Blaming the Grand Mufti for conducting political agitation among the Arab masses of Palestine that is in every way harmful to their interests, Mohammed Tawil, an Arab political leader from Tiberias who gave evidence friendly to the Jews at the Shaw Commission’s hearings, declared today in an interview with the “Vienna Stimme” that the Palestine government instead of doing anything to abolish antagonism between the Jews and the Arabs is protecting the Grand Mufti, supporting his anti-Jewish policy and going so far as to suppress those who favor peace.
Saying that he stands for an Arab-Jewish understanding because he is an Arab patriot, Tawil stated that he is convinced that the Arabs will benefit from an understanding with the Jews because the Arabs can learn much from the Jews, particularly as regards systematic work and because the development of the country is impossible without the collaboration of the Arab fellaheen and the Jewish cultivators.
Tawil charged that he has twice been arrested because he “endeavored to unmask the personal interest of the Arab leaders in the agitation. I came to Europe to tell the world how England treats Palestine because I am convinced that the Palestine government is largely responsible for the events of last August. If the government withdraws its support from the Grand Mufti and the Arab Executive perfect peace will be immediately established,” he declared in replying to a question about hopes that the tension between the Jews and Arabs will decrease.
He said, “The key to the situation is in the hands of the Palestine government which can clear the atmosphere. I have thousands of supporters who are afraid, however, to disclose their opposition to the Mufti. The fellah does not hate the Jews but is fanatically religious and of a primitive culture. Seventy-five percent of the Arab peasantry generally do not know the meaning of the Balfour Declaration while the educated town inhabitants, although opposed to the Mufti do not dare to take a stand against him be-
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