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Churchill Says Future of Zionism Menaced by Terrorists; Urges Jews to Crush Outlaws

November 19, 1944
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The future of Zionism is menaced by the activities of Jewish terrorists. Prime Minister Churchill said today in Commons, in a warning to the Jews of Palestine to crush the Stern Gang.

“If there is to be any hope for a peaceful and successful future for Zionism, these wicked activities must cease, the Prime Minister declared. He stated that chief responsibility for curbing the terrorists rests with the Palestine police, but emphasized that full success depends on the whole hearted cooperation of the entire Jewish community. “This, His Majesty’s Government is entitled to demand and receive,” he added.

Quoting a letter sent to him by Dr. Chaim Weizmann and the statement issued by the Jewish Agency for Palestine in Jerusalem, Churchill said “these are strong words, but we must wait for those words to be translated into deeds. Every man, woman and child of the Jewish community must do his or her best to bring this terrorism to an end.”

Describing the assassination of Lord Moyne, British Resident Minister of State in the Middle East, by two Palestine Jews as “a shameful crime which has shocked the world,” Mr. Churchill said that “it has affected none more strongly than those like myself who in the past have been the consistent friends of the Jews and constant architect of their future.”

SAYS HE WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER STAND ON ZIONISM IF TERROR CONTINUES

“If our dreams for Zionism are to end in the smoke of the assassin’s pistol and our labors for its future produce only a new set of gangsters worthy of Nazi Germany,” he continued, “many like myself will have to reconsider the position we have maintained so consistently and so long in the past.”

Referring to the 251 terrorist suspects who were deported from Palestine to a camp in British Eritrea last month, the Prime Minister said that their presence in Palestine would have resulted in increased insecurity in view of the possibility that a large-scale attempt to rescue them might have been made.

Following the Prime Minister’s statement, Daniel Lipson, Labor, told Commons that every Jew worthy of the name will wholeheartedly support his stand and will pray that efforts to eradicate “this murderous gang” are speedily, and completely, successful.

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