British Policy in Palestine in the Assessments of the Us Press Before and After World War II (Experience of Comparative Historical Research)

The article is devoted to the evolution of the American public’s perception of the British administration in Palestine based on a comparison of the pre-war and post-war US press. An analysis of the publications in The New York Times, The American Jewish World and other publications demonstrates growing criticism of the British administration, which is accused of ineffi ciency, breaking promises made to the Arabs and provoking an Arab-Jewish confrontation. Special attention is paid to key events that infl uenced public opinion, and the main criticisms of British policy are revealed: the inconsistency in the implementation of the Balfour Declaration, the violent tactics of suppressing protests, and the inability to ensure security and balance of interests between the Arab and Jewish communities. The role of the United States as an observer and potential arbitrator is considered separately, including the Roosevelt administration’s interest in the plans for the resettlement of Arabs. Press reports indicated a crisis of legitimacy of the British mandate, a radicalization of the confl ict, and the formation of prerequisites for a future review of the status of Palestine. At the same time, a rethinking of the role of the Jewish community was taking place. Its actions were increasingly described in the context of the national liberation struggle, where even acts of violence were explained as a response to British repression and the tragedy of the Holocaust. The main emphasis was shifting to political will, strategic effectiveness, and the moral right to create a state. Simultaneously, the image of the Arab population was being marginalized, their actions were often described as those of “gangs”, and their political motivations were moving into the background. The study leads to a key conclusion about the shift in the main narrative: while before World War II the confl ict was seen as a problem of incompetent colonial administration, after war it was reinterpreted as a national liberation struggle of Jews against British colonialism. This shift was accompanied by a change in the role of the United States, which turned from an outside observer into an active supporter of the Zionist project, ultimately paving the way for international recognition of Israel.