National Defense Party (Mandatory Palestine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
National Defense Party
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| Arabic name | حزب الدفاع الوطني |
| Hebrew name | מפלגת ההגנה הלאומית |
| Founder | Raghib al-Nashashibi |
| Founded | December 1934 |
| Ideology | Palestinian nationalism Anti-Zionism Arab–Jewish reconciliation Anti-Husayni |
| Political position | Centre |
The National Defense Party (NDP), known in Arabic as Ḥizb al-Difāʿ al-Waṭanī, was a political group formed in December 1934. It was started by Raghib al-Nashashibi in an area then known as the British Mandate of Palestine. This was a time when the British government oversaw the region.
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What Was the National Defense Party?
The National Defense Party was seen as a more moderate political group compared to others at the time, like the Palestine Arab Party. Being "moderate" means they often preferred less extreme ways to achieve their goals.
Founding and Main Goals
The party's main goal was to create an independent Palestine. They wanted this new country to have a majority of Arab people. They also strongly disagreed with the Balfour Declaration. This declaration was a statement made by the British government in 1917. It supported the idea of creating a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
The Party's Role in Politics
The National Defense Party was part of the first Arab Higher Committee. This committee was a main political body for Arabs in Palestine. The NDP joined it on April 26, 1936. However, they left the committee in July 1937.
Later, in October 1937, British authorities banned many other Palestinian Arab nationalist parties. But the National Defense Party was not banned. This allowed them to continue their political activities.
During the Arab Revolt
From 1936 to 1939, there was a major uprising called the Arab Revolt. During this time, the National Defense Party helped the British authorities. Because of this, some people saw them as working with the British. This led to the party and its members facing strong opposition and danger.
The 1939 London Conference
In 1939, a meeting called the Round Table Conference was held in London. This conference aimed to discuss the future of Palestine. The second Arab Higher Committee tried to stop NDP members from attending. They did not want them to be part of the Palestinian Arab group at the conference.
However, a solution was found. Raghib al-Nashashibi and another party member were able to join the conference. They arrived two days after it had started. The National Defense Party was also the first Palestinian political party to accept the 1939 White Paper. This was a British government policy document. It set out new rules for immigration and land sales in Palestine.
