Palestinian “prosperity” Passes by Jewish Farmer

In this, the second of two articles, Mr. Meltzer discusses some of the major problems that confront the British authorities in Palestine in the “New Deal” they are giving the Arab farm population, and urges recognition of the Mandatory Power’s obligations towards the Jews.

Much has been said of the impatience with which the Jews, returning to Palestine after 2,000 years of dispersion, are clamoring for the immediate restoration of economic privileges to which they are not entitled because of extended territorial absence. But a scrutiny of the post-war history of Jewish effort here will show that their’s has been a superhuman forbearance.

Not all the Jews now living in Palestine are enjoying that fabled “prosperity” which is now the main theme of people writing about the country. Money is flowing in, it is true, and large investments are being made; the money is released into productive channels, and is helping to support larger numbers of people who are steadily coming in; markets are being expanded, particularly for the citrus industry, and the resultant trade enriches certain favored circles.

Yet the Jewish peasant—the settler with his own holding and the laborer hiring his manual services to the big farmers—and the new and potential immigrants need a “New Deal”, too. Hope-Simpson and French, in their reports, laid stress upon the poverty of the Arab villagers. They seemed inclined to ridicule the idea that there were any Jewish rural paupers.

BURDEN OF TAXATION

The panaceas by both British investigators have been exposed for the myths they are. Partially alleviating measures, such as tithe remissions and commutations, seed loans, credits, have resulted from recommendations by the commissions; and it really amounts to the situation where urban taxpayers are carrying the burden of State revenues, through default of certain classes of rural taxpayers (mostly Arab) to produce sufficient for the State, and at the same time providing the Government with a surplus. Few have denied, or can deny, that the largest contributions to urban taxation are being made by the Jewish population. Why, then, should not their kinsfolk similarly benefit from the New Deal that overflowing coffers are making possible?

Two new Government departments—that of Development and the Registry of Co-operative Societies—have been formed and are operating, so far as they have been allowed to proceed, almost entirely in the interests of the Arab rustics. They are finding it hard going, because in addition to overcoming natural obstacles and neglect, they must combat the apathy of the proteges whose welfare they have benevolently undertaken to cherish. In spite of intensive propaganda, few of the Arabs want co-operative societies. To them, it seems absurd to be asked to share their energy and initiative with a less conscientious neighbor. There have been few visible signs of progress with the idea, which must do a great deal of further permeation if it is to be successful.

A PRAISEWORTHY EFFORT

One of the very few bodies in the country that is doing good and useful work—they can be counted on the fingers of two hands—for the general joint interests of all sections, is the General Agricultural Council. The Council comprises men of experience in different branches allied with agricultural production and economics, research and science. Jews, Moslems, Christians, Englishmen, are among them. The chairman is the Director of Agriculture, an Englishman; the secretary a Department of Agriculture official, an English Jew. They have overcome prejudice and Arab boycott tactics. But the Council lacks extensive authority, and {SPAN}ac###{/SPAN} only in an advisory capacity to the Government. Its findings may {SPAN}hav###{/SPAN} the weight of compatability, but {SPAN}n###{/SPAN} the authority to put them over.

But nothing that the three bodie### mentioned have done has direct### benefited Jewish enterprise; while on the other hand, many of the### undertakings have decidedly r### dounded to Arab advantage.

An acute shortage of labor exist### in Palestine at the moment; hug### works are planned for which mo### hands, and they are Jewish wo### and Jewish hands are needed, a### required. These paramount desided rata are ignored by the authorities who have come to regard Jewish plaints and pressure as automat### and stereotyped, a sort of concessi### by Jewish leaders to public opinion The trouble has been, perhaps, ### mixing up politics with the stern### realities of economic needs.

SUGGESTED SOLUTION

There is a way out, and a mean of gaining a greater influence {SPAN}ov###{/SPAN} decisions. That would be by {SPAN}cons###tuting{/SPAN} a kind of Supreme Jewish Economic Council, consisting {SPAN}###{/SPAN} Jews eminent in the banking {SPAN}an###{/SPAN} economic walks of life in Palestine Such a grave issue as the economic development of Jewish Palestine ought not to be entrusted to an individual department or bureau of {SPAN}n###{/SPAN} matter how authoritative a body nor be split up among different organizations. Each of the {SPAN}l###{/SPAN} might be asked to nominate {SPAN}###{/SPAN} representative on the Supreme Economic Council of the Yishub.