Palestine Jews Bring Relief to Suffering Arabs and Samaritans

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Racial, religious and political differences, which usually divide the population of Palestine, were for the present forgotten as the extent of the loss to life and property is being ascertained on the basis of authoritative figures. The common spirit of humanity in the face of disaster is inspiring speedy measures of relief in which Jew and Arab, Moslem and Christian, are joining hands.

According to the latest estimate, the number killed in Palestinian and Transjordanian cities and villages amounts to 670 and the number injured, 3,000. The damage to property was estimated today to be $2,000,000.

A terrible picture of destruction is to be seen at Nablus, the Biblical city of Shechem, the seat of the ancient Samaritan sect and of a large Arab population. With the exception of two streets, the entire city lies in ruins.

The surviving Arabs of Nablus gathered at the market place yesterday and expressed their gratitude to the Jewish relief workers who brought medical aid from Jerusalem and several thousand tents to provide shelter.

A particular impression was made by the fact that Tel Aviv, the modern Jewish city of Palestine, sent several truckloads of bread to Nablus, the city which had been considered the center of hostile anti-Zionist propaganda.

All the suffers of the ancient Samaritan sect, numbering less than 100 families, remained homeless. One Samaritan was killed, and two were injured. All their houses have collapsed and their synagogue at Shechem shows dangerous cracks. A delegation of the Samaritans approached the leaders of the Jewish population for aid.

Reports being received here hourly from various sections of the country add to the number of casualties and the amount of damage to property. The Arab cemeteries are full mourners.

Rescue parties are at work extricating the bodies of victims from among the ruins in Nablus and the neighboring villages. Many of the injured are dying. Rescue work is also being carried on in Ramleh.

The fact that no casualties have been reported among the Jewish population is considered by the Orthodox Jews as a miracle and Jerusalem rabbis have issued a proclamation to assemble in the synagogues to offer prayers that the disaster will not recur and thanksgiving for their deliverance. The losses suffered by the Jewish population are mainly damages to property.

A delegation representing the Jewish population of Palestine will proceed to Basle to appear before the forthcoming Zionist Congress which will open there on August 30. The delegation will ask new funds to repair the damages wrought by the earthquake.

Experts have examined the historic buildings and have ascertained that the important edifices in Jerusalem and the provinces need repairs, especially the minaret of the Haram-es-Sherif and the Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives, which have been badly damaged, the upper part of the minaret having been broken off.

Nuns from the convents are housed in schools and in tents. The Jerusalem office of the Anglo-Palestine Company was damaged and the company’s offices had to be transferred to Barclay’s bank.

Talpioth, the new Jewish suburb of Jerusalem, suffered greatly. Many houses were cracked. The same condition prevails in the Beth Israel quarter, where the Bagdad Synagogue collapsed.

Although the earthquake in Jaffa and Tel Aviv was generally of a slight nature, old houses in Jaffa were cracked.

A message of sympathy for the sufferers in the Palestine earthquake was received here from Col. Leopold H. Amery, British Colonial Secretary.

Hadassah the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, which conducts medical and public health institutions in Palestine, yesterday cabled its monthly commitment of $40,675 to the Hadassah Medical Organization in Palestine. Part of the money will be used for the treatment of persons injured in the earthquake, a statement from the headquarters of the Hadassah said.

Although the Rothschild Hospital in Jerusalem is badly damaged, according to word received here a large part of the hospital is being used, and Hadassah doctors and nurses are giving aid to those injured in rural districts, Safed, which suffered slightly from the shocks, has a Hadassah hospital, and the two others are in Haifa and Tel Aviv, the Hadassah statement declared.

The Hadassah Medical Organization has a staff of 550 persons. Dr. E. M. Bluestone, former assistant director of Mr. Sinai Hospital, is director of the organization.

ZIONISTS TO LAUNCH APPEAL FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

A campaign for a fund to aid the victims of the Palestine earthquake, as well as to provide for the repair of houses and public buildings in Palestinian cities will be launched by the Zionist Organization of America, it was learned yesterday.

The “Jewish Daily Bulletin” understands that the step was considered at a meeting of the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization. An official statement on this decision and an appeal to the Jewish and general public is expected to be issued today. It is understood that the fund is to be used not only for Jews but for all sections of the Palestine population.