Israel Studies

Municipal governance was the only administrative field shared by Arabs and Jews during the Mandate period. Its study in the context of mandatory Haifa enables us to explore the conditions under which Jews and Arabs were able to forge a joint political framework and to promote beneficial relations between the two communities. Cooperation in Haifa's municipal council was a unique manifestation, not shared by other mixed cities, and it was particularly extraordinary in the context of an escalating conflict between the two sides. The article argues that the reason for such cooperation was the benefits that the Jewish leadership saw in proving that despite prevailing tensions it was possible to develop a sound relationship for municipal purposes as well as for accomplishing national goals beyond the local domain.