The future of Palestine in view of the new position in the Arab countries created by the fall of Hussein and the victory of Ibn Saud is discussed in the “Mokattam” of Cairo, one of the most important Arab newspapers.
The Alexandria correspondent of the London “Times,” writes the “Mokattam,” was the first to warn the West against the danger with which Palestine is threatened by the victory of the Wahabis. At the very moment that the “Times” was publishing this warning. Dr. Weisl, the Jerusalem correspondent of the “Vossiche Zeiung” of Berlin was reporting to his paper that the Zionists were gratified at King Hussein’s defeat. That is to see one side of the coin only-the end of King Hussein’s opposition to Zionist domination in Palestine. But there is another side to the coin. The Wahabis will advance on Palestine, too. Great Britain as Mandatory over Palestine will defend it against the Wahabis and will make it impossible for them to enter the country. But that does not mean to say that there will be an end to the fighting on the borders of Palestine. And if the Wahibis are driven back from Palestine they will make for Transjordania or for Iraq, and England will not want to go on maintaining strong armed forces on the frontiers of these three countries which have been placed under her guardianship.
Ibn Saud’s military operations are not a sudden movement, continues the paper. He is carrying into application a plan which was drafted long ago in Angora, Damascus and Jerusalem. Ibn Saud seems to have the support of the Turks, Syrians and many Palestinians who are discontented with the present regime in Palestine.
If we watch certain efforts which are being made at establishing friendly relations between Turkey and some of the Western nations we may discover whose hands are controlling Ibn Saud. But Ibn Saud is too clever a man to be caught in the snare of cunning European policy. So long as his alliance with these Western nations will suit his interests he will appear to comply with their wishes, but before long he will rid himself of them and act independently. Ibn Saud realizes bow little important his allied Western nations are as against the strength of Great Britain, which if she puts her mind to it is able to blockade him on all sides. Those nations which are now rejoicing at the success of their policy in Arabia may find their calculations go wrong, for Ibn Saud will make use of them as long as it suits his purpose, but he will not fight against England, his old ally, and the arrangements which he will finally make will probably be in accordance with Britain’s wishes.
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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.
