Public Prosecutor Urges Collective Punishment for Arab Villages

“There is no doubt that these villagers murderously attacked the Jewish colony Beer Tuvia after decades of friendly and peaceful relations with their Jewish neighbors, having broken bread with them, drunk from the same well and living off of the Jewish colony,” declared Major Nathan, British Agricultural Inspector in Palestine, who is acting as public prosecutor, in summing up the case against fifteen Arab villages before District Commissioner of Lands Abramson, sitting to consider collective punishments for villages guity of the attacks.

“These villagers, with firearms, raided the quiet Jewish colony established through indescribable labor by persons bringing culture and civilization to the wild desert and converting it into a civilized community. This colony was burned during the night and the next day was followed by open (Continued on Page 4)

“I repeat against the villagers of Beitdaras the words of Disraeli: ‘They who ate our bread have risen against us.’ I ask the court to find these fifteen villages guilty and subject them to the heaviest punishment,” the public prosecutor declared.

The headsmen did not reply, asking postponement of the investigation until Monday,which was granted.

Regarding another village, Zeunis, the judge found the charge against it unproven and released the headsmen.

Two Jewish policemen in Jerusalem are under arrest following refusal to patrol sections exclusively inhabited by Arabs because they were not allowed firearms. The refusal followed the policemen’s written request a few days before for rifles which was refused. They were ordered on duty armed only with batons.

It was stated that Arab policemen are not being sent on duty in the Jewish quarters, where they are not exposed to danger.