1933-1939

Fifth Aliyah: initially from Poland, but later mainly from Germany and German-controlled territories.

1933

Hitler's rise to power in Germany by election.

Assassination of Chaim Arlozorov.

1934

Beginning of "illegal immigration" of Jewish refugees from Europe who could not immigrate legally under the British quotas.

1935-36

Record aliya [65,000 olim].

1936

Outbreak of Arab revolt, Arab General Strike, leads to Peel Commission.

Orde Wingate forms "night squads" for Jewish self-defense.

1937

July - The Peel Commission [1936] recommends the partition of Palestine between Arabs and Jews. The British Government accepts this recommendation in principle.

52 Homa Umigdal [stockade and watchtower] settlements set up, each overnight, in the period up to 1939.

1937-1938

Repression of Arab Revolt.

Woodhead Commission of Inquiry.

1939

St. James Round Table Conference, London

May - Third [MacDonald] White Paper rejects partition and envisages creation of two independent states - one Jewish, one Arab.

September - Second World War. "We shall fight the war as if there were no White Paper, and the White Paper as if there were no war." - David Ben Gurion.

1940

Lehi underground movement formed, in another rift with Ben Gurion's mainstream, led by Avraham Stern.

Britain severely limits land sales to the Yishuv.

1941

Palmach established.

Haj Amin Al-Husseini visits Hitler in Berlin and supports his policies.