ABSTRACT
In the three years following the May 1921 riots, the Yishuv was preoccupied with consolidating its position vis-a-vis an un welcoming Arab population. 'Rapprochement' and 'mutual understanding' were mere phrases and nebulous goals at this time; in real terms, the necessary preconditions for such goals had yet to be created. As the Yishuv saw it, the basic, elementary requirement was the improvement of its own strength and security position: Arabs and Jews had to be able to interact on the common assumption that the latter were not to be eliminated by physical violence. This approach has become a basic feature of Zionist and Israeli policy, and can still be seen in operation today with the State of Israel's attempt to gain formal Arab recognition of its existence and to convince the Arabs of the futility of their hopes of eliminating the Jewish state.
