Palestine Jews are “not optimistic” over the outcome of the special U.N. session, a Jewish Agency spokesman today declared at a press conference today.
Charging that the British and Arabs are conducting a parallel strategy at the U.N., he stated that the former are trying to achieve a delay in the solution of the problem by the appointment of an inquiry committee, while the latter are seeking a similar delay by demanding a full discussion of the issue.
The Arab-Jewish Democratic Student Organization, a Communist youth group, today cabled an appeal to the U.N. asking its assitance in abrogating the Palestine ##. The group urged that the British administration be withdrawn from the country and that British troops be ordered to evacuate. It also requested U.N. aid in establishing an independent democratic state.
A 21-year-old Jewish youth and a small boy were wounded today when a hand grenade was thrown at a military vehicle in Jerusalem. Police and troops cordened off the area and searched for the assailant, but he escaped. However, two unexploied bombs were found in the vicinity.
The dusk-to-dawn curfew was partially lifted in Jerusalem tonight. The Mea Shearin quarter, where a great number of the city’s Jewish population reside, however, will remain under curfew. It is this area which recently was under martial law. The military authorities, in announcing the lifting of restrictions, said the soldiers had been ordered to behave courteously toward the Jews, but he also cautioned the populace not to run away when challenged by a sentry.
A high government official, explaining why martial law was not imposed on Tel Aviv immediately after the bombing of the Sarona police barracks Friday, said that the government would not enforce “control” because of the U.N. session on Palestine unless the terrorists “force it” by their actions. Jewish circles, however, believe that Tel Aviv will be placed under martial rule if another outbreak occurs. It is expected that the city will be divided into 12 districts, each separated from the others, and that the economic as well as the social and political activities of the community will be paralyzed.
Joseph Shechter, Chief Rabbi of Ireland, today called on High Commissioner Sir Alan G. Cunningham. Following a 90-minute visit, Rabbi Shechter declared that Cunningham was optimistic that terrorism would be suppressed within the next few weeks. Despite Rabbi Shechter’s explanation that he and Cunningham were old friends, some circles here insist that he is acting as liaison man among the government, the Jewish Agency and Anglo-Jewish circles.
The Palestine Government denied a report circulating here that new detention camps for intercepted visaless Jewish immigrants are under construction at Tobruk, Cyranaica. The report said that the African camps would be used when the number of refugees interned on Cyprus passes 20,000, which is expected to occur early this summer.
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.
