Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matter

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.–Editor.]

The general dissatisfaction of Palestine Jewry with the recent order of the High Commissioner reorganizing the gendarmerie in that country so that Jews will be excluded from the defense garrison, is voiced by the Palestine Hebrew press.

The “Doar Hayom” sees in the change danger not only for the Jews but for the country as a whole. Pointing out that the exclusion of the Jews from the defense forces of the country is an indignity to Jewish honor, similar to the demand of the anti-Semites in the old Czarist government that the Jews be removed from the army as unfit to protect the country, the paper wants to know whether the Palestine government consulted the Jewish Agency before taking that step, which touches the very essentials of the establishment of the Jewish National Home.

The Hebrew labor daily “Davar” writes as follows :

“In Zionist circles there are many who oppose strongly the creation of a Jewish regiment, while some are strongly for such a regiment in Palestine. But no one, not even those opposing the idea of a Jewish regiment, can deny that the Jews more than anybody are in need of strong defence. It is impossible to forget the events in Jaffa and Jerusalem of a few years ago. The Zionists sacrificed the idea of having a defence force of their own and thus remained open to the danger of attack in order that no pretext be given to turn Palestine into a military occupation. The Zionists have, therefore, the right to hope that the Government would not treat this matter one-sidedly, and that it would not enact a policy which must be regarded by the Jewish Yishub and the whole Zionist movement as a step which is endangering their position in the country and encroaching upon their rights.”

The “Haaretz” draws attention the fact that the reduction in the size of the defense forces and the exclusion of the Jews from the gendarmerie is particularly dangerous in view of the increase of crimes in Palestine. The editorial quotes statistics, showing that in 1924, when the police force was much larger, 16,833 crimes were registered, of which 614 were of a serious nature. Although the figures for 1925 are not yet available, it is already known that crime has increased. Under the circumstances, the forces left for the protection of the country are insufficient. The article also draws attention to the smallness of the Jewish contingent in the police force.

M. Smilansky, Palestine writer, in an article in the “Haaretz” sees in the change the same spirit as that which prevails in the diaspora lands where the Jew is frequently confronted with the order “Fuer Juden verboten” (“Jews not allowed”). He repudiates the explanation of the government that the new defense garrison is meant for the Transjordania border. “We regard Transjordania as a part of Palestine,” he avers, “and hence the excuse that the ‘judenreine’ gendarmerie will serve in Transjordania is not valid.”

Commenting on this subject, the “New Judea” of London (March 12), organ of the Zionist Organization, observes:

“The proposed reorganization of the Gendarmerie in Palestine has aroused the greatest misgiving among the Jews in Palestine. It may be gratifying that the Palestine Government is so satisfied with conditions as to embark on drastic changes. In itself, it is a hopeful aspect. But the opposition of the Jewish Yishub to the Government’s proposal is based on serious grounds. Exception is taken to a reduction of the Palestine Defense Forces, which, it is asserted, is highly inopportune at the present time. As to that, Lord Plumer, we should think, is in the best position to judge. More serious, however, is the objection of the Yishub to the manner in which the reorganization of the Defense Forces is to be effected, if the reports are correct which allege that the Jewish members of the Palestine Gendarmerie are to be drafted into the Police Force and that Jews will not be accepted as recruits in the new Defense Force. The exclusion of Jews from any Force destined for the defense of Palestine is, naturally enough, hotly opposed by the Yishub, and it would be equally resented by Jews throughout the world.”