Palestine: A Modern History (ص 55)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 55)

المحتوى

112 Deadlock: 1920-1923
peaceful demonstrations find the closing of shops in all Palestine on
13-14 July against the: British policy, and the communitation of
protests to the League of Nations from all societies and representative
bodies in Palestine. In case the Mandate was ratified, it was.resolved to
call the Delegation back ‘for work in Palestine and-among the Eastern
nations’.'!* Delegations were to be despatched to Mecca and to the
Vatican to obtain the sympathy of the Christian and Muslim worlds.
‘Secret’ resolutions called for hoarding some funds, dissemination of
anti-Zionist propaganda and keeping a close eye on the Government.
An incipient change of an important character inthe ‘Palestinian
strategy become discernible at that point:
Hirtherto their opposition has been confined to the National Home
policy and the terms of the Mandate but now that it is realised that
the Mandate is likely to go,through, there is a tendency ‘to believe
that the only way of successfully opposing. the’ obnoxious clauses
is to oppose the British Mandate as a whole and to move for the
total independence for a united Syria and Palestine.'°
As a corollary to this.reluctant shift from anti-Zionist to anti-British
orientation in the Palestinian national movement’s strategy, it was
reported that the number of people prepared to run greater risks in
their effort to promote disorders and conflict against the Government’s
authority was on' the increase. Furthermore, Palestinian students issued
an appeal to fellow students in England to support the Palestinian
struggle against the Zionist clauses in the Mandate which could only
lead to revolution in Palestine. Villagers and Mukhtars refused to
accompany government commissioners for thé demarcation of mewat
(waste) lands as*a demonstration of their lack of confidence in the
Administration and its intentions. Protests against land concessions
granted to the Jews in Beisan, Birah and Caesarea, and against the
dismissal of Arab and pro-Arab officials in the Government. were
lodged:'"* The tone of the press was also becoming mére’ and more
anti-British:
During 13 and 44 July a general strike was observed in the large
towns throughout Syria and Palestine as a protest against the British
Mandate based. upon the: Bdlfour Declaration. The Arab Executive
Committee was occupied with organising the collection of funds
through the local Muslim-Christian Societies."
As the Palestinians were becoming, more militant in their anti-British
attitude, a growing solidarity between the nationalist bodies of Syria,
Deadlock: 1920-1923 Me 113
~
j- Palestine and..Egypt developed- and the agitation for the complete
independenceiof Syria and Palestine was renewed. The villagers were
urged" not, to pay tithes to a non-Muslim -Government and prayers
declaring, Palestine to be in danger introduced!in-the Friday prayers at
Jaffa.- . %
The Governors of the various districts reported during July that
there were two schools, of thought, the one’ favouring a non-violent
negative and obstructionist attitude towards the Government, -the other
favouring rebellions methods and advocating ‘enlisting Beduin
assistance to promote, guerilla warfare’.""© The latter were encouraged
by. Mustapha Kemal] .as an example of how recognition was to be
obtained at the jhands of the European Powers: The Arab Executive
Committee preferred non-violent methods, and the High Commissioner
even reported that, aioe wete actually cooperating with the,Government
in maintaining order.” i
iq The Fifth Congress
Thé,..Delegation left England at -the request of the Arab Executive
Committee,in Jerusalem, arrived at Haifa on,21 August,1922 and proceed-
ded to Nablus the same day to attend the Fifth Palestinian Congress. The
Delegation was met with popular enthusiasm at Haifa, Nasra (Nazareth),
Jenin, ,Silet-.al-Daher, Burka, and, Nablus. ;In ,his first speech at Haifa,
Musa: Kazem, sassuyed his audience that the doors.of England were still
open, for. “negatiations and that there were many supporters of the Arab
cause in England and France prepared to further the Arab cayge at any
time.'® The H.Cr. reported that the cry of ‘Long Live Palestine’, dowh
}. with ithe- Mandate, the, Balfour Declaration and Ziqnism’ was repeated
by many of those present, but Musa-Kazem refrained from agitating
against Britain and, discouraged any, tendency; to resort to violence as a
means of fighting Britain’s Zionist: policies,.in spite.of the fact,that the
Declaration, Was,;in his -opinion, -incompatible with ,independence.
The s sessions of the .Gongress commenced on:the following day,
22 August, and continued until 25° August.Phe report of the Delega-
tion to the Congress,summarised the accomplishments of the lengthy
a visit ‘and recommended hat greater cogperation between-the Arabs.of
f; Palestine and the,rest of the Arabs by practical means of-economical
and edugational movements and ‘to send Delegates to Arab .Amirs and
3 potentates to inform them,.of the real ,situation and injustices in
@ Palestine and to discuss means of agreement and of an under-
standing’.'!? —,, ' to
Eighteen resolutions were adopted, the most important of which
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تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

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