A Government spokesman in the House of Commons today rejected a suggestion for establishment of separate Jewish and Arab volunteer forces in Palestine.
“I am aware of no reason why they should not work together,” Colonial Undersecretary George H. Hall. declared, amid cheers. “They have worked together in Palestinian companies prior to the war.”
The suggestion for separate units was made by David Adams, Laborite, in view of Arab hostility to Jewish settlement.
Replying to a question by Miss Eleanor Rathbone, Independent, Hall denied that the number of Jewish volunteers would be limited to maintain a definite ratio between Arabs and Jews. He said the force would be limited, but not according to race. It is open to Britishers, Jews and Arabs, he declared, but limitation is necessary because of insufficient equipment.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
