Arab-jewish Unity Urged by Mrs. Jacobs Upon Return from Palestine; Opposes Partition

Emphasizing that “all the constructive achievements in Palestine for the past two decades become blurred by the present events there,” Mrs. Edward Jacobs, a founder and builder of Hadassah for three decades and a long-time leader in Zionist affairs, deplored the terrorist methods now being used and termed these methods “completely out of line with the peaceful traditions of modern Zionism.”

Mrs. Jacobs made this statement today following her return from a four-month visit in Palestine. She narrowly escaped being killed at the King David Hotel at the time of the recent bombing there by postponing an interview with a British official, who did lose his life.

An air of tension and expectancy prevailed among the Jews in Palestine when she left the country, she said. Curfews, terror and the heavy hand of military instrumentalities, all put nerves on edge. The resentment against delays in settling the problem and clearing up the immigration disposition of the European Jews add to the strained situation, she declared.

Expressing opposition to the British “federalization” plan for Palestine on the grounds that it would lead to an isolated Jewish area and eventual economic strangulation for the Yishuv, Mrs. Jacobs said: “Partition carries the same vice and is no answer to the Palestine problem if the surrounding Arab states will not cooperate in sharing the economic interests of Palestine. Partition could result in producing an elongated Jewish ghetto in Palestine. The only thing to be said for it is that it might bring some change from the present evil by substituting another one.

“However,” she continued, “if the mandatory power or a United Nations trusteeship could produce an effective program which would lead to Arab-Jewish collaboration, the problem might in time iron itself out. It is impossible for the Jews in Palestine to live in a territory surrounded on all sides by hostility, and it is impossible for a mandatory to continue in the face of hate.”

Mrs. Jacobs visited Palestine in behalf of the ESCO Foundation, established by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cohen of New York, which plans to set up a modern settlement in which colonists will engage in processing and exporting Jordan almonds. The colony, to be called Freedom Village, and planned initially for 100 families, including American veterans of World War II who settled in Palestine, will be located on Jewish National Fund land and will be furnished with American-built prefabricated houses and machinery. Specially-trained experts from this country are to go to Palestine to advise on the setting up of the colony’s industry.