Arabs on Jewish National Fund Land at Vadi Havarith Thank Arab Executive for Help in Obtaining Lease

The Bedouins of the Vadi Havarith area who have been settled on Jewish National Fund land there have sent a telegram to the Palestine Arab Executive, read out at its meeting to-day, thanking it for its assistance in obtaining the lease on the land, and declaring that they will not agree to exchange their present holding for other land else-where.

The head office of the Jewish National Fund issued a statement through the J.T.A. a few days ago declaring that in view of the insistent demands of the Government, the Board of Directors of the Jewish National Fund was constrained to enter into negotiations with the Government with regard to the leasing of 5,000 dunams of its land in the Vadi Havarith area for a period of two years upon which the Bedouins could be temporarily accommodated, because, according to the Government, the Bedouins’ previous camping site was under water, owing to the winter rains, and would not be fit for use until the close of the winter.

As a result of negotiations with the Government, the statement went on, the area originally required from the Fund was reduced to 2,965 dunams and the period of the lease was curtailed to terminate by October 1st., 1933, when the land is to revert to the full possession of the Jewish National Fund. The High Commissioner has given his assurance, the statement added, that during the period of the lease the Government will do all in its power to arrive at a final solution of the question of the Bedouins of Vadi Havarith, and that during the period of leasing no permanent fixtures such as buildings, plantations, etc., may be placed on the land. The sub-lease between the Government and the Bedouins will also provide that such lease does not give to the Bedouins any new rights upon the land in question. The Government has also undertaken, it said, that in the event of any new legislation it will take into consideration the special conditions in which the lease from the Jewish National Fund is made, so that its rights of ownership upon the land shall not be prejudiced, and the Government will pay to the Jewish National Fund an agreed lease rental, and also compensation for the interruption of cultivation of the land in question and other damages by the leasing of the land.