A lengthy memorandum suggesting a basis for an understanding between the Jews and Arabs which has been sent to a number of influential Arab leaders, was made public here by Ch. Kalvarisky, former head of the Arab Department of the Zionist Executive.
The document declares (a) that since the Jews and the Arabs belong to one race, the revival of either does not harm the other but benefits both of them; (b) that the ideal of the Arabs—an Arab Federation and the ideal of the Jews—the Jewish National Home do not contradict each other. If an Arab Federation is established Palestine will join it provided the rights of the Jews are not infringed upon.
Mr. Kalvarisky proposes an Arab-Jewish Alliance on the following basis:
1. That the two peoples undertake to help each other in all branches of human activities: economic, social, spiritual.
2. That the Arabs welcome the Jews returning to the East and open widely their countries to Jewish immigration.
3. On their part, the Jews undertake to develop the Semitic East toward a big future with their capital, energy and knowledge.
4. That in all the countries of the Semitic East where the Jews will live they will enjoy the same rights as those of the National minorities in civilized countries, like Czechoslovakia, etc.
5. Palestine is to be an autonomous state and have her own Constitution. According to the Constitution, Palestine is to belong to both peoples to an equal degree, irrespective of which of them forms the majority or the minority of the population.
6. Equal rights for the Hebrew and Arab language in Palestine. The Arab and the Hebrew culture are to develop harmoniously side by side.
7. The Jews proclaim that they do not aim at domination in Palestine or at the infringement of the rights of anyone but they want to be treated in the same way.
8. The Jews undertake not to do harm to the Arab Fellah nor to infringe upon the right of the Arab worker. Moreover, by the large civilisatory work and introducing capital they will try to improve the position of the Arab fellah, while the Arab worker will get more work than hitherto.
9. The Jews undertake not to oppose the national aspirations of the Arabs. If an Arab Federation, or part of it, is established, Palestine will enter it.
10. As regards the Legislative Council proposal, the author admits the negative sides of it but assures that the Jews will not oppose the Legislative Council if they secure guarantees that the Arabs will not use it in order to do harm to the Jews and disturb the upbuilding of the Jewish National Home.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
