All detained Jews at the Latrun camp last night began a 24-hour hunger strike in sympathy with Dr. Wolfgang von Weisl, who yesterday was removed from the camp to a Jerusalem hospital after completing a full week of his 28-day fast. Von Weisl undertook the hunger strike as a protest against British policy in Palestine.
A letter received today from Von Weisl, who is on his ninth day of fasting, declared that he was taken from Latrun against his will and that he was transported under heavy guard, including a tank. The letter revealed that the excessive fasting has caused the recurrence of an intestinal disorder.
He stated that all his belongings, including his medical books and his typewriter, were taken from him, although he explained to the authorities that he was nearing completion of a paper on asthma research.
He reaffirmed that he would eat nothing and that he has refused all medical treatment, permitting medical examinations for scientific study only. He said he had not received any of the telegrams asking him to call off his strike, but that he thanked his well-wishers nevertheless.
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.
