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Between I 936 and 939, a major anti-colonial rebellion known among Arabs as the Great* evolt shook the mandate territory of Palestine. The struggle pitted º Poorly arme Pºsant movement against the might ofthe world's preeminent Colonial P" 9reat Britain. Despite the militancy and duration of the revolt,** olarly work, this period tends to emphasize the shortcomings of the" 8ent movemen and, in particular, to discount the role of the peasantry. ºnant account generally define the fellahin as “traditional, backward, gg" ººrvative,” as “activated by tribal and religious loyalties,” and as “too" ºted, ignora and poor” to play a significant role in the national move-* nt.* Becaus. they consider the peasants to be completely dominated by the local" 8 class, these scholars view them as incapable of political initiative.