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Jewish Agency Seeks Unity with Lebanon to Counteract Arab Schemes

October 31, 1943
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A representative of the Jewish Agency for Palestine is now visiting Beirut for the purpose of sounding out the new Lebanese President, Sheikh Bishara Koury, on the possibilities of cooperation between a Jewish Palestine and an independent Christian Lebanon from which both can benefit by helping each other to withstand the effects of Arab intrigues, it was learned here today.

Though it is known that President Khoury supports the idea of the establishment of a pan-Arab federation and that the Lebanese premier Ryiad South is definitely anti-Zionist, it is nevertheless pointed out here that the interests of a Christian Lebanon as an independent state will coincide with those of a Jewish Palestine since both countries will form “minority islands” if and when the Arab countries reach a broad political understanding among themselves as a result of the negotiations which are now being conducted in Cairo by representatives of Arab countries.

It was also emphasized here today that cooperation between a Jewish Palestine and a Christian Lebanon would be profitable for both countries since Lebanon has natural resources which Palestine lacks, especially an abundance of water which might be utilized for greater agricultural development of Palestine through the building of dams and reservoirs.

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