http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth...nd_the_palestinians/key_documents/1681322.stm
UN Partition Plan
The United Nations General Assembly decided in 1947 on the partition of Palestine into
Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem to be an internationalised city.
Jewish representatives in Palestine (the Jewish Agency) accepted the plan tactically - though with reluctance - because it implied international recognition for their aims of establishing a state, but on lesser territory than they considered a legal and historical right to.
The Palestinians and Arabs felt that it was a deep injustice to ignore the rights of the majority of the population of Palestine. The Arab League and Palestinian institutions rejected the partition plan, and formed volunteer armies that infiltrated into Palestine beginning in December of 1947.