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Jews Glum, Arabs Jubilant over New Schedule

March 17, 1938
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Announcement of the new Jewish immigration schedule of 3,000 certificates for the six months ending October was received glumly by Jews and with undisguised satisfaction by Arabs.

While Jewish leaders were for the most part silent, newspapers gave voice to the general disappointment among Jews. Haaretz questioned the source of the unemployment figures cited by Colonial Secretary William Ormsby-Gore (42,000 Arabs, 12,000 Jews), asserting no study had been made of the Palestine economic situation. Haboker saw in the quota new encouragement to terrorism and a deepening of the economic crisis because of the lack of immigration and the uncertain political situation.

The Palestine Post, declaring the new schedule marked resumption of the absorptivity principle instead of arbitrary limitation, expressed gratification but asserted the Government lacked the will to implement the principle.

Dr. M. Altman, head of the New Zionist Organization, termed the new schedule a “mockery”, especially in the light of the Austrian situation, and charged the Government’s policy was behind Jewish unemployment.

Hassan Sidky Danni, Jerusalem municipal councillor and unofficial Palestine representative of the Emir Abdullah of the Transjordan, said the reduction in Jewish immigration was appreciated by the Arabs.

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