There were no such thing as Palestinian Arabs. They were considered first, Ottomans, but more locally as Syrians.
During World War I, the British promised both the Jews and the Arabs their own independence. They were given the Mandate, Zionism took hold, then the British, believing the Arabs were the more natural allies (oil and the Suez Canal) worked against the Jews to the benefit of the Arabs.
Therefore, when UN 181 came (the partition) it was rejected because of the Islamic mindset. No to Jewish domination. So, they fought. The Palestinians were not organized so, the other "countries" fought against the Jews.
The war increased the Jewish presence in the land.
Some of the Arabs left because of Arab scare tactics, some left because the local effendis were the first to depart and left a leadership vacuum, and some left because the Haganah was very effective at their own scare tactics.
Now, the Palestinians are totally used as a political means to an end. They have one purpose. To drive Israel from the land. It is working.
Ah! That's what I thought, but wasn't sure about.
I had read about the Haganah. Wasn't it that group that bombed the King David Hotel where the British were located, just before or after the UN decision? I think I read about that in the book "O, Jerusalem". I just requested that from our local library. Are there any other books you can recommend about the 19th and 20th century history of Palestine and Israel? By the way, what was it called before the British took over the place? Had it been called Palestine before then?