'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎9v] (23/294)

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There they merge into the hills of Judea, which continue south
wards in the form of a long zig-zag central spine - on which Jerusalem
is sited - until they descend to meet the desert below Hebron. It was
the mountain district which was the home of the armed bands in 1936,
and in consequence was the scene of the principal fighting. Strangely
enough the mountain district also carried the main road communications
particularly the road from Jerusalem to Nazareth via Nablus which was
the chief artery between North and South.
The Desert area lies for the most part south of the G-aza-Beersheba
road. It consists largely of gently rolling country with a hard stony
surface, though sand is encountered in many places especially near the
coast. The nature of the country made it an area particularly suited
to the aircraft and armoured cars of the Royal Air Force, and later for
the employment of the 8 th King’s Royal Irish Hussars in their Ford
’’pick-ups".
The Jordan Valley proper links the Sea of G-alilee with the Dead
Sea, but a similar formation extends Northwards to Syria through the
marshes of Lake Hula and Southwards to the G-ulf of Akaba through the
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Araba. The Jordan Valley is a deep trough lying well below sea
level between the hills of Samaria and Judea on the Palestine side and
the hills of Moab in Trans-Jordan. Being intensely hot and malarious,
it was seldom occupied by British Troops and remained throughout the
rebellion the hunting ground of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force.
The Climate
The whole period of the rebellion passed in the summer season.
The months of April to October were dry and rather abnormally hot:
the days were characterized by an almost cloudless sky, giving good
visibility, and the nights by heavy dev/s with an unexpected chilliness
in fcne hill districts. The mean temperature of the central highlands
was slightly over 72 degrees and that of the plains some 4 degrees
higher; . while the Jordan Talley, which has a tropical climate very
similar co that ot trie Sudan, averaged 82 degrees and rose at times to
110 and higher. There was no rain until the 28th October, and the
first heavy fall of the season was on the 21st November.
The P opulation
ine population on the 30th June 1936, exclusive of His Majesty’s
Forces, was estimated as follows:-
Christian Airabs
87,000
Noslem Amahs
84-3,000
Arabs of other religions
12,000
Total Arabs
942,000
jews
370,000
Others
24,000
Total Population
1,336,000