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Ask Enlistment of Additional 10,000 Palestinian Jews in British Forces

January 14, 1943
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An appeal for the enlistment of an additional 10,000 Jews in the British armed forces was voiced today by Mayor Israel Rokach of this city, at a meeting here opening the drive for the Jewish War Needs Fund. He urged all groups within the country to abandon their differences and join in support of the front. At the same time he appealed to Britain and her allies to establish and equip a Jewish army.

Following a short memorial service at which Chief Rabbi Herzog paid tribute to the tens of thousands of Jews who have been murdered by the Nazis in Europe, the meeting adopted a resolution asking that the gates of Palestine be opened to those refugees who are able to escape from Nazi-dominated countries.

David Ben Gurion, chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency, commenting on the New Year’s Day plea for unity between Jews and Arabs broadcast by High Commissioner Sir Harold MacMichael, told the meeting that “we Jews have always showed good-will but we have not seen good-will manifested by the Palestine Government.” The Jews continue the fight for a homeland in Palestine, Ben Gurion said, because they know that the Atlantic Charter will not solve their problem.

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