Says Situation in Palestine is Far from Satisfactory

The present situation in Palestine, though better than it was a few months ago, is still far from satisfactory, in the opinion of Leonard Stein, who writes on “Palestine—The Next Phase,” in the March 14 issue of the “New Palestine.” Mr. Stein, who was a member of counsel for the Jewish Agency before the Commission of Inquiry in Palestine, states at the beginning of his article that he no longer holds any official position in the Political Department of the Jewish Agency, and that in anything he may have to say on the political situation, he speaks only for himself.

Among other things, Mr. Stein, who left Palestine three months ago, says: “Though the government appears to be re-establishing its authority in the more settled parts of Palestine, there is, or has recently been, some unrest in the North, and the Palestine press reports a number of cases of brigandage. In dealing with the events of August, the machinery of justice is still moving slowly and clumsily, with the result that it is now tolerably clear that the bulk of the Arab offenders will escape unpunished and will go on their way rejoicing. A recent report by the Palestine Zionist Executive states that in the August outbreak, 31 Jews were killed and 53 wounded in Jerusalem and Motza, that in connection with these casualties only 37

Arabs have been charged with murder or attempted murder, that of these, only 30 have been sent for trial, and that 16 of the 30 have been acquitted. What this means is that, so far as the Jerusalem disturbances are concerned, the machinery of justice has almost completely broken down. Another unsatisfactory feature of the situation is the continued intransigeance of the Arab press.

“Taking it all in all, it would probably be true to say that, while the government has the situation better in hand than was the case two months ago, the tension between the two races has not materially relaxed. There is certainly as yet no visible sign of a rapprochement. All that can be said is that there is less reason to apprehend a further outbreak of violence, and that with every peaceful week the danger becomes more remote.”

Arabs have been charged with murder or attempted murder, that of these, only 30 have been sent for trial, and that 16 of the 30 have been acquitted. What this means is that, so far as the Jerusalem disturbances are concerned, the machinery of justice has almost completely broken down. Another unsatisfactory feature of the situation is the continued intransigeance of the Arab press.

“Taking it all in all, it would probably be true to say that, while the government has the situation better in hand than was the case two months ago, the tension between the two races has not materially relaxed. There is certainly as yet no visible sign of a rapprochement. All that can be said is that there is less reason to apprehend a further outbreak of violence, and that with every peaceful week the danger becomes more remote.”