Conflict Between Jewish Labor and Orange Growers

With the beginning of the orange-picking season the annual conflicts over the non-employment of a sufficient number of Jews on the Jewish plantations have been revived. Disputes between organized Jewish labor and the planters have already led to a number of arrests in Ness Ziona, the calling in of the police at Hederah and strained relations at Petach Tikveh. In the latter place the Jewish laborers claim that Arabs form more than 75 per cent of the workers in the groves.

The Davar warns against allowing the labor dispute between the Jews to be used as an argument that Jewish labor wishes to drive out the Arabs whereas should the planters call in the police it means the exclusion of the Jews. The Doar Hayom urges the Jewish leaders to prevent a class struggle, saying “we do not want war between the farmer and the chalutz nor an alien policeman to keep order in our colonies.” it must lead to discontent, disorder and danger.”

ARABS SOLD LAND VOLUNTARILY

Replying to Lord Islington’s attack, Lord Reading said that Lord Islington “seems to forget the entire position as regards the Jews. The Jews went to Palestine by virtue of a declaration made and accepted by Great Britain. The Jewish purchase of land is enabled by voluntary contributions and has nothing whatsoever to do with expropriation because the land was voluntarily sold by the Arabs. Under such circumstances I would have been surprised to hear that any community intended to provide new land for a man who had sold land in such a manner, because he could sell the land again ad infinitum.”

Lord Reading concluded with an appeal for peaceful collaboration between the Jews and the Arabs. The real problem, he said, is the establishment of peace between the members of one community although of different nationalities.

In Zionist circles here, Lord Reading’s defense of Jewish rights is being highly praised. That such a high legal authority as the former Lord Chief-Justice could feel that the Arabs are not entitled to receive alternative land because they sold their lands to the Jews voluntarily has created much favorable comment.