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Arabs Weak in Face of Zionist Idealism, Says Sir Ronald Storrs

April 19, 1937
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Sir Ronald Storrs, former Governor of Jerusalem, in an article in the Sunday Times on “Zionists in Jerusalem,” emphasizes the weakness of the Arabs in the face of Zionist idealism.

“Zionism is a world movement,” he declares. “Arabism does not exist. Arab merits, defects, rights and grievances are essentially local in character. The Palestine Arab therefore feels himself under an overwhelming inferiority in the presentation of his case to the conscience of the world.

“He is aware he has no ability, organization, and least of all, material resources or audience for effective propaganda. He is well aware that leading Moslems who have toured the East in his support have not succeeded in creating a favorable impression, even upon their coreligionists in Egypt, India or Arabia.”

Sir Ronald praises the courage of the Jews, recalling that a British general commanding one of the detachments which took Jerusalem during the World War told of the reckless bravery shown by a young Jewish lance-corporal of a London regiment, who, mounting over a ridge into sudden sight of Jerusalem, “seemed to be transported and transformed.” He stormed a Turkish machine-gun nest, killed the entire crew and captured the gun, Sir Ronald relates.

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