CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORIST ARABS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 9

CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORIST ARABS.

HOLY LAND UNREST. Many Leaders Are to be Deported. CENSORSHIP IMPOSED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 ajn.) JERUSALEM, October 1. Intensification of the terrorist campaign lias necessitated "action against those whose activities are prejudicial to public security and who are morally responsible for the Galilee outrage of five days ago," when Arabs fatally shot Mr. L. Y. Andrews, Australian-born District Commissioner of Galilee, and Mr. P. R. McEwan, a polieeman who had intended leaving shortly to get married in New Zealand.

The Arab Higher Committee and all constituent bodies have been declared illegal, and it is believed that the authorities have decided to round up its members. The Grand Mufti, Haj Amin el Husseini, president of the committee, and described as '"the most influential Arab in Palestine," has been, deprived of his office. He has taken refuge in the Mosque of Omar.

Telephonic communication with Palestine is suspended, says a Caori message, and considerable police and military activity is expected. A number of leading Arabs •will be deported from Palestine. H.M. cruiser Sussex is standing by at Haifa to take off the deportees. All land frontiers are strictly guarded. Ultimatum Rejected. Many arrests followed rejection of a demand, amounting to an ultimatum, from the Arabs that 200 people arrested in connection with the Galilee murdera should be released. A censorship has been imposed forbidding news of or comment on the arrests, except in official announcements. When the arrests are complete, the [ Sussex will transport the deportees to the Seychelles Islands. Those to be deported include Yaqubg Hussein, president of the Arab Youth. Association; Dr. Hussein Khaladi, Mayor of Jerusalem; and Effendi Saba, secretary of the Arab Higher Committee. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Haji Ibraliam, manager of an Arab bank, and the Sheikh Seoud, one j of the Mufti's advisers. j Many important documents were found in the bank. An Arab, refusing to halt after being challenged by a British sentry, was shot dead. The departure of the Royal Sussex Regiment from Palestine to Egypt has been cancelled.

Forty-four years oM. m* * direct d«scedant from Hussein, eon oE the Kialif Ali and Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem* leads the anti-Zionist movement in Palestine. Shrewd, able, and completely singleminded in his condemnation of Jewish nationalism, Haj Amin is held by his followers to be among the great Hcelem leaders of modern times. Haj Amin'e forbears settled at Ramallah, in Palestine, on migrating from Yemen some 400 years ago. The family subsequently moved to Jerusalem, where it rose to importance, gaining a place in the administration of the country, thanks to an ability to adjust itself to the prevailing conditions of the Turkish regime. Amin el Husseini was educated in a Moslem school, and later in a Government school. At the age of 10 he entered a college in Cairo. On the death of his father, Sheikh Talier. Mufti of Jerusalem, who was succeeded by his elder son, Rashik Chamel, the latter helped to maintain Amin out of his own poor salary of £5 a month, which was the salary attaching to that office under the Turkish regime. The British Government to-day pays Haj Amin el Husseini more than £75 a month for the 6anie job. After leading a life of privation in Cairo, Amin lei't_ Egypt in 1913, visiting the holy cities of IsLim before returning to Jerusalem, winning for himself the title of Haj. given to Mecca pilgrims. On the outbreak of the war in 1914 Haj Amin entered a military training college in Constantinople. joining, on his graduation, the 1 urkish forces. He returned to Jerusalem following the British occupation. H/? held a series of Government posts. After a clash with the Government he was soon pai tinned by the then High Commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuel (now Viscount). In 1021 the Grand Mufti died, and there was a scramble for the position am one Arab families. Haj Amin was unsuccessful in a siilwequent election, returning fourth. The Government, however, appointed him to | the post.