Independence Party (Mandatory Palestine)

[3][4] The party did not achieve a large membership but Awni Abd al-Hadi, through his role as private secretary to Amir Feisal in Damascus between 1918-1920, had good relations with many senior leaders across the Arab world.

Its founders, most of whom hailed from the Nablus area, called for the adoption of new methods of political action, including noncooperation with the British Mandate authorities and nonpayment of taxes.

The party called for mass resistance to the Zionist project and its British patron in Palestine.

Among the factors responsible for its decline were the active hostility of the Husayni camp, the lack of financial resources.

[9] Istiqlal was represented on the first Arab Higher Committee formed in April 1937, with its leader, Awni Abd al-Hadi,[10] being general secretary of the AHC.

Istiqlal circa 1932. Darwazah seated centre, al-Haj Ibrahim seated second left, Ahmad Shukeiri standing first left.
Standing: Ahmad Shukeiri , ‘Ajaj Nuwayhid, Fahmi al-Abboushi , Subhi al-Khadra , Majid al-Qutub
Sitting: Salim Salamah, Rashid al-Haj Ibrahim , Muhammad Izzat Darwaza , Akram Zu'aytir