During the First World War, the British High Commissioner in Egypt, Sir Henry McMahon, secretly promised the Sharif of Mecca an independent Arab state, including Palestine, after the war. In exchange, the Sharif allied with Britain against the Ottomans. Two years later, however, Britain declared that Palestine would be for the global Jewish community.

Through a meticulous analysis of official records and private papers, Peter Shambrook reveals the behind-the-scenes machinations that led to Britain's betrayal of the Arabs. He debunks the myth that Palestine was never part of the lands guaranteed to the Sharif, laying bare the truth and its devastating consequences. For anyone interested in the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, this definitive work is a must-read.