Wages for murder have fallen by half in Palestine lately as a result of depletion of the terrorists’ treasury due to waning support from the Arab populace.
As a consequence of the British army’s success in breaking up large gangs terrorizing the countryside, individual political assassinations in the cities have assumed new prominence, but, according to information obtained by the J.T.A., The Arab assassins are now being paid cut rates as follows: for murdering an Arab — L5; an Englishman –L3; a Jew–L1.
The seeming anomaly of a higher bounty for killing an Arab than an Englishman or Jew is explained by the fact that this is the most dangerous assignment of all, since in accordance with the unwritten Arab law, the victim’s relatives must not rest until they have taken revenge. They have underground ways of discovering the identity of the assassin more effective than the facilities of the police, and since most Arabs secretly possess guns, they have the means for executing vengeance.
Killing an Englishmen does not present the same hazard, but as all Englishmen in Palestine, including civilians, carry licensed firearms, it is still regarded as a more dangerous job than murdering a Jew, and accordingly brings an intermediate payment. As for Jews, most of then are still unarmed, so they are regarded as easy marks.
These prices are paid for killing ordinary citizens. There is a special schedule of bonuses for certain prominent personages. The price Placed on the head of Jerusalem, for instance, is L100 or a job at a good salary on the staff of the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem — a religious institution, incidentally, supported by the Government.
As evidenced by the daily toll of victims, the terrorist organization is still far from being crushed, but the terrorists themselves admit their “good old days” are past No longer do Arab officials of the Government, Arab policemen and prosperous Arab civilians walk in constant dread that someone will sidle up to them with the summons: “The taxi is waiting for you.” This was formerly the phrase with which Aref Abdul Razzek, terrorist Chieftain, issued his “invitations” to his hideout near Ramallah, in the Jerusalem district, where by beatings and threats of death he extorted cash, promises of “loyalty” and Government and police secrets.
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.
