Why did Jewish immigration to Palestine increase during the early 20th century?

Jewish immigration to Palestine during the early 20th century was driven by a combination of Zionist nationalist aspirations and the urgent need for safety due to widespread antisemitism and persecution in Europe.1

Key factors influencing these waves of immigration included:

• Persecution and Conflict: Early waves were spurred by pogroms and repressive legislation in Russia and eastern Europe. Later, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazism movement in the 1930s, followed by the Holocaust, created an existential necessity for many Jews to seek refuge in Palestine.123
• Political Support: The Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which Britain expressed support for a "national home for the Jewish people," provided significant encouragement for Zionist immigration. This commitment was later incorporated into the British mandate for Palestine, which tasked the administration with facilitating Jewish immigration and settlement.413
• Economic Factors: Some immigration was driven by economic crises and heavy taxation in countries like Poland, while others were attracted by the potential for development and the establishment of a Jewish state.1