More than 5,000 persons last night jammed into Tel Aviv’s Mograbi Square, in the center of the city, to attend a Herut-sponsored open air meeting protesting Britain’s formal recognition of Transjordan King Abdullah’s annexation of the Arab parts of Palestine.
Fiercely attacking the leadership of the British Government, Menahem Beigin, former commander of the underground Irgun organization and now leader of the right-wing Herut, promised “a struggle such as the British Empire never saw before for the liberation of the whole of Palestine.” He threatened a revival of the underground movement against Britain if British troops occupied any portion of the newly annexed territory. Addressing himself to British Minister Alexander Knox Helm, the rightist leader who is a deputy in the Parliament, said: “Tell your boss, (Ernest) Bevin he better not try to enter Eastern Palestine.”
Mr. Begin took the opportunity to attack the leadership of the Israel Government, warning that it will eventually endorse Abdullah’s move. He insisted, however, that all of Palestine would some day belong to the Jews “despite the statements, acts or signatures of Ben Gurion or Sharett.”
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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.