The Grand Mufti’s unofficial organ, Aljamea Al Arabia, in an editorial today declared itself against Arab acceptance of the legislative body proposed for Palestine by Great Britain.
Acceptance of the legislature will constitute a betrayal of the Arab national cause,” said the Aljamea, arguing that the White Paper merely recognizes Arab demands without meeting them. “Arab rights need safeguarding as much as Jewish rights,” says the paper, recalling the oath taken at the fourth Arab congress to secure an Arab parliament for Palestine.
The editor nevertheless hints that all “cultivated Arabs” must carefully consider the proposal for a legislature, and not leave the matter in the hands of the Arab executive.
The editorial confirms the information previously given by the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, and secured from an Arab source, in which it was predicted that the Grand Mufti, while ostensibly rejecting the offer of a legislature, would take care that his followers obtained seats in it, thus reserving for himself the right of opposition, and yet securing influence within the council. This plan of the Grand Mufti’s was regarded here as especially adroit in view of the British government’s expressed determination to nominate the legislators in case elections are boycotted.
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.
