An extraordinary session of the Assefath Hanivcharin, the parliament of Palestine Jewry, today urged the United Nations to establish a temporary Jewish government in the Jewish area of Palestine, immediately after the Assembly approves the setting up of a Jewish state.
The appeal was contained in a series of resolutions adopted by the body, which included an appeal to the Arabs in Palestine and neighboring countries to accept “the outstretched hands of the Jews in brotherly and peaceful cooperation” based on the recognition of equal rights for both peoples, and authorized all Jewish national bodies to “impose a regime of discipline and voluntary national mobilization to maintain peace and order and secure the establishment of a Jewish state.”
The resolutions were adopted after a keynote address by David Ben Gurion, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, who later conferred with High Commissioner Sir Alan G. Cunningham. The High Commissioner also met with Dr. Hussein Khalidi, secretary of the Palestine Arab Higher Executive. The subject of Sir Alan’s talks with the Jewish and Arab leaders was not disclosed.
The Agency chairman said that the British statement of policy at the United Nations had created a political and psychological vacuum in Palestine which the Jews must fill, or it will be filled by others. He declared that the Yishuv and “the Jewish nation” had before it three primary tasks: guaranteeing the security of the Jewish community in Palestine, establishment of a Jewish state and Jewish-Arab cooperation.
Ben Gurion said that he was convinced that the Yishuv is able to withstand not only assaults from within, but also from without, but on condition that there be total mobilization of all physical, industrial and scientific resources.
He added that the time has come “to take leave” of England. “It may not be a physical leavetaking yet, but political and psychological, and we part honorably,” he continued. “We do not ask any more help from Britain, we only demand that Britain does not hamper our efforts and does not place obstacles in our way.” Ben Gurion said that there is some doubt whether we have grown up to the task of filling the vacuum that will be left by England’s evacuation–but new conditions require this of us.”
In a broadcast last night, the Irgun Zvai Leumi urged immediate establishment of a “temporary Jewish government,” whose primary task would be the repatriation of Jews to Palestine. The Irgun said that it would not mind having Ben Gurion head the “government,” but since he favors partition, somebody else must be named. The broadcast added that the Irgun was even ready to cooperate with the Jewish Agency if it would stand by the demand for an undivided Palestine.
HAGANAH MOBILIZED IN PREPARATION FOR ARAB GENERAL STRIKE
Haganah members throughout Palestine were tonight alerted in connection with tomorrow’s Arab general strike in protest against any action by the United Nations to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. However, the strike is expected to pass without incident.
Jerusalem had a ten-minute alert at noon today when a bomb blasted an Arab shop. The shop was closed because it was the lunch hour and no one was injured. It is believed that the owner of the shop is a political opponent of the Husseini faction.
A military vehicle was landmined near Hadera tonight and an officer and ten enlisted men were injured slightly. One of the attackers was captured, but his identity is not yet known.
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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.
