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Six Jews Killed As Arabs React to Partition; Higher Committee Calls General Strike

December 1, 1947
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Six Jews were killed today and 16 injured in that was feared to be the first move by extremist Arabs to resist the U.N. decision ##o establish Jewish and Arab states in Palestine.

Five Jews were killed when Arabs ambushed two Jewish busses, while the body of Moshe Goldman, 35, was found near police headquarters in Jaffa, which was the ##cene of an Arab anti-partition demonstration. In Acre Prison, Arab prisoners attacked Jews in the exercise yard. The rioters were dispersed by warders using tear ##as and rifles.

The Arab Higher Committee, following an emergency meeting, proclaimed a three-day general strike, beginning Tuesday. The Committee ordered a complete boycott of Jews and said that persons found dealing with Jews would be considered traitors. It announced that it would soon take the “necessary preliminary measures for implementing a non-cooperation policy in preparation for a declared state of emergency.” It told the Arab populace that it would receive instructions shortly. Arabs in Nablus, about 25 miles north of Jerusalem, jumped the gun this morning, calling a spontaneous strike.

HAGANAH MOBILIZED; BRITISH TROOPS TO BE PULLED OUT OF JEWISH AREAS

The Arab violence brought a prompt response from the Jewish community. A’mobilization of security forces was ordered immediately, and it was revealed that Haganah units had already taken over guard duties around Petach Tikvah, Tel Aviv and other Jewish areas.

Jewish Agency representatives were called to the government offices today and informed that British troops and police will be removed from predominantly Jewish areas within the next few days. Jewish police will be responsible for all security measures, subject to the central British authority in Jerusalem.

Unofficial celebrations continued throughout the day in all Jewish centers, despite the threats of Arab violence. Tens of thousands of people filled the streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, marching, singing, dancing and generally giving expression to their joy at the recreation of the Jewish State more than 1,800 years after its destruction. The first official celebration will be held on Chanukah, the first day of which has been declared a national holiday.

FRENZIED JOY AND EXCITEMENT SWEEP JERUSALEM AND TEL AVIV

Indescribable joy and irrepressible excitement swept this reserved old city early this morning, the moment the United Nations vote partitioning Palestine became known. Self-controlled Jerusalem threw off all restraints. People poured half-dressed into the empty, heavily guarded streets. Young and old danced the Hora while British soldiers in heavily armored cars joined in the festive spirit. The soldiers permitted the merry-makers to ride on their vehicles.

Around 3:30 a.m., a huge British car bearing 50 human beings all over the outside and clinging on the top roared into the Jewish Agency’s building courtyard.

Jewish Agency executive members mingled with the crowd until someone re##gnized Mrs. Goldie Meirson, political chief of the Agency in Jerusalem. At the #sistence of the crowd, Mrs. Meirson appeared on a balcony, making a brief address: He labored for this moment, hoped and sacrificed for it and above all believed that ## would come. Therefore, every one of us deserves it.” Addressing herself to the ## splaced Jews in European camps, she said: “The end of your suffering has come. You ##ll live, together with us, in the free Jewish State, Soon we will elect the first Jewish Parliament.” She extended the hand of friendship and peace to the Arabs, con##ding with the traditional Mazeltov.At about the same time, David Ben Gurion, Agency chairman, stated that “the United Nations decision, re-establishing the Jewish people in a severeign state in part of the ancient homeland, is an act of historic justice, compensating at least partly for the unparalleled wrong to which the Jewish people were subjected for 1,800 years. the decision represents a great moral victory for the very conception of the U.N.–##he idea of international cooperation in the cause of peace, justice and equality all over the world. The Jewish people will gratefully remember the efforts of the two great powers, the United States and Soviet Russia, as well as the endeavors of many other states which brought about the decision.”

ARAB GOVERNMENTS ENCOURAGE INCIDENTS; SOME ARAB LEADERS CALL FOR PEACE

Reports reaching here tonight indicated that officially encouraged tension was mounting in the Arab states. In Damascus, an attempt was made to set fire to the U.S. legation and the American flag was torn down. Communist Party headquarters were burned down. In Cairo and Alexandria students demonstrated, while in Bagdad, government spokesmen led by the Premier said that active measures would be taken immediately to “save” Palestine.

However, there were indications that the Arab opposition was not united. In Nathanya a large delegation of Arab notables called on Mayor Oved Ben Ami, congratulating him on the establishment of a Jewish state and voicing the hope of future cooperation between Arabs and Jews. Arab members of the League to Combat Anti-Semitism issued a manifesto calling on the Arabs not to be misled by provocateurs. Simultaneously, the Jewish Agency appealed to the Arab population for cooperation and friendship and urged the Jews not to be provoked.

BRITISH WILL PERMIT JEWISH MILITIA TO CARRY ARMS; IRGUN TO END VIOLENCE

It was learned that Jewish police will be permitted to work in cooperation with the members of the Mishmar Haam, unofficial militia. The militiamen will be granted permission to carry arms, but will not be given weapons from government armories. The authorities said that they must extend the same privilege to the Arabs, to which Jewish leaders agreed, with the proviso that such permits be given only to those living in the section designated for an Arab state.

It was unofficially announced by the Irgun Zvai Leumi that it would immediately cease its armed attacks and continue its fight for a Jewish State in all of Palestine through political measures. It is believed that the Irgun may reconstitute itself a legal opposition political party. The Stern Group also announced that it will continue to fight partition, but “by means appropriate to the conditions, the time and the place.”

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