Demonstrations broke out in Tel Aviv today as an aftermath of the disturbance this week at the colony of Ramath Hakovesh when a number of Jewish settlers were wounded during a search by British and Polish military police for alleged deserters and hidden arms. A large number of demonstrators marched to the Government office and one man was wounded when an attempt was made to remove the Union Jack flying in front of the building.
Several huge mass-meetings were also held today. One of the speakers was Zalman Rubashev, editor of Davar, Laborite daily, and the largest newspaper in Palestine. The meetings protested not only the Ramath Hakovesh incident, but the suspension of two Hebrew dailies for carrying allegedly exaggerated details of what occurred at the settlement. Mayor Israel Rokach of Tel Aviv also spoke.
Meanwhile, the entire Hebrew press in Palestine voluntarily ceased publication today as a protest against the government’s suspension of the two newspapers. All seven papers announced that they have decided not to appear as long as the two other dailies are under government ban.
An official version of the events at Ramath Hakovesh, made public today, states the raid followed receipt by the Palestine authorities of information that the Jewish settlement was harboring deserters from the Polish army, was a training camp for illegal armed groups, and was concealing illegally secured arms.
The residents of the settlement, the official version says, refused to co-operate with the authorities and attempted to prevent the police from performing their duty by using violence and by subjecting them to extreme provocation. The police maintained great restraint, with a minimum use of force, the official statement claims. It adds that “certain military equipment was found during the search.”
The correspondent of the London Times here was told by Palestine officials that the two Hebrew newspapers were suspended by the authorities because they allegedly published uncensored reports concerning the raid on Ramath Hakovesh which the authorities consider “highly tendencious and calculated to mislead and inflame public opinion.”
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