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Palestine Government Collecting Data to Show That Not All Jews Are Zionists

January 8, 1946
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The Palestine Government is now collecting material to support Foreign Minister Bevin’s distinction between Zionists and Jews, in his recent statement, it was learned here today.

The material, which will be submitted to the Anglo-American Inquiry Committee on Palestine, will be based chiefly on the number of “shekels” sold in Palestine and abroad during the last decade. The “shekel” is considered by the government to be a formal proof of adherence to the Zionist organization.

Herbert M. Howard, former assistant public information officer of the Palestine Government, speaking today on a broadcast arranged by the Jewish Journalists Association, accused the Palestine Government of betraying the Balfour Declaration and the Palestine Mandate, and of following as anti-Jewish policy.

He also quoted from numerous letters he had received from soldiers formerly stationed in Palestine expressing admiration for Jewish enterprise. Several of them have written to Foreign Minister Bevin that they were ashamed as Englishmen and laborites of his recent statements concerning Jewish immigration, Mr. Howard said.

Another prominent officer of the Palestine Government was heard on the same broadcast, stating that many English civil servants in Palestine were of the same opinion as Howard, but were tied by contracts which they were unable to break. Nevertheless, this official stated, the sympathies of these Government employees were with the Jewish community.

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