Peter Shambrook

During the First World War, the British High Commissioner in Egypt, Sir Henry McMahon, entered into a secret correspondence with Hussein ibn Ali, the Sharif of Mecca. On behalf of Asquith’s government, McMahon promised the Sharif an independent Arab state after the war, if he would ally with Britain and launch a revolt against the Ottomans. Two years later, Lloyd...

During the First World War, the British High Commissioner in Egypt, Sir Henry McMahon, secretly promised the Sharif of Mecca an independent Arab state, including Palestine, after the war. In exchange, the Sharif allied with Britain against the Ottomans. Two years later, however, Britain declared that Palestine would be for the global Jewish community. Through a meticulous analysis of official...