The Arab Higher Committee (AHC) (Arabic: اللجنة العليا العربية) was the principal political organization representing the Arab Palestinian community during the British Mandate of Palestine. Established in April 1936, the committee was formed in response to the Arab revolt (1936–1939) and was intended to coordinate political activities, articulate Arab nationalist demands, and negotiate with the British authorities.
Founding and Composition
The AHC was created by leading Palestinian Arab families and notable figures, most prominently the al‑Husayni clan. Its initial membership comprised representatives of the major Arab political parties and notable families, including:
- Haj Amin al‑Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (chairman)
- Raghib al‑Nasr, former mayor of Jerusalem
- Jamal al‑Husayni, secretary-general of the Palestine Arab Party
- Aref al‑Husseini, leader of the Youth Congress Party
- Other representatives from the National Defence Party, the Istiqlal Party, and independent notables.
Objectives and Activities
The committee’s primary objectives were to:
- Advocate for the end of Jewish immigration to Palestine and the cessation of land sales to Jews.
- Demand the establishment of an independent Arab state in Palestine.
- Represent Arab interests in negotiations with the British administration and in international forums.
During the 1936–1939 Arab revolt, the AHC issued statements, organized protests, and coordinated the activities of local rebel groups, though it did not directly command armed forces. The British authorities placed the committee under a state of emergency, and in October 1937, following the assassination of a British official, the British outlawed the AHC and exiled several of its leaders, including al‑Husseini.
Later Developments
After the revolt, the committee operated largely in exile. In 1945, the AHC was reconstituted under the leadership of Haj Amin al‑Husseini, who returned from exile to resume his role as chairman. The re‑formed AHC participated in post‑World War II negotiations, including the 1947 United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) deliberations, and opposed the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine.
Dissolution
Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and the displacement of a large portion of the Palestinian Arab population, the Arab Higher Committee ceased to function as a unified political body. Its former members and affiliates dispersed among various emerging Palestinian political movements and Arab states.
Historical Significance
The Arab Higher Committee is regarded by historians as the first organized, nationwide Arab political body in Palestine during the Mandate period. It played a central role in articulating Palestinian Arab nationalist aspirations and in shaping the political discourse leading up to the 1947 UN partition decision and the subsequent 1948 conflict.