The book "Bible and Sword: England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour" by Barbara W. Tuchman examines the historical and strategic motivations that led Britain to become involved in Palestine starting in 1918. Tuchman traces these motivations back to the initiatives of Elizabethan merchant adventurers, who were driven by interests like trade routes to India, access to the Suez Canal, and the oil fields in Mosul.

This complex interplay of political and strategic needs highlights how England's involvement in Palestine was not an isolated event but rather the culmination of centuries of ambitions and relationships established by earlier generations. Tuchman's exploration reveals the deep historical roots of British interest in the region and sets the stage for understanding future British policies in Palestine.