Palestine: A Modern History (ص 80)

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عنوان

Palestine: A Modern History (ص 80)

المحتوى

168 Prelude to Revolution: 1930-1935
process.
In 1932,.a Palestinidr Youth Congress was held in Jaffa to discuss
ways and means of mobilising Arab youth in thé service of the Arab
national movement in Palestine. The Congress resolved to adopt the
principles of the ‘national charter’, to establish branches'in towns and
villages, encourage national industries and organisé a national Scout
movement comprising a great number of able-bodied Arab youth.
Palestinian women were also spurred: into action. In a long
memorandum to the Permanent Mandate Commissiox, the Executive
Committee of the First Arab Women’s Congress of Palestine put
forward ‘the grievances df the Palestinians, particularly; the predicament
of the-fellahin and the failure of the Mandate to prdtect them against
eviction,*® and called for the abrogation of the Balfour Declaration, the
abolition of the Mandate and ‘the establishment of a National Govern-
meft responsible to‘an elected representative Council with a view to
attaining complete independenée within an Arab Federation’.
Special conferences on taxes were convened in the spring of 1932,
which submitted memoranda of protest against the Government’s tax
policies. The (Arab) National Fund formed an Arab Redemption of
Lands Corporation to save Arab lands that were likely to fall into
Zionist ownership .*”
The Zionists’ uncompromising attitudes and the failure of the
Government to implement promises over the .introduction of self-
governing institutions, i.e. the Legislative Council, tended to strengthen
the hand of the /stiq/alists. '
In September 1932, they induced the Arab Executive to pass, a
resolution declaring that no Arab should serve on any Government
Board or-in any way cooperate with the Government. ‘Nevertheless,
Wauchope reported that ‘the Mufti and a number of Nashashibi party
who support me will probably arrange that this resolution’ shall not be
acted on’.** . i“
Despite ‘the agitation of the /stig/alists against Britain Haj Amin was
remarkably cooperative with the Government:
The Mufti has definitely responded to the measure of confidence
placed in him, and-it is doubly satisfactory to-Government that he
and some of: the more modetate mén of theeNashashibi party are
now working together with Government.*?
Two’ weeks later, Wauchope reported that ‘Awni:Abdul Hadi, the
prominent Jstigialist; ‘had’ resigned from the Road Board to the
,
Prelude to Revolution: 1930-1935 169
embarrassment of other Palestinian mnembers on Government Bourds:
Thereafter; Wauchope advised the: Colonial Secretary, that unless the
Government proceeded with the establishment of the Legislative
Council, Arab: ‘extreniists would obtain’complete ascendency and that
Arab cooperation would become increasingly difficult and ultimately
impossible’.%°
The /stiqialists’ fresh approach was eloquently expressed ih their
reply to .a speech delivered by the'tHigh Commissioner before the
Mandates Commission in Geneva. In it they reiterated their rejection
of the Balfour Declaration and the Mandate and exposed the basic
aspects of the alliance between Zionism and British Imperialism. They
alleged that one-third of the budget: had to be allocated to defence.and
sécurity expenses because of the Mandaté’s attempt to build an glien
hational home against the will of the Palestinians. As a.result-of this
policy the Palestinians were overburdened.with all kinds of taxesyand
the fellah in-particular wascin a desperate-position. Furthermore»the
Mandatory Government ‘had deliberately failed to live up‘td its duty
fowards thé Arabs, ‘the legitimate Owners of the country’, in the crucial
fields of education, land legislation and immigration.” -
t i
The Prospect of Civil Disobedience \
The initiative of the /stigéalists'antl the increase of Jewish immigration
compelled the Arab, Executive to invite a number of political leaders
including those of the /stiglal anid the Youth Congress to an Assembly
on 24 February 1933, under thé présidency of Musa Kazem. In the
course of the discussions several attacks were launched by the militants
against the lethargic leaders’, and landacommissibn agents were
denounced as traitors. Suggestions were made to’ the effect that civil
disobedience and the boycott of ‘British goods constituted the only
effective method of forcing the Government to listen to their
grievances.*? Musa Kazem induced thé Assembly, against the’ better
jadgement of the majority of those -present, to elect a deputation to
meet the High Commissioner-on thé same ddy. The deputation put!to
the High Commissioner the necessity of protecting the Arab population
frbm disposséssion and eviction®? »by prohibiting landr sales and
Jewish ‘immigration, to no avail. Discouraged by Wauchope’s reply, the
Arab leaders finally decided to call a general assembly on 26 March in
Jaffa to lay down the basis of non-cooperation with the Government.
The Jaffa meeting was attended by five to six hundred persons,
townsmén and villagers of all classes: and parties,.including the Arab
Executive, Hajj Amin and most of the mdyors of the principal towns
= eee
ete te a a Foe Congest Ti iene ASS a ae nee

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

مجموعات العناصر

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