Palestine: A Modern History (ص 52)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 52)

المحتوى

106 Deadlock: 1920-1923
The participants in those meetings agreed to 4repare the population
for future attacks, to collect information on the amount of arms the
Jews possess, and to propagate among the military officers (British)
that they should remain passive during future attacks.
The Zionists endeavoured to counter the activists by a concerted
effort to divide the Palestinian ranks by establishing ‘Moslem National
Societies’ and, later, ‘National,Christian Societies’.
The object of these Societies is stated to be to work with the
Government and promote good relations between the different
«ay, 9S ;
sections of the community.
Zionist efforts in this direction failed to achieve the desired results as all
Arabs who were associated with these Societies were considered by the
Arab Press and the Palestinians as traitors.”
Samuel viewed these Societies with misgivings, as it was public
knowledge ‘that these Societies have ‘been established largely owing to
Jewish influence’,?? and to the influence of Mr Kalvarisky (a Jewish
member of the Advisory Council) in particular. 7
Sensing a resurgent fighting mood among the Palestinians owing to
an accumulation of political and economic frustrations, the High
Commissioner resumed his efforts to gain political advantage by cont
iating Muslim opinion through relegating Muslim control over Muslim
Religious Affairs (Awgaf, Shari'a Courts, etc.).
Towards the end of October the ‘Palestine Committee in Egypt’,
issued:a leaflet calling upon the people of Palestine to desist from work,
to close their shops and to mourn the anniversary of the Balfour
Declaration. Although orders were given for the seizure of the leaflet
where found, it had obtained a wide circulation in Palestine whereupon
strict security measures were taken to prevent disturhances throughout
Palestine. Arab notables in Jerusalem and Jaffa undertook, as-far as lay
in their. power, to prevent protestations. In spite of these precautions
and undertakings a disturbance took place in Jerusalem on the morning
laration’s anniversary.
When ‘Arab roughs’ appeared in the Jaffa road, they were spersee
by the police but soon after gathered for an attack, on the ewe
quarter which was averted by the police. Shots were exchange
between the Arab crowd and a crowd of Jews inside the Jewish quarter.
Thereafter troops patrolled the city and the Governor, accompanies
by the ‘principal Moslem notables walked through the streets an
restored order’.2? Five Jews and three Arabs were killed and thirty-six
Deadlock: 1920-1923: ; 107
persons were wounded. Although there were’ no disturbances in other
Cities, the atmosphere was tense throughout’ Palestine. On the following
day -the political notables of Jerusalem publicly disassociated them-
selves from the ‘unseemly and illadvised’ behaviour of irresponsible
youths on 2 November. However, these: notables found themselves
compelled to protest against the nature of the Court set up to deal with
the disturbances, and the unduly harsh sentences passed against the
Arabs by it, in contrast with the lenient sentences against the Jews.
A:show of mild defiance to the Government by the notables was
staged at a meeting held. in Jerusaleni on 11 November. The Muslim-
Christian Society unanimously decided not to obey the Ordinance
conferring upon Governors the power to exact a bond of security for
good behaviourfrom those suspected: of political or other offences.
‘i These protestations notwithstanding, the political notables appeared
in the eyes of ‘the Palestinian public as failing their duty to lead
Opposition to Zionism and British Zionist policies. In the aftermath of
the November disturbances the Government’s Intelligence Service had
reported that, ‘A somewhat disquieting feature is a tendency of the
populace to act apart from the notables and to disregard their advice’ '°
ry
’
All Classes Suffer t
The'sevents of November stimulated Samuel and his assistants to bring
about the settlement of the Beisan Land Question and that of the
Awgqaf and Muslim Religious Affairs in order to create a good
impression in the country. This favourable impression was shortlived
owing to, the seizure of 300 revolvers and a quantity of ammunition at
Haifa consigned to Isaac Rosenberg; which revealed Zionist efforts to
smuggle arms on a wide-scale. This event was the cause of considerable
excitement and agitation in the pres¥ and elsewhere. Further attempts,
albeit on a smaller scale, to procure arms and ammunition were
resumed in the following month. The continued presence of unemployed
immigrants in Jaffa and Haifa was considered by the Arabs as proof
' that the Administration did not intend to carry out the undertaking
given on 3 June 1921, that only such immigrants for whom work can
be found or who can support themselves should be allowed to enter the
country. ‘It is reported that the formation of a society to be known as
the “Palestine Youths Society” has been mooted. The promoters are
Stated to be extremely Pan Arab’.!%
Jewish immigration and British policies were augmenting Arab
distress and anxiety in an economic as well as a political sense. A
feport by the Governor of Haifa, G.S. Symes, on the reasons for

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

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