ABSTRACT
During the second half of 1923 and throughout 1924, the weakness of the Palestinian national movement was apparent to all. The efforts to avert ratification of the Mandate with its Zionist provisions intact had failed. The attempt to look to King Ḥusayn for assistance had not only not aided the Palestinians in their struggle but had even contributed to some degree to his fall and to the collapse of the idea of Arab unity with which he had been connected. The gradual weakening of the AE destroyed the basis for its claim to be the only authorized representative of the entire Palestinian population. The growing strength of the opposition and its partial victories in the elections to the SMC and overwhelming success in the elections to the municipalities were to force the SMC and the heads of the AE to change their stand towards it.
