An official statement was issued Sunday by the government of Palestine concerning the recent events at the Wailing Wall. The statement was declared by the Jewish representatives to be “inaccurate.”
The communique declares that on August 15 several hundred young Jews who assembled at the Western Wall did not confine themselves to prayers, but raised a flag and delivered speeches. On August 16, the communique proceeds, two thousand Moslems left the Mosque of Omar where they celebrated the Prophet’s birthday and came to the Wall. A wooden table which stood there was overturned by the pressure of the crowd and was broken, Papers containing prayers and petitions, lying in the crevices of the Wall were taken out and burned. No Jews were injured. The situation at the Wall is quiet. The government is now investigating the offenses of both days to ascertain the possibility of identifying the offenders for prosecution, the communique stated.
CHIEF RABBI INDIGNANT, GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED, HE SAYS
The official communique aroused the indignation of Palestine Jews, who declare that prayer books, Psalm books and petitions left by worshippers at the Wall were burned in the presence of the police who did not intervene. They point out that the statement of the government that “no Jews were injured” is untrue as two Jews were injured on Friday. It is further pointed out that the government permitted the Moslems to come to the Wailing Wall area through the door recently opened, notwithstanding its previous assurances.
Rabbi A. J. Kook, Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Palestine, in an interview with press representatives, voiced his indignation at the attitude of the government.
“The Englishmen are proud that one of their kings sponsored the translation of the Bible into English, thus enriching the culture of the world. The British administration of Palestine must now be ashamed that under its rule the Psalm books were burned in the place which is holiest to Jews, near the Wall initiated by the author of the Psalms himself,” he said.
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