<P> Following the arrival of the British, the inhabitants established Muslim - Christian Associations in all the major towns . In 1919 they joined to hold the first Palestine Arab Congress in Jerusalem . Its aimed primarily at representative government and opposition to the Balfour Declaration . </P> <P> The Zionist Commission formed in March 1918 and became active in promoting Zionist objectives in Palestine . On 19 April 1920, elections took place for the Assembly of Representatives of the Palestinian Jewish community . The Zionist Commission received official recognition in 1922 as representative of the Palestinian Jewish community . </P> <P> One of the first actions of the newly installed civil administration in 1921 had been to grant Pinhas Rutenberg--a Jewish entrepreneur--concessions for the production and distribution of electrical power . Rutenberg soon established an electric company whose shareholders were Zionist organisations, investors, and philanthropists . Palestinian - Arabs saw it as proof that the British intended to favour Zionism . The British administration claimed that electrification would enhance the economic development of the country as a whole, while at the same time securing their commitment to facilitate a Jewish National Home through economic--rather than political--means . </P> <P> Samuel tried to establish self - governing institutions in Palestine, as required by the mandate, but the Arab leadership refused to co-operate with any institution which included Jewish participation . When Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Kamil al - Husayni died in March 1921, High Commissioner Samuel appointed his half - brother Mohammad Amin al - Husseini to the position . Amin al - Husseini, a member of the al - Husayni clan of Jerusalem, was an Arab nationalist and Muslim leader . As Grand Mufti, as well as in the other influential positions that he held during this period, al - Husseini played a key role in violent opposition to Zionism . In 1922, al - Husseini was elected President of the Supreme Muslim Council which had been established by Samuel in December 1921 . The Council controlled the Waqf funds, worth annually tens of thousands of pounds and the orphan funds, worth annually about £ 50,000, as compared to the £ 600,000 in the Jewish Agency's annual budget . In addition, he controlled the Islamic courts in Palestine . Among other functions, these courts had the power to appoint teachers and preachers . </P>

The territory known as palestine was controlled by which group prior to british control