Palestine Arabs Abroad Seek Naturalization

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Of 3,600 Palestine Arabs living abroad who have applied for Palestine citizenship, 317 have been naturalized by the Palestine Goverment and another 900 applications are under favorable consideration, according to official figures published here.

The Arab press is dissatisfied with the Government’s action and objects to the explanation of the officials that the applications of those who have been away from Palestine for more than five years cannot he considered.

The Arab press reports that a number of Palestine Arabs in Honduras have sent a petition to the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations and to Lord Plumer, the High Commissioner, protesting against the refusal of the Government to naturalize them.

In this connection the “Sowt Ashaad” writes: “We never heard about any regulations in the world whereby an emigrant is forced to return to his fatherland and stay there for a period equalling that required for a foreigner in order to secure his natural nationality, when he has real estate properties in his country of origin for which he pays heavy taxes to the Government.

“As this measure is not consistent with right and logic, nor with the principles applied by other nations, the people of Bethlem. Betjala and Betsahur have deemed it necessary to establish a Committee for the defence of the rights of Palestinians abroad who are refused Palestinian nationality and to contemplate the organization of a Conference in Palestine devoted to this matter.”

A group of Jewish physicians, specializing in urology and dematology, have organized a campaign committee to raise $100,000 for a urological department for the medical school of the Hebrew University. Dr. David Kali-ki called the meeting to organize the campaign.