MACMICHAEL, SIR HAROLD ALFRED

(1882-1969)

Born inGreat Britain, he served as high commissioner and commander in chief forPalestine(and also as high commissioner for Transjordan) from 1938 to 1944. His tenure in Palestine was characterized by increasing tension betweenAraband Jewish communities as well as between theZionistsand theBritish mandate. MacMichael oversaw implementation of theWhite Paper of 1939, which called for severe restrictions on Jewish immigration (seeALIYA) and land purchases in Palestine. By the time of his departure from Palestine at the end of August 1944, there was virtually no contact between mandatory authorities and the Jewish leadership, many of whom held MacMichael personally responsible for the fate of Jewish refugees fleeing theHolocaustyet denied admittance to Palestine.

See alsoArab-Israeli Conflict.