[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR, — In his interesting article
on " Land for the Jews," Professor G. R. Driver observes that " the offer of the Negeb to the Jews would be welcomed by very many of them as the best possible settlement of the Jewish question in the present circumstances." From some personal knowledge of this district of Palestine I cannot help but feel that Professor Driver, with no doubt the best of intentions, to some extent exaggerates what is otherwise substantially accurate when he suggests the Negeb as a solution " in present circumstances," and in this criticism I have the support of many representa- tive Jews with whom I have discussed the matter.
In the first place, even if the Government were in favour of a mass settlement of Jews in the Negeb, it would take a very considerable time before the requisite investigations were carried out, and the necessary preparations were completed. A vast sum would have to be raised for this purpose, which would also take time. Even in the best of circumstances it is, I suggest, quite out of the question that the Negeb could be made available for the absorption of Jewish refugees until at least after some years of preparation and organisation. Whilst, therefore, I consider that the Negeb does offer great future possibilities for settlement, Professor Driver's proposal falls somewhat short of a solution for the urgent problem of the Jewish victims of persecution.
Incidentally, it should, however, be remembered that the Negeb is part of the mandated territory of Palestine, and that the Jews, therefore, have every right to settle there without any special offer or invitation on the part of the Government.
It is, I think, a mistake to suppose that the Jews would welcome a hypothetical settlement in the Negeb at some future date as a compensation for the suggested cessation of immigra- tion into Palestine, which in my judgement would constitute a great injustice to them in view of the promises made to them.
I cannot see that the Jews could reasonably be expected to agree either to the stopping of immigration into Palestine, or to its regulation on any other grounds but those of the economic absorptive capacity of the country.
I believe that the possibilities of a settlement of Jews in the Negeb at some future date would be of great advantage both to the development of that district, as well as to the Jews, but I venture to suggest that it could not be welcomed by them as a substitute for Palestine generally, great as its advantage would be as a supplement to the territory upon which they have hitherto been allowed to settle.—Yours
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