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Says Transjordanian Emir Invited Jews to Come There if Palestine Agreement Failed

May 9, 1930
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If the Jews cannot reach an agreement with the Palestine Arabs, an understanding is possible with the Arabs of Transjordania, Iraq and Arabia, who are poorer and need the asistance of the Jews, the Emir Abdullah is reported to have said in 1926 to a Bulgarian physician by the name of Dr. Mezan, according to the Hebrew daily “Doar Hayom,” which publishes the Emir’s statement.

According to the “Doar Hayom” the Emir said: “Let the Jews come to Transjordania. I myself guarantee their security. Let us all work for the benefit of the country.” Ahmed Pasha, who was present at the interview, is said later to have told Dr. Mezan that the ban on foreigners buying land in Transjordania would be lifted and that the Jews should settle there at once.

He also is said to have told Dr. Mezan that the Jews could buy 50,000 dunams of land as a beginning, establish a paper in Amman in order to make friends and to take a concession from the Emir to build houses for the officials. The “Doar Hayom” says that the Emir was sure that Dr. Mezan was an envoy of the Zionist Organization but Dr. Mezan denied it. Later Ahmed Pasha is reported to have unsuccessfully approached the Zionist executive with a similar project.

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