The conviction of Abraham Stavsky for complicity in the murder of Dr. Chaim Arlosoroff “was a deliberate miscarriage of justice” aimed at diverting the attention of the Jews “from the anti-Zionist policy of the Palestine government, standing in flagrant contradiction to the mandate.”
This was charged by the executive body of the World Revisionist Union in a statement today demanding consideration of the reconstruction of “Herzl’s world Zionist organization on a new, clean basis.”
Pointing out that the verdict was unjust and lacked common sense since Stavsky, who was accused of holding the flashlight while Zvi Rosenblatt fired the shots which felled Arlosoroff, was convicted while Rosenblatt was acquitted, the statement accused the court of “attempting to cover the verdict with a veil of judicial impartiality.”
“The verdict is unjust and results from the outside pressure of political considerations, being an attempt to extend civil strife provoked by the trial among the Jews, detracting the attention of the Galuth (the Jews outside Palestine) from the anti-Zionist policy of the Palestine government standing in flagrant contradiction to the Mandate.
“The conscience of world Jewry is profoundly shocked by such a deliberate miscarriage of justice and intends to continue stubbornly its fight for its ultimate repeal.
“Hitherto,” it asserted, “the Jews condemned the Palestine regime since it was harmful to Zionism. But now we are compelled to fight the administration of justice under the British mandate.”
The statement denounces the Palestine police for using stoolpigeons and for “deliberately” failing to investigate the “confessions” of Abdul Mejid, Arab admitting the slaying. It promises that the executive will not spare any efforts in “bringing the situation which is approved by both the Palestine court and government to the notice of world public opinion and also to honest British opinion.”
Discussing other aspects of the case the statement points out that “the verdict also raises a moral issue for international Zionism, since circle which are closely connected with the present Zionist executive which is practically identical with the executive of the Jewish Agency elected at the Eighteenth World Zionist Congress, deliberately staged the trial.”
“LIBEL INFLUENCED DECISION”
The decision would have been quite different but for “the campaign of blood and libel” against the Revisionists, the statement charged.
“The tragic though partial success of an un-Jewish, inhuman intrigue would force the immediate resignation of an executive in an organized nation,” it continued, “but since the Jews are living in dispersion, and have not the concentrated moral pressure for this, it is necessary to consider the reconstruction of Herzl’s world Zionist organization on a new, clean basis.”
The statement continues with greetings to Stavsky, declaring that the Jewish people are convinced of his innocence and will fight “until your honor and freedom are vindicated.”
It concludes with an expression of gratitude to Horace Samuel, chief defense attorney, and attorneys Kaiserman and Benjamin for their work in behalf of the defendants in the case.
PINSKI MODIFIES STATEMENT ON VERDICT
David Pinski, noted Yiddish author and playright who was quoted in Sunday’s Jewish Daily Bulletin as applauding the Stavsky verdict, yesterday offered an explanation of his stand.
“When your reporter,” he said, “telephoned me the news of Stavsky’s verdict and asked me for a statement I did not think of the death sentence which this verdict carries with it. I’m an opponent of capital punishment as a matter of principle and hope that this sentence will be changed on appeal.”
In his previous statement Pinski had said “it was the propaganda and agitation of Revisionists that made the murder possible…. We must accept the decision of the court. It is a fair one. The court had sufficient evidence.” Pinski was the only one of a score of notables questioned on the verdict who expressed approval of it.
REVISIONIST APPEALS AGAINST VIOLENCE HERE
An appeal against acts of provocation was issued here yesterday by the Central Committees of the Zionist Revisionist Organization and the Brith Trumpeldor. The appeal warns against “provocations which may emanate from sources seeking to hamper the efforts of leading Jewish circles to do all in their power to bring about the triumph of justice in this case.
“Leading Jewish circles in this country and the world over are deeply concerned about the terrible tragedy of the Stavsky verdict and the grave possible consequences to the Jewish community in Palestine and the future of Zionism,” it states. “The leading Jewish circle understand that the release and full acquittal of Stavsky and the triumph of justice will come about if the Jewish people are united for this cause. A sense of national responsibility, self-discipline, and dignified utterances and action are the order of the day.
“Unfortunately, irresponsible individuals, who to our sorrow head non-partisan Jewish organizations, have already released provocative statements. Such statements made at the time when Stavsky’s attorney, Horace Samuel, has appealed to a higher court seeking to save the Jewish martyr, Stavsky, from the gallows, may have a detrimental effect on the further developments of the case and perhaps lead to tragic results in Palestine and other countries.
“We deem it our holy duty to warn against such provocations. The smoldering fires of interactional strife must not be fanned. Let the sense of national responsibility and the concern for the life of an innocent man guide our actions and utterances.”
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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.
