A preliminary estimate of the Jewish damages caused by the Moslem Arab attacks during the last fortnight, made by the Zionist Executive, shows that the damages amount to several million dollars.
One thousand families who were formerly well to do are now homeless and reduced to utter destitution. It was estimated that the amount of one million dollars will be required immediately for their rehabilitation.
Fifteen hundred refugees from the nearby Jewish colonies, Hebron. Gaza and other centers are now in Tel Aviv. The school houses were thrown open to provide them with temporary shelter. A special relief committee is at work distributing food. The Women’s International Zionist Organization and the Hadassah, American Women Zionist Organization, are extending medical and social aid.
It is stated here on good authority that the Palestine government intends to levy the heaviest fines on the Arab villages whose inhabitants participated in the anti-Jewish attacks and lootings, under a collective punishment ordinance promulgated.
Colonel Frederick H. Kish chairman of the Palestine Zionist Executive, received assurances from the British military headquarters that military posts were stationed at all isolated Jewish settlements and that the posts will remain there until it is agreed that they may be safely withdrawn.
On Friday afternoon following the critical hours of the Mosque of Omar prayers, when the police and military had instructions to fire at any person attempting to break through the barri- (Continued on Page 4)
cades, the High Commissioner received Jewish and Arab delegations.
In addition to Colonel Kish, Sir John Chancellor received Rabbi Chaim Sonnenfeld, the aged leader of the Jerusalem ultra-orthodox Jews, to whom he expressed the government’s sympathy over the loss of “pious Jews who were in no way involved in the political quarrel.”
The High Commissioner also received the Grand Mufti who demanded for the Arabs “political and economic equality with that of the Jews” and the return of the status quo at the Wailing Wall.
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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.
