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Palestine Jews Ask King Not to Infringe “promise to Israel”

May 14, 1937
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A coronation message for the Jews of Palestine asking that Great Britain not infringe on her “promise to Israel” has been cabled to King George VI by the municipality of Tel Aviv.

The message states:

“The Jewish people will eternally remember the glorious George V. Like Cyrus the Great, he gave Jewry a third emancipation act. (The liberation from Egypt and the action of Cyrus, king of Persia, in aiding the return of the Jews to Palestine are regarded as the first two emancipations, while the Balfour Jewish homeland declaration, issued in 1917, is sometimes called the third emancipation.)

“It is our hope and belief that every emperor on the British throne will regard it his privilege and honor to follow his true and just path and not infringe on the promise to Israel, realizing in their own lifetime Israel’s resurrection in the historic land and within the historic boundaries.”

The message was read by Mayor Israel Rokach at an illuminated coronation festival in the Garden of Prophets last night. Troops, police and 800 leading Jews attended the fete.

An observance was held earlier in the day in the Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv. In the all-Jewish city, war veterans paraded through flagfostooned streets to Sir Herbert Samuel Square where they were reviewed by Mayor Israel Rokach and Rabbi Lovin, formerly of the Australian army.

Numerous Arabs poured into Tel Aviv for the coronation spectacle, since the neighboring Arab city of Jaffa had no celebration. In Jaffa, only over Government buildings were flags raised, and many were torn down. A Jewish flag floating above the Anglo-Palestine Bank in Jaffa was removed on request of District Commissioner Crossbie after Arab youths had demonstrated.

In Jerusalem, too, the Arab quarter snubbed the coronation. Only Christian Arabs in this quarter joined in the festivities which were in full swing in other parts of the Holy City.

A celebration was held in the Yeshurun Synagogue in Jerusalem. Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog delivered a sermon in the presence of Government officials and Jewish leaders.

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