Palestine: A Modern History (ص 48)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 48)

المحتوى

98 Deadlock: 1920-1923
difficulty.°°
Ariother indication of the role played by the notables was their attitude
towards the reactions of the Palestinian populace against the Jewish
boycott of Arab traders in‘ May 1921. Thé ‘notables were bound'to be
discredited in view of their failure to play the role the majority of
Palestinians demanded of them: .
Duritg the month a boycott of all Jewish goods broke out. The
notables are stated to have ddne their best to stop it*but met with
much difficulty; such a step being interpreted by the people as
having been prompted by the Jews and tended consequently to
decrease the prestige of the notables in the eyes of the public.
Samuel propésed to deport Bolsheviks, to suspend Jewish immigra-
tion temporarily,’ to regulate immigration on stricter grounds, and
to look into ‘the very early’ establishment of representative institu-
tions’.©* Lastly, Samuel informed Churchill that he viewed with favour
the impending visit of a Palestinian delegation to Europe and London
and thought that efforts should be made to promote an understanding
between them and the Zionist organisation. In another report Samuel
recommended to Churchill that Article 4 of the Palestine Mandate,
which recognised the Zionist Organisation as an advisory body to the
Administration, should be watered down of rendered uhobjectionable
to the Arabs by the insertion of a similar article providing for the
parallel recognition of a non-Jewish body.
Who Opposed Democracy?
Unlike Samuel, Churchill was not willing to conciliate the ‘Palestinian
ledders by meanis of political concessions, even‘after they had demon-
strated a cooperative attitude under tense conditions and trying circum-
stances. He was particularly averse to giving way to Palestinian Arab
demands regarding elected representative institutions®’ ‘When the
Zionists got wind of what Sariuel was contemplating, they hastened to
convey their strong opposition to any form of:representative institu-
tions, stressing once more the identity of British and Zionist interests.
Such a body as appears to be contemplated would at the present
time in all probability prove to be ‘unfriendly to British policy in
general and the Jewish National home in particular.®° ,
Deadlock: 1920-1923 “99
The events of the spring of 1921 demonstrated that ‘the notables
were in-need-ofireestablishing their leadership in the country. A show
of political solidarity, on a wide scale was necessary, and the Fourth
Palestine Arab Congress was convened in Jerusalem in May 1921, under
the traditional chairmanship of Musa Kazem. About a hundred
delegates attended and reaffirmed the resolutions passed by the Haifa
Congress and nominated a Palestine Arab ‘Delegation to plead the
Palestine Arab case im Europe and London. ‘Pending the departure of
this Delegation and its discussions in London, instructions have been
given that all disorderly movements are to be avoided’.
, During: June 1921, & more peaceful mood in Palestine’ prevailed.
There Were two major reasons for this change, although, as Samuel
observed, the ‘causes of'unrest remain’.°”
The first reason was Samuel’s important speech at an Assembly of
notables on the occasion of the King’s Birthday, 3 June, when he
reinterpreted the meaning of the Balfour Declaration in a way designed
ta allay the fears of the Palestinian Arabs and promote tranquillity-in
Palestine. Samuel promised the Palestinians that Britain ‘would never
impose upon them a policy which that people had reason to think was
contrary to their religious, their political and their economic interest’.
Samuel’s pronoyncement had an unfavourable reception in Zionist
circles. Its effect on the Palestinian Arabs was more difficult to gauge.
The ‘extremists’ were not appeased, as nothing less than the withdrawal
of the Balfour Declaration Or even the abolition of the British Mandate
would satisfy them. The greater.public, though reassured, ‘feel very
suspicious of the Administration’s intention or ability to carry them
out’.©? Samuel admitted that the Palestinians had expected a declara-
tion more far-reaching and more specific in its terms.
The second factor was the impending departure of the Delegation to
Europe, and the deliberate cooling-off policy adopted by the political
leadership of the Palestine Congress:
...if the leaders of the opposition to Zionism were at any time to
set themselves to fan, the ambers, they would soon begin to glow,
and" perhaps--burst into flame. Their influence is being exerted, for
the time being at.least on the side ‘of tranquility.”
t
The Weapon of Passive Resistance
Samuel was aware of the precarious position of the Palestinian political
leadership. He «pointed out to-Churchill that latest events revealed the
great interest in public affairs in the minds of,the popylation in general
U
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Me eee
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تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

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