The Arab general strike in Palestine, called to protest admission of Jews into the country, passed quietly today. No incidents were reported from any part of the country.
The executive committee of the Jewish Agency met here, meanwhile, to discuss the situation resulting from the violence that took place Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
From the scope of the attacks, it is believed here that at least 500 persons were involved, Informed quarters, however, do not think that this is the beginning of full-scale warfare against the British, but, rather, a warning of what can be expected if the Government’s long-awaited decision on Palestine is unsatisfactory.
Official statements by the police and military authorities attribute the violance to “Jewish saboteurs,” but an army spokesman said that the identity of the groups was still unknown.
The official communique does not specify the extent of the damage done, or the names of those killed. However, it is known that one of the three attackers who were mortally wounded was Isaac Weighmann, a weaver from Tel Aviv, whose body was found after the terrorists retreated from the Lydda junction, where the greatest damage was done to the rail lines.
Police, using dogs, this morning followed the trail of some of the alleged attackers to the colony of Ramath Hakovosh, but were prevented from entering the settlement by a hurriedly assembled crowd of settlers from nearby colonies, estimated at 1,000 persons. After an hour the police withdrew without any clashes.
Remath Hakovosh was the scene, in Nov. 1943, of a battle between military police, allegedly searching for Jewish deserters from the Polish forces, and the colonists, which resulted in the killing of one settler and the arrest of 35. The latter were subsequently released.
Rail service today was still far from normal, as special crews rushed to repair the extensive damage. Skeleton service was expected to be resumed late today, with full operations restored by tomorrow.
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