In August 1947 The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) recommended the creation of independent Jewish and Arab states. The plan divides Palestine into roughly equal halves, with Jerusalem and religiously significant surrounding sites under the control of a separate international authority. The report also called for the Arab and Jewish states to form a united economic bloc. The Jews accepted this plan, but the Palestinian Arabs did not.

In September - October 1947 the British Colonial Secretary, Arthur Creech Jones, announced Britain's decision to end Palestine Mandate. Arab Higher Committee for Palestine rejected partition. Jewish Agency announced acceptance of partition. The US endorsed partition. Britain said it would leave Palestine in six months if no settlement was reached. The partition plan was approved by majority vote of the UN General Assembly on November 29, 1947. Arab representatives walked out of the assembly