This is a point worth expanding on. Among other things, the British changed the nature of land laws in the region. Under the Ottoman system, a whole lot of l

This is a point worth expanding on. Among other things, the British changed the nature of land laws in the region. Under the Ottoman system, a whole lot of land was not owned by the Arab farmers and villagers who had been living on that land for generations, but was instead owned by foreign absentee landlords. Under the Ottoman system, these landlords were entitled to collect rent from the people living on 'their' land, but weren't allowed to kick everybody living there off the land (there were some attempts, but they mostly got rebuffed. The Fula Affair is an example of this.) The British changed the laws, allowing these foreign absentee landlords to sell the land and eviction of everybody living there. Dozens of Arab villages were depopulated with little if any compensation. Landlessness among the Arab population increased significantly, causing uncertainty and resentment that inflamed tensions with the people who were buying and moving onto that land.