Greek refugees who had left Turkey. The Hope-Simpson Commission was instructed to draw up a report on immigration, agricultural settlement and development of the land. The Commission reached the conclusion that in light of its estimate of arable lands, no room existed for further Jewish settlement. However, a possibility remained for drawing up a plan for development and improvements which would create an additional 20,000 family agricultural units. For these purposes, the Commission recommended the establishment of a professional committee or a 'development committee'. Until the committee had drawn up these plans, additional Jewish immigration would be prohibited. See Sir John Hope-Simpson, Palestine, Report on Immigration, Land Settlement and Development (London, 1930), pp.20-4.
40. See A. Ruppin, Three Decades of Palestine (Jerusalem, 1936), pp.213-14; A. Granovsky, The Land and Jewish Building in the Land of Israel (Jerusalem, 1931), p.193 [in Hebrew]. One can hazard a guess that the British viewed the banks as two separate political entities and they therefore refrained from encouraging Arabs to emigrate from one side to the other.
41. See A. Ruppin, Three Decades of Palestine (Jerusalem, 1936), pp.213-14; A. Granovsky, The Land and Jewish Building in the Land of Israel (Jerusalem, 1931), p.193 [in Hebrew]. One can hazard a guess that the British viewed the banks as two separate political entities and they therefore refrained from encouraging Arabs to emigrate from one side to the other.
42. Hope-Simpson, op. cit., pp.20-4. This finding ignored another report of the Unified Investigation Commission to Palestine which believed that in the Beersheba District suitable land areas where one could find sufficient water at an economically feasible depth. See Ruppin, op.cit., pp.209-11.
43. Hope-Simpson, op. cit., pp.20-4. This finding ignored another report of the Unified Investigation Commission to Palestine which believed that in the Beersheba District suitable land areas where one could find sufficient water at an economically feasible depth. See Ruppin, op.cit., pp.209-11.
44. See Hope-Simpson, op. cit., pp.60-4; Granovsky, op. cit., p.119; S. Kaplansky, 'Settlement Absorption in Palestine in Light of a Re-evaluation', in Ahdut Ha'Avodah, Vol. II, Booklets C,D,E,F (Tel Aviv), pp.234-41, 292-8 [in Hebrew]. Apparently, the discrepancy between Granovsky and Kaplansky derives from the fact that the former did not include the mountain areas in his calculations, whereas Kaplansky did include them.
45. See Hope-Simpson, op. cit., pp.60-4; Granovsky, op. cit., p.119; S. Kaplansky, 'Settlement Absorption in Palestine in Light of a Re-evaluation', in Ahdut Ha'Avodah, Vol. II, Booklets C,D,E,F (Tel Aviv), pp.234-41, 292-8 [in Hebrew]. Apparently, the discrepancy between Granovsky and Kaplansky derives from the fact that the former did not include the mountain areas in his calculations, whereas Kaplansky did include them.
46. See Hope-Simpson, op. cit., pp.60-4; Granovsky, op. cit., p.119; S. Kaplansky, 'Settlement Absorption in Palestine in Light of a Re-evaluation', in Ahdut Ha'Avodah, Vol. II, Booklets C,D,E,F (Tel Aviv), pp.234-41, 292-8 [in Hebrew]. Apparently, the discrepancy between Granovsky and Kaplansky derives from the fact that the former did not include the mountain areas in his calculations, whereas Kaplansky did include them.
47. A memorandum by Horowitz, Regarding the Absorption of Immigration in Palestine on April 26, 1936 [in Hebrew], which was drawn up at the request of David Ben Gurion, Central Zionist Archives, Archives of the Institute for Economic Research of the Jewish Agency (hereafter AIER) File No. 359.
48. A memorandum by Horowitz, entitled The Economic Capacity of Absorption, Material for the Royal Commission, September 1936, AIER, File Number 783. See an additional memorandum by Horowitz on the same topic dated July 19, 1937, Ibid., File Number 574. Brodie raised similar arguments. See I.B. Brodie, The Refugee Problem and Palestine (New York The American Economic Committee for Palestine, 1938), pp.1-15. Brodie concluded his arguments by stating that one must approach absorptive capacity as a dynamic factor, because immigration itself and the accompanying flow of capital and the force of the pioneering energy expanded absorptive capacity because they promoted the creation of new occupational opportunities. See also Halevi, op. cit., pp.456-65.
49. A memorandum by Horowitz, entitled The Economic Capacity of Absorption, Material for the Royal Commission, September 1936, AIER, File Number 783. See an additional memorandum by Horowitz on the same topic dated July 19, 1937, Ibid., File Number 574. Brodie raised similar arguments. See I.B. Brodie, The Refugee Problem and Palestine (New York The American Economic Committee for Palestine, 1938), pp.1-15. Brodie concluded his arguments by stating that one must approach absorptive capacity as a dynamic factor, because immigration itself and the accompanying flow of capital and the force of the pioneering energy expanded absorptive capacity because they promoted the creation of new occupational opportunities. See also Halevi, op. cit., pp.456-65.
