Palestine Press Divided on Report of Jewish Agency Commission

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Comments in the Palestine Hebrew press on the report of the Jewish Agency Commission are divided along party lines.

The “Davar.” Labor organ, bitterly attacks the Commission’s report, declaring that it pressents no plans of a “financial system of their own, no plan for investment enterprises, no big colonization project.”

Special attention is given to the citrus plantations, to artificial fertilization, to hotels, matters which Sir Alfred Mond likes particularly, the “Davar” observes. The newspaper then criticises the Commission’s opposition to the communal farms, known as Kvutzoth, of the labor class, condemns the principle of obligatory individual ownership of the land, recommended in the report. This recommendation is an infringement on the work of the Jewish National Fund, the paper says, asserting that “Dr. Weizmann has committed a Zionist crime in endorsing the report which attacks the national-social basis of the Zionist movement.”

The “Doar Ha’yom’ and the “Ha’Aretz” welcome the report. These newspapers stress the importance of the fact that the Jewish Agency Commission has expressed its appreciation of Zionist achievements and idealism. The papers declare that they are not surprised at the Commissioners’ “bourgeois” attitude but commend their non-partisanship.

The “Ha’aretz” declares editorially that it appreciates the Commission’s conclusion that there exists a possibility of establishing 83,000 farms in Palestine. “This makes us optimistic of the country’s capacity. However, our pleasure would have been greater if the report was accompanied by a concrete financial beginning.”

The “Doar Ha’yom” states that it will be sufficient if the Jewish Agency will care for Palestine’s material needs; the spiritual and political needs will be met by the Zionist Organization and the Yishub.