Independence for Transjordan is “crying Contradiction” of Jewish State Demand Says Shertok

The Bevin plan to establish Transjordan as a sovereign state is “a crying contradiction” of the Jewish Agency’s demand for recognition of Palestine as a Jewish state, Hoshe Shertok, head of the Agency’s political department, charged today.

Shertok told a press conference that the Agency had never considered Transjordan’s separation from Palestine to be permanent, and had “always hoped for an arrangement enabling Jewish colonization and joint Jewish-Arab enterprises there.” He asserted that when certain clauses of the Mandate concerning the establishment of a Jewish National Home had been abolished with respect to Transjordan, Britain expressly stated that the abolition was only temporary.

Discussing the Arab League boycott, he revealed that the Agency has established a special committee to study the problem, and “when necessary, give a direct Jewish reply to the boycott.”