Jews Keeping Ancient Promises in Palestine, Judge Rosenblatt Tells Civic Group Meeting

“For some reason that cannot be scientifically explained, Palestine and the Jew form an irresistible combination that invariably produces something of great value to the world. We made a promise long ago to the God of Israel that we would not forget Jerusalem. Today we are rebuilding Palestine to keep that promise; and we shall never consent to any policy that might deprive us of our right to continue building up a national Homeland.”

This was the keynote of an address delivered today by Judge Bernard Rosenblatt, before a combined meeting of Rochester civic organizations under the auspices of the Rochester branch of the Foreign Policy Association. Judge Rosenblatt is a former vice-president of the Zionist Organization of America.

He declared, in the course of his speech, that three Jewish regiments had been in the van of Lord Allenby’s army, and that many of them had died fighting for Palestine. He said further that if the Arabs have occupied Palestine for 1,300 years, the Jews had lived there still longer prior to their dispersion, and that during their stay in Palestine they made contributions of inestimable value to the world, namely, the Bible and Christianity.

The case for the Arab side was presented by Ameen Rihani, Syrian writer and poet. He referred to the promise of the British in 1916 to the effect that Arab nationalist aspirations were going to be satisfied as a reward for Arab aid in the war. He expressed the opinion that the Jews and Arabs could live peacefully together if the Baliour Declaration were withdrawn. He remarked that continued immigration of Jews into Palestine would drive the Arabs into the desert, and took a stand for Palestine as a cultural center only for the Jews, in accordance, he said with the suggestion of Dr. Magnes.