The Palestine Jewish Community, although fully supporting punishment of those responsible for the recent terrorist outbreaks, today voiced opposition to the deportation of 251 alleged terrorists to an unknown place of detention. The Palestine Government announced the deportations on Friday.
The Laborite daily, Davar, which is the largest and most influential newspaper in Palestine, carries an editorial objecting to the deportations. “Our stand on the terrorism is well known,” it says. “We welcomed the firm measures to apprehend the terrorists. But we have never approved two punishments, death and deportation.”
“Our opposition to both emanates from the one source,” Davar continues, “which is deeper than any momentary consideration; recognition of the sanctity of life and secondly the unshakable right of any Jew to live in his country, even behind prison bars. Is the Palestine Government unable to secure safe detention in this country?” the editorial asks in conclusion.
The newspaper Hamashkif says that “such measures as deportations should not enter into the framework of combat against terrorism – we protest against them and we hope that the entire Yishuv will join our protests.”
It is reported that leaders of several right-wing parties have consulted with Chief Rabbi Herzog as to action to be taken regarding the deportations. Meanwhile, the central committee of the New Zionist Organization submitted a memorandum to the government protesting against the ousters.
According to Hamashkif, the terrorists were deported by air. They were brought to an undisclosed airfield from the detention camps at Latrun and Acre.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
