STREET CLASH IN JERUSALEM

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 5

STREET CLASH IN JERUSALEM

British troops and Arabs clashed in Jerusalem on Friday. An ugly situation developed at the Damascus Gate, where British troops and police have thrown a barbed-wire barricade across the gate to hold back the excited crowd of Arabs.

Six armoured caf§ rushed to the assistance of 60 British troops and police armed with tommy-guns, who were trying to stem the demonstrators. The demonstration began at the Mosque El Aksa, where fiery Speeches against the BritlBh*-AmerlCBh commit* tee’s report sent the crowa streaming in an angry mood to the Damascus Gate and the New City. A Reuter correspondent reports that 3000 Arabs, in pouring rain, stoned the troops. The demonstrators carried banners reading, “Palestine is an Arab Kingdom and Must be for Ever.” When British troops, penning in the Arab demonstrators, fired a warning shot into the air, the Arabs returned a

rain of stones. Later police and troops entered the Old City by Herod’s Gate and the New Gate and dispersed the demonstrators at the Damascus Gate. The Secretary-General of the Arab League (Azzam Bey) said in Cairo that proposals were being made throughout Arab countries that all Arab women and children should be evacuated from Palestine to neighbouring countries and that Palestine should be declared a battle zone and a holy war proclaimed. “This idea is full of serious consequences. but it shows the state of public opinion,” he said. “I hope that Britain tvill hot adopt the recommendations of the British and American committee find precipitate a crisis.” The 12-hout strike of Arabs in Palestine ended to-night. No serious incidents were reported. *£he High Commissioner of Palestine (General Sir Alan Cunningham) held a long discussion with members of the Arab general committee which called the strike.