Within several hours after the appearance of the Arab paper “Jamie El Arabie” containing the story of an alleged Jewish conspiracy against the Mufti’s life, and within two hours after Harry Sacher, chairman of the Palestine Zionist Executive, had interviewed High Commissioner Chancellor, the government authorities suppressed the paper.
Such prompt action taken against the paper closest to the Mufti is unprecedented here and is probably due to a decision to watch the press more closely for incitement. That was one of the recommendations made by Harry Sacher at the Commission’s hearings. It is expected that the new press law will empower the district commissioners to suppress without notice, newspapers considered dangerous.
The English edition of the Arab paper, “Felestin,” today refers to the “plot” against the Mufti by saying that it hopes “the government will spare no effort to trace the backers of detestable and dangerous conspiracies,” arguing that the same action should be taken as was taken in connection with the attempt to assassinate Attorney-General Norman Bentwich. The “Felestin” declares that political assassination is a new danger to Palestine, and hints that the Jews introduced it, despite the known identity of Bentwich’s assailant and the recent murder of an Arab opposed to the Mufti.
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.
