Thousands of Jews the country over today joined in parades and public demonstrations to mark “azareth hayishub” — Jewish defense day — while Jewish business halted in deference to the national rally for maintenance of the Jewish homeland against arab violence. the Jewish city of tel Aviv suspended all activities as though it were a holiday. shops were closed. only banks remained open, to receive the donations of cash jewelry and even wedding rings which were pouring in to finance defense activities.
Praise for the United States figured prominently in speeches at the public meetings which were held in cities, and in outlying colonies, in synagogues, in theaters and in the fields. The American Government was lauded for its sympathetic attitude to the Jewish national aspirations. meetings also heard a joint appeal of the Jewish national council. the Security Committee and the Kofer Hayishub (Zionist defense fund) which asked donations for defense and urged the british government to drop a policy which was characterized as encouraging terrorism. the appeal rejected any solution of the Palestine question which would hamper the Jewish homeland. it proclaimed solidarity with the Jews suffering in Europe.
Jewish youth organizations held an enthusiastic parade in Jerusalem. scattered heckling at various meetings by adherents of the new Zionist organization was reported. the non Zionist Agudath Israel, which has not yet reached an agreement with the Kofer Hayishub, refrained from participating in the rallies.
British troops tonight began searches in Haifa, arresting a number of Arab suspects, while the reoccupation of Jaffa continued with terrorists offering little opposition. two thousand troops cordoned curfew-bound Jaffa into five sections, posting light artillery, while two armed launches guarded the harbor throughout the day. searches netted five arab terrorist suspects, one of whom had four crude bombs made of jam tins. seventy; Arabs were arrested after nightfall last night for curfew violation.
Meanwhile, attacks continued in other parts of the country. Troops encountered a band near Lajjun. Royal Air Force planes which were called killed two of the band, including its mounted chief. a quarantine station at Bweizia on the northern frontier was destroyed by incendiary fire.
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.
