Life in this city has returned to normal after two days of disturbances which resulted in six Jews being killed, six sericusly wounded and dozens slightly injured. No new incidents took place today and the situation was considered so satisfactory by the military authorities that they lifted the curfew between the hours of 7:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon.
The experiment of lifting the curfew proved a success, it was announced tonight. Peaceful and orderly shopping crowds flocked the streets during the day hastily buying provisions for the Sabbath. Heavy tanks and military patrols were cut, and shots were fired in the air to warn a few stragglers at curfew time, but there was no revival of yesterday’s rioting. Prayer meetings were hastily arranged for those who would be prevented by the curfew from attending Sabbath eve services in synagogues.
Military vehicles went unmolested, shops and schools were open and even some kindergarten schools opened. Smashed shop fronts were the only visible reminders of the riots. Israel Roloach, mayor of Tel Aviv, said “I believe no more trouble will occur.” He described the disorders as “most deplorable”.
The plenary session of the Assefath Hanivcharim, the Jewish National Assembly, which was convoked for Monday in connection with the new developments, was postponed today “until further notice.” At the same time, an official communique issued by the authorities said: “There is nothing to report.”
The funeral of the six dead took place at dusk without incident. Even the closest members of their families were not allowed to attend. The dead are: Elihau Leon, 15; Yohoshua Friedman, 18; Isaac Zadok, 19; Arie Basdomski, 21; Mcishe Shukin, 59 and Itzhak Arussi, 30.
JEWISH LEADERS APPEAL TO POPULATION TO MAINTAIN ORDER
The Jewish underground radio, “The voice of Israel”, which is believed to be operated by the Haganah, the Jewish self-defense group, appealed today to residents of Tel Aviv to refrain from “wild childish outbreaks.” It emphasized that such activities only harm the cause of the Jews.
“This is not the way of Jewish resistance and Jewish war,” the broadcast said. At the same time, the announcer addressed this warning to the authorities: Don’t think that these street cutbreaks are our war. When we go into action, no military measures will be able to suppress us.”
At the same time, Isaac Ben-Zvi, president of the Jewish National Council, urged self-discipline and non-violence. He emphasized that the outbreaks were caused by “responsible youngsters” who disregarded the sentiments of the Tel-Aviv municipal council, and deplored the casualties. Mayor Rokach, in a renewed appeal to the Tel Aviv population, insisted that law and order must be maintained.
The entire Hebrew press today unanimously condemned the outbreaks in Tel Aviv turning them “irresponsible”, while emphasizing on the othr hand that the strangle of the Jewish community in Palestine is “lofty and clean.”
The newspaper Haaretz says: “Our strength is not great and we shouldn’t waste it. Jews in Palestine need not only inner discipline, but a central institution which will embrace the entire community and lead it in the struggle for its existence”. The editerial concludes with the demand that Dr. Weizmann, president of the Jewish Agency, as well as other members of the Agency, return to Palestine.
Davar, leading Labor paper, declares: “We are not at war with the British people or with their sons, and we still believe in the covenant we made 28 years ago. But there will not be any retreat or any weakening of our fight. Our weapon is the knowledge of our rights”. The editorial further demands a thorough investigation of the indiscriminate shooting and of the use of firearms by British troops and states that many of those injured during the outbreaks were wounded in the back, and that children standing on balconies were also wounded.
The “Palestine Post”editorially deplored attacks on British property in Tel Aviv. “But whatever the circumstances,” the paper added, “it would be wicked to identify this shoddy episode with the expression of Jewish resistance to a policy which degrives the Jewish people of the right to enter the country assigned to them as their national home.”
Many Arabs yesterday visited Tel Aviv during the disorders, and Arab cabdrivers were repeatedly seen picking up the wounded and hurrying with them to the hospital here operated by Hadassah. Cab drivers were heard asking their fares to get out and walk so that the injured might be sped to first-aid posts.
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