Disorders in Palestine
The situation in Palestine is serious, and may become even more serious unless the appeal to violence is abandoned. Even though we have large forces concentrated there, the Jews are well armed, well organised and well drilled ; the conditions exist for a first-class resistance movement which is capable of becoming extremely formid- able. • There is all the more reason therefore for suppressing disorder quickly before it spreads. The last week has seen Jewish attacks on coastguard stations, a daring and successful raid on an RA.F. camp, armed clashes at Givat Haim, and raids by British troops on villages in the Tel-Aviv area. The casualties involved in these incidents will only intensify an already embittered situation ; but the worst sufferers from any increase in the disorders will be the Jews themselves. This is clearly realised by the Zionist organisation, whose leaders are alarmed by the desperate folly of the Palestinian extremists, and certainly the Jews of Europe can expect no rel:ef of their misery from armed revolt by their compatriots in Palestine. The extremists there, however, may calculate that violence, if carried far enough, may provoke such difficulties that Great Britain may be forced to modify her policy. If so, they are mistaken. Mr. Bevin's recent declaration in Parliament was the best statement yet made on our policy in Palestine and had the support of an overwhelming majority of the House ; and disorder and violence, even though serious, will not change a word of it.
Previous page
