Young Jewish Pacifists in Germany Protest Against Arab Death Sentences

A protest by an organization in Germany calling itself “Circle of Young Jewish Pacifists” is published in the Berlin “Juedisch-Liberale Zeitung” of December 18th. The protest reads in part:

“The farce has begun. The courts are going on with their work. Punishments are being meted out, collective punishments which remind one of veritable war methods and of the iron rule which civilization feels called upon to exercise in colonial and semicolonial countries. And death sentences are now being meted out which are being ‘confirmed’ in the courts.

“One knows these actions of justice. The few murderers who were incited to their deeds will be sternly dealt with by the law—as everywhere—but the real guilty ones will go unpunished and will vanish behind a historical curtain.

“What is Jewish public opinion doing about it? True there are only a few unimportant Arab proletarians, plebeians—yes, there is also a Jew among them. But the Jewish press is satisfied to record these death sentences, just as one gives a notice about the stock exchange rates or about a meeting of a society, and Jewish organizations, who consider the principle of humanitarianism and justice usually as an important one, are wrapped in silence—now, just when they should speak the loudest.

“No Jewish voice is aroused. The ‘Circle of Young Jewish Pacifists’ was the only Jewish organization to protests against the unheard-of methods of the Palestine courts. Unfortunately we haven’t succeeded until now in getting at least the entire Jewish youth behind our protest. But the Jewish youth must take this step! Let us with all our might demand justice in the Holy Land! The principle of Judaism demands that we say: ‘We want no justice based on revenge and retaliation.’

“Jews and Arabs will in the future have to live in peace in Palestine. Such methods cannot lead to peace.”