...Haifa resent the monopoly of power of…

...Haifa resent the monopoly of power of the British-supported Jerusalem-based elite.

Furthermore, as an agricultural depression pushes many Arabs westward into the coastal cities, a new urban-based elite emerges that challenges the Husaynis and their supporters (known as the majlisiya, or council supporters) and the Nashashibis and their allied clans (known as the mu'aridun, the opposition).

Tension between the members of Arab elites is exacerbated because Grand Mufti Mohammad Amin al-Husayni, who is not an elected official, increasingly attempts to dictate Palestinian politics.

The competition between the major families and the increased use of the Zionist threat as a political tool in inter-elite struggles places a premium on extremism.

Amin al-Husayni frequently incites his followers against the Nashashibis, who have for some years received annual subventions from the Jewish Agency, by referring to the latter as Zionist collaborators.

As a result, Palestinian leadership during the Mandate becomes fragmented and unable to develop a coherent policy to deal with the growing Zionist movement.