During World War II, Britain limited Jewish immigration into Palestine to 15,000 people per year. However, the Nazi Holocaust in occupied Europe led to widespread secret immigration into Palestine. In 1942, the leaders of the Zionist movement declared their desire for a Jewish Commonwealth in Palestine.
After World War II, Great Britain made preparations to leave Palestine by August 1948. The UN's response was to draw up a map of Palestine including two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem becoming an international city under UN protection.
In November 1947, the UN plan was approved by its General Assembly, by 33 votes to 13 with ten abstentions. Palestinian Arabs were opposed to the partition plan, which they felt favored the Jewish minority. Arab armies moved into Palestine in December 1947 and the declaration of Israel's independence on May 14, 1948 triggered the Arab-Israeli War.
