Rundschau Criticizes Jewish Agency for Vagueness on Parity

The Juedische Rundschau, organ of the German Zionist Federation, in an editorial in its current issue criticized the Jewish Agency for Palestine for being vague on the question of parity between Jews and Arabs.

Referring to the Palcor Agency’s denial of a story issued Nov. 24 by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which reported the principle of political parity adopted by the Zionist General Council’s political subcommittee, the editorial declared the denial failed to clarify the situation.

The Rundschau also described as unclear the committee’s decision not to take the initiative in the parity question, instead instructing Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the Jewish Agency, if asked by the Royal Commission to reply that the Jews would agree to the parity principle if the Arabs so desire. (According to the Palcor Agency’s denial, issued on Dec. 15 and quoting an unnamed “spokesman” as its “authoritative source,” the political formula adopted by the committee was” based on the declaration made by the late Nahum Sokolow at the Seventeenth Zionist Congress of which non-domination either by Jews or Arabs was the cardinal principle.”)

“Such a formula,” the Rundschau writes, “seems to us very unsatisfactory since it is clear that the Arabs do not desire parity, but demand independence and an Arab national government, A parity program must presently be addressed not to the Arabs, therefore it cannot be on the initiative of the Arabs. The basis of parity must be to show British public opinion that the Jews offer a program which can solve a situation which the British consider unsolvable. This program can convince public opinion that a policy based on the Balfour Declaration and the Palestine Mandate is not impossible of being carried out. Unfortunately, Palcor’s denial leaves as unclear as hitherto what is actually the policy for which the Small Actions Committee stands.”