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Progress in Trade Held Vital to Palestine’s Future by Cohen

November 12, 1934
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already has considerable force towards buying British goods, due to the feeling that, apart from considerations of sentiment, it is to the interest of Palestine to buy as much as possible from the best customer for her oranges.

PALESTINE’S DESTINY

Whatever lawyers may think about the status of Palestine, her destiny is permanently bound up with the British Empire, and it is of the utmost importance to do everything possible to strengthen the bond and to make it {SPAN}#{/SPAN} reality and an inspiration to the people of the country.

In this connection I can only speak of the Jews; but I have noticed on my successive visits that many more people now speak English and are sending their children to finish their education in England, and that not only the leading men, but more and more of the general public, have a better appreciation of, and more sympathy with, British ideas and methods.

I am very hopeful that this will continue, and that the difficulties on both sides which have prevented a good understanding between the government and the Jews of Palestine will gradually disappear. If I may say so, I do not think that either party has given sufficient credit to the other for its great achievements in Palestine.

The government has been rather like a man riding a horse that is a little too much for him, wondering what he will do next. There has been a lack of confidence and of sureness of touch. The Jews have been too apt, perhaps, to criticize the government, as is natural for people many of whom have come from countries where this is a forbidden luxury.

I do not deny that there has been and still is a good deal to criticize, but my earnest conviction is that Jewish ideals in Palestine will only be realized when the Jews of Palestine, besides being loyal to their own ideals, have also learned to understand and adopt British ideals of justice, fair play and public spirit, and to take a pride in the welfare of the country as a whole and in its connection with the British Empire.

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