British Mandate

British Mandate 1920-1922 It was only after World War I, at the Paris Peace Conference(1), that the name "Palestine" was applied to a clearly defined piece of territory - the area which today comprises Israel and Jordan. It was agreed that "Palestine" was to become a League of Nations Mandate, entrusted to Great Britain.

Under the terms of the Mandate, Britain's principal obligation was to facilitate the implementation of the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, which pledged "the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people."(2) No territorial restrictions whatsoever - neither east nor west of the Jordan River were placed on the Jewish National Home. In fact, the Mandate stipulated that Britain was to "facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions and shall encourage close settlement by Jews on the land."(3) (www.jajz-ed.org.il)

Terror Victim Biography

March 21, - Sgt.-Maj. Gad Shemesh, 34, of Jerusalem, was one of three people killed and 86 injured when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb, packed with metal spikes and nails, in the center of a crowd of shoppers on King George Street in the center of Jerusalem.

On Thursday afternoon, Gadi accompanied his wife Tzipi, in her fifth month of pregnancy, for an ultrasound exam. On leaving the medical clinic, they passed next to the terrorist who blew himself up. Tzipi was killed instantly; Gad Shemesh died shortly afterwards in hospital. Tzipi and Gadi met eight years ago through a common friend. They were married in Jerusalem. About three months ago they moved to the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood. According to relatives, they had a lot of plans for the future, they loved each other and their two daughters. Gad served as a warrant officer at the Tel-Hashomer army base. Sgt.-Maj. Gad Shemesh was buried in the Mount Herzl military cemetery, alongside his wife Tzipi. They left behind their two daughters - Shoval (7) and Shahar (3). (www.walk4israel.com)

1 Way For YOU To Help!: Donate a toy to a Toy Drive 4 Israel. There is currently a toy drive at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, by the corner of 188^th St. and Midland Pkwy.

Quote of the Week: "If the Israelis can compromise and you can’t I should go home. You have been here 14 days and you have said no to everything."—President Clinton to Yasser Arafat, July 2000"