Editorial Note
The report of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine was signed at Geneva on August 31, 1947. After unanimous agreement on eleven recommendations and substantial agreement on a twelfth recommendation, the Committee suggested two plans. The majority plan, advocated by representatives of Canada, Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, and Uruguay, called for partition of Palestine into an Arab state, a Jewish state, and the City of Jerusalem. The Arab and Jewish states were to become independent following a transitional period of two years from September 1, 1947. During this period, the United Kingdom was to carry on the administration of Palestine, under the auspices of the United Nations, and to admit into the proposed Jewish state 150,000 Jewish immigrants. By treaty, the two states were to establish economic union and to provide for other matters of common interest. The City of Jerusalem was to be placed under an International Trusteeship System, with the United Nations as administering authority.
The minority plan, proposed by representatives of India, Iran, and Yugoslavia, called for creation of an independent federal state, following a transitional period not to exceed three years. During this period, responsibility for administering Palestine would be entrusted to an authority designated by the General Assembly. Jerusalem was to be the capital of the federal state.
For the text of the report of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine, see UNSCOP , volume I.