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Palestine Sets 6-month Entry at 10,350: Quota Includes 5,350 Refugees, “illegals”

June 15, 1939
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The Palestine Government announced today a Jewish immigration schedule of 10,350 from April to September. Minus 1,200 certificates granted in April and 1,300 deducted for illegal immigrants arrived before May 25, there remain 7,850 certificates for the remainder of the six-month period.

The schedule, published in the official Palestine Gazette, abandons the former categories of immigrants and introduces a new system based on a distinction between “refugees” and “ordinary immigrants.” This is in line with the British White Paper, which provides for total Jewish immigration of 50,000 for the next five years, plus a “bonus” of 25,000 refugees.

The six-month quota of 10,350 is divided into 5,350 for refugees and 5,000 for ordinary immigrants. The 7,850 remaining after the deductions are divided into 4,205 for refugees and 3,645 for ordinary immigrants. It is understood that certificates will be allocated as follows: capitalists, 1,500; worker, 600; dependents of capitalists and of Palestine residents, 2,950; students and refugee children brought in by the Youth Aliyah organization, 2,200.

The deductions for illegal immigrants include 696 for those arrested while attempting to enter the country, 568 for those “reported to have landed and evaded arrest” and 32 to be carried over to the next quota.

In addition to the Jewish schedule, 600 certificates are provided “for Arabs and others.”

The military authorities proceeded today with preparations for demolition of three Jewish-owned houses in Tiberias in punishment for an explosion Monday which took the life of an Arab and wounded 12 others. The houses were ordered evacuated preparatory to their destruction. Four had been originally slated for demolition, but one was saved when it was proved that the owner is a French citizen.

Lacking an official announcement, Jewish newspapers refrained from mentioning the Tibrias situation, having in mind the emergency press law under which newspapers are forbidden to publish anything but official reports on all matters concerned with violence.

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