Between the Lines

It seems that the Palestine government has definitely made up its mind not to permit any proganda in Palestine for a Jewish majority there. This can be seen from the fact that the Jewish State Party was refused registration by the government on the basis that it demands a Jewish majority and “Palestine on both sides of the Jordan.”

With the nineteenth World Zionist Congress opening next month in Lucerne, this outspoken attitude of the Palestine government looks like a warning to the Congress that nothing can induce the Palestine administration to open Transjordan to Jews. It also serves as notice that the Palestine government is far from permitting the Jews to become a majority in Palestine.

It is difficult to understand why the government should refuse the legalization of the Jewish State Party on the grounds that it demands a Jewish majority in the country and the restoration of Palestine along historical boundaries, when it permits the existence of Arab political parties whose platforms include a demand for the creation of a Federation of Arab countries.

It seems to me that the propaganda conducted by the Arabs to have Palestine as a link in the chain of a federation of Moslem lands is more dangerous to the interests of the Palestine government than the propaganda to reunite Palestine with Transjordan.

CHALLENGING JEWISH ASPIRATIONS

The refusal to register the Jewish State Party as a legal party in Palestine is contradictory to the spirit of freedom of speech in that country. The Jewish State Party in Palestine is today not one of the major parties. It has no large following. It certainly is not a party which preaches violence.

The refusal to register it is, therefore, not a challenge to this particular party but to the Jewish demand for a larger immigration into Palestine and for the restoration of Transjordan as a part of Palestine.

The official reasons given for the refusal to register the party is the best argument as to why Jews must oppose the establishment of a legislative council in Palestine. A council which will be composed of Arabs and officials of the Palestine government will not only prevent the Jews from ever attaining a majority in Palestine but will pass all kinds of legislation to keep the Jews in a national minority status, no matter how large the Jewish immigration to Palestine may be.

SERIOUS RUMORS

Rumors now coming from London indicate that while Zionist leaders are on the one hand urging the Jews of the world to fight the establishment of a legislative council in Palestine, they are on the other hand preparing the ground to enter this council.

If these rumors are correct, then certain Zionist leaders involved will eventually be put in the same position as the shepherd who constantly cried “wolf.” Their word will not be taken seriously by Jews in many countries, even at a time when the danger is real. One cannot organize opposition against the legislative council and later change one’s mind and join the council.

The political situation in Palestine is such that the mobilization of Jewish forces throughout the world will be necessary more than once. In mobilizing the Jews of the world now to fight the legislative council, the Zionist leaders must once and forever make up their minds not to join this council under any circumstances, if they wish to be taken seriously on future occasions.