Palestine
In 1917, Storrs became Military Governor of Jerusalem, within the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration, for which purpose he was given the British Army rank of colonel. He claimed to be "the first military governor of Jerusalem since Pontius Pilate". He was in fact the second British military governor of Jerusalem, succeeding Brigadier General Neville Travers Borton, also known as Borton Pasha, who resigned after two weeks due to ill health. In 1919, Storrs was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy.
The 1920 Nebi Musa riots occurred during his military governorship, and the following year he became Civil Governor of Jerusalem and Judea. In both positions he attempted to support Zionism while protecting the rights of the Arab inhabitants of Palestine, and thus earned the hostility of both sides. Recent research by Moya Tönnies argues that, within his scope of action, he in fact acted against political Zionism. He devoted much of his time to cultural matters, including town planning, and to the Pro-Jerusalem Society, a cultural organisation that he founded. Storrs acted as President of the Society. In 1918, he issued a requirement that all buildings in the city be faced with Jerusalem stone to maintain a consistent appearance. His aesthetic interventions have been analysed as politically motivated pro-Arab "Colonial Diplomacy through Art."
In 1918, Storrs created the position of Grand Mufti of Jerusalem as the Sunni Muslim cleric in charge of Jerusalem's Islamic holy places, including Al-Aqsa. Kamil al-Husayni was the first to hold the position.
Palestine's first chess club was the International Chess Club founded in Jerusalem in 1918 by Storrs. The International Chess Club was an expression of the hope that it would unite the different nations – local Arabs and Jews, and European Christians of various nations who were then stationed in the city – and help promote peace and understanding. The club closed within a year due to the increasing tensions between the Arabs and Jews. A chess enthusiast, Storrs also helped to organise in 1919 the city's first championship which was won by Shaul Gordon, the founder of Mercantile Bank.
In Jerusalem, Storrs co-published a book dedicated to his uncle Harry Cust in 1918. He arranged for its printing by at the Stamperia Francescana in the Old City.
