Palestine: A Modern History (ص 46)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 46)

المحتوى

94 Deadlock: 1920-1923
Government and strengthened unity between Christians and ‘Muslims
not only in Haifa but in other districts as well. In Beisan demonstrators
protested’ against .Zionism and Jewish immigration during Samuel’s
visit to the town. In Samaria the Governor reported ‘increasing
influence of anti-Zionist leaders over the peasantry’.* .
Hajj Amin as Mufti ~
The report also made reference to an important and controversial issue:
In Jerusalem the chief topic of interest has been the election of the
New Mufti; opinion has been divided as to who should succeed
Kamel Eff al Husseini, members of whose family (one of the most
influential and respected in Palestine) have held this office for
several generations. Learned opinion, represented by the Law
Courts, has not favoured the popular candidate al Hajj Amin al
Husseini, brother of the:late Mufti and the elections that were held
returned to the latter at the bottom of the poll causing indigriation
to the Husseini family (to which somewhat clamorous expression has
been given) to a very large section of the inhabitants of all the
districts. The Government, the Jews and the Mayor of Jerusalem
were all suspected of having influenced the election. Technical flaws
vin the constitution of the electorate have delayed the settlement of
this question.”
Settled or not, Hajj Amin soon assumed the role of the Mufti, and it
was he who invited Samuel to a luncheon.on the occasion of the cele-
bration of the carrying of the standard to Nebi Musa on 25 April.
Samuel’s acceptance of the invitation implied Government’s recognition
of Hajj Amin as Mufti, while the latter’s friendliness and courtesy to
Samuel on that occasion proved that he was willing to come to terms
with the Government. It soon became clear that the election was+to be
disregarded and Hajj Amin allowed to become Mufti. Thus Samuel
avoided alienating the Husseinis in a balancing act in accordance with
recognisable traditional imperial policy.
The question of the Muftiship was an important one in view of the
fact that the Mufti of Jerusalem was regarded by the Administration as
the head of the Muslim community in Palestine. Furthermore, Hajj
Amin was elected as Ra‘is al-‘Ulama’ and President of the Supreme
Muslim Council which prévided him with a solid power-base through
the effective control over the management of religious endowments
awqaf and the expenditure of income therefrom, the appointment and
Deadlock: 1920-1923 95
dismissal of all sharia (Islamic) Courts and wagq/ officials, as well as the
nomination of gadis (Judges).
The Administration’s efforts to conciliate Arab public opinion in
Palestine could not possibly do away with the two grounds on which
Arab opposition stood, namely, the political and the constitutional
grounds. On the political level the Administration was not in a position
to nullify the Balfour Declaration and the JNH policy. On the constitu-
tidnal side the Palestine Administration could do nothing to hasten the
final settlement of the Mandate at the Peace Conference, nor could it
change its autocratic and bureaucratic character to a representative and
popular one. For whereas the purpose of other mandates was preparing
the natives for self-government, the Palestine Administration was
committed to a policy of ‘immobilism’ since self-government for the
Arab majority in Palestine was inconsistent with the JNH policy.
‘Jaffa’s Revolt
Shortly after the collision between the Haifa demonstrators and the
police, an Arab was found dead in\the neighbourhood of a camp of
Jewish immigrants, and the situation became exceedingly explosive.
The expected outburst eventually took place in Jaffa during the first
two weeks of May. This was not surprising in view of unemployment
and widespread resentment against Zionist immigration and the quality
of the immigrants who abounded in the Arab port.”
On the evening of 30 April, Communist pamphlets and leaflets in
Hebrew, Yiddish and Arabic were distributed calling for a May Day
cessation of work, a proletarian rising against the British and the
éstablishment of a Soviet Palestine,*”
On, the morning of 1 May an authorised Zionist’ socialist (Poale
Zion) demonstration clashed with an unauthorised demonstration by
some fifty Communists carrying a red flag in Tel-Aviv, the Jewish
quarter of Jaffa. The Communists (Bolsheviks) were eventually forced
out of Tel-Aviv into the mixed Muslim and Jewish quarter of Menshiah.
When the police attempted to disperse the Bolsheviks, the Muslims
became involved and a general disturbance occurred, which soon spread
to the other parts of the town. Wild rumours of Jewish attacks enraged
the Arabs.
According to Brunton, ‘It is stated that the Jews first began by firing
on, the Arab passers-by’ and that the Arabs attacked a house for the
reception of Jewish immigrants. On this occasion the Muslims and
Christians demonstrated their solidarity and unity in the fight against
Zionism.*®

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

مجموعات العناصر

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