50. In Halevi's opinion (ibid., p.465) the argument between the British position and the Zionist position was in a sense an argument between the short term approach (of the British) which addressed itself to an estimate of the immediate occupational possibilities and a long-range approach (of the Zionists) which believed that the waves of immigration and the influx of capital would together alter the economic structure of the country and would stimulate economic developments which would be conducive to additional immigration. The correctness of the long-term approach found corroboration in the fact that by the end of the Mandatory Period, Palestine supported a much larger population (both Jewish and Arab) than it did at the start of the Mandatory Period and the population's standard of living was much higher than at the beginning of the century.
51. PRCR, pp.125-30, 249-300, 306-7.
52. F. Naphtali, 'Industry as a Sector of Immigrant Absorption', Ahdut Ha'Avodah, No. 4 (Tel Aviv, 1946), pp.98-101, 103 [in Hebrew].
53. See the memorandum of David Horowitz, Industrialization and Economic Capacity of Absorption from 6 July 1941, AIER, File 622. Revusky presents a similar position and adds that Palestine's importance as a tourism center as well as the development of maritime branches would facilitate the expansion of the country's absorptive capacity.
54. See A. Revusky, 'The Absorptive Capacity of Palestine', in Palestine Can Take Millions, Information Department, the Jewish Agency for Palestine (London, 1944).
55. L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for Jewish Immigrants - Shown on the Outline of a Development Plan, March-September 1942', AIER, File No. 538; L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for a Jewish Population of 2.5 Millions - A Supplement to the Calculations Based on a Population of 1.8 Million Jews, November 20, 1942', AIER, File No. 523; L. Gruenbaum, 'Palestine's Absorptive Capacity for Jewish Immigrants May 1943', AIER See also the comments by Horowitz on Gruenbaum's memorandum, 'Report on the Economic Capacity of Absorption, April 6, 1944', AIER, File no. 981.
56. L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for Jewish Immigrants - Shown on the Outline of a Development Plan, March-September 1942', AIER, File No. 538; L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for a Jewish Population of 2.5 Millions - A Supplement to the Calculations Based on a Population of 1.8 Million Jews, November 20, 1942', AIER, File No. 523; L. Gruenbaum, 'Palestine's Absorptive Capacity for Jewish Immigrants May 1943', AIER See also the comments by Horowitz on Gruenbaum's memorandum, 'Report on the Economic Capacity of Absorption, April 6, 1944', AIER, File no. 981.
57. L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for Jewish Immigrants - Shown on the Outline of a Development Plan, March-September 1942', AIER, File No. 538; L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for a Jewish Population of 2.5 Millions - A Supplement to the Calculations Based on a Population of 1.8 Million Jews, November 20, 1942', AIER, File No. 523; L. Gruenbaum, 'Palestine's Absorptive Capacity for Jewish Immigrants May 1943', AIER See also the comments by Horowitz on Gruenbaum's memorandum, 'Report on the Economic Capacity of Absorption, April 6, 1944', AIER, File no. 981.
58. L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for Jewish Immigrants - Shown on the Outline of a Development Plan, March-September 1942', AIER, File No. 538; L. Gruenbaum, 'The Economic Absorptive Capacity of Palestine for a Jewish Population of 2.5 Millions - A Supplement to the Calculations Based on a Population of 1.8 Million Jews, November 20, 1942', AIER, File No. 523; L. Gruenbaum, 'Palestine's Absorptive Capacity for Jewish Immigrants May 1943', AIER See also the comments by Horowitz on Gruenbaum's memorandum, 'Report on the Economic Capacity of Absorption, April 6, 1944', AIER, File no. 981.
59. See the memorandum by David Horowitz, 'Absorption of One Million Jewish Immigrants in Palestine', October 1945, AIER, File No. 662.
60. See the memorandum by Z. Hoofien, 'Memo Showing that a Million Jews Could be Transplanted to Palestine Within a Limited Number of Years', AIER, File No. 655. See also W.C. Lowdermilk, Palestine, Land of Promise (London, 1944), and especially Ch.14, pp.154-61.
61. See the memorandum by Z. Hoofien, 'Memo Showing that a Million Jews Could be Transplanted to Palestine Within a Limited Number of Years', AIER, File No. 655. See also W.C. Lowdermilk, Palestine, Land of Promise (London, 1944), and especially Ch.14, pp.154-61.
62. Hoofien, Ibid.
63. See the memorandum of David Horowitz, 'Absorption of One Million Jewish Immigrants'. See also D.H. Kallner, 'A Letter from Palestine', Geographical Review, Vol.XXXVII, No.3 (July 1947), pp.457-60.
64. See the memorandum of David Horowitz, 'Absorption of One Million Jewish Immigrants'. See also D.H. Kallner, 'A Letter from Palestine', Geographical Review, Vol.XXXVII, No.3 (July 1947), pp.457-60.
65. Z. Hoofien, op. cit., pp.46-52.
66. A. Carlebach (ed.), The Anglo-American Investigation Committee for Palestine Vol. II (Tel Aviv, 1946), pp.625-31 [in Hebrew].
67. Report of the Anglo-American Committee of Enquiry Regarding the Problems of European Jewry and Palestine (Lausanne, April 1946) (London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1946), pp.5-9.
68. R.A. Musgrave, and P.S. Musgrave, Public Finance in Theory and Practice (New York, 1973), pp.5-18.