The Jews, longing for a homeland and security, along with the Arabs, desiring an independent state, both saw Palestine as their own to claim. Palestine was originally given to the British as a mandate and was not granted its independence, leaving it with a lack of self-determination and British control. The Jews fled Palestine to get away from Babylonian and Roman control and later Arab and Ottoman rule. They faced exile and persecution. The Jews longed for a homeland where they could practice Jewish laws and traditions-Palestine. Sir Arthur Balfour's declaration states a homeland for the Jews, but not at the expense of the Arabs. They both interpret it as in their favor of Palestine. .
The Arabs, an overwhelming majority in Palestine, have always asked for their freedom and independence from the British. The Arabs wanted to keep their influence in Palestine, asking England for its support in their self-government. England felt that it had an obligation to the Arabs because of its vital purpose in the First World War. England was also on the side of the Jews because of their strong Christian beliefs, those who bless the Jews will be blessed. Genesis 12:3 England was stuck between the two groups, promising Palestine to each Arabs and Jews. .
The Peel Commission offered peace negotiations to resolving the problem between Jews and Arabs. The Jews were willing to negotiate even though the boundaries of the plan left them with 5,000 square kilometers in Palestine. The Arabs rejected the proposal because it would compel them to accept a Jewish State with some Arabs left under Jewish domination. As the Holocaust accelerated, demands for a resolution began to transpire as Palestine showed to be a sanctuary for the Jews. Accepting the resolution would give Jews freedom from persecution and the Arabs its independence from the British, however, the Arabs would have to share the land with their enemies.