The Hebrew press for the first time today openly confirms that an agreement has been signed by Emir Abdullah of Transjordania with a Jewish company for the lease of an area of his personal domain. It says that the area is approximately 70,000 dunams and that the lease is for a period of ninety-nine years.
The Jewish Agency Executive, in its first statement since the lease of Transjordan land to Jews was reported by the Arab press, countered the reports in the Hebrew press. The Jewish Agency Executive informed the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the confirmation published in the Hebrew press is incorrect.
“El Islamia,” commenting on the alleged agreement, calls it a “Second Balfour Declaration.” day resolved to support Emir Abdullah in his resolve to lease Transjordanian land to Jews.
The action of the Transjordan Sheiks is in direct contrast to the press campaign which Arab papers in Palestine are conducting against the consummation of the agreement which Emir Abdullah is said to have reached with a Jewish company to lease 50,000 dunams of his personal domain for a period of ninety-nine years.
The disclosure of Emir Abdullah’s action has opened the way for Jews to extend their colonization to Transjordania. The sale of land to Jews is forbidden by law. Emir Abdullah’s lease to the Jewish company is with reference to land which is his personal property and therefore did not require the sanction of Transjordanian law.
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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.
