ABSTRACT
As an historical event of major consequence, it is not surprising that there are at least two conflicting accounts concerning immigration into Palestine prior to the formation of the State of Israel. One account, for example, depicts Jewish immigration into Palestine primarily in terms of filling up vast empty spaces of sparsely populated land. This chapter presents some statistical evidence concerning Arab immigration into Palestine. Census data for Palestine is available only for the years 1922 and 1931. Prior to 1922, there existed, at best, educated guesses. Total Arab settled population in the pre-State Israel sector of Palestine increased during the 1922–1931 period from 321, 866 to 463, 288, or by 141,-422. The demographic character of the pre-State Israel 1922–1931 period contrasts sharply with that of non-Israel Palestine. The explanation for these diverging patterns of population growth and immigration can be found in the growing disparities of economic performance in pre-State Israel, non-Israel Palestine, and the Arab States.
