The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1938. REVOLT IN PALESTINE.

Evening Star, Issue 23093, 20 October 1938, Page 12

The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1938. REVOLT IN PALESTINE.

Troubles in Palestine have gone from had to worse, Britain is faced, it has been said, with a national revolt, supported by the whole of the peasantry. The Arab rebels have been declared to dominate the entire south, while Government control is confined to the boundaries of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa. The rebels hold their own courts, and punish those who fail to serve the Arab cause. If a world war had been the outcome of the Sudeten crisis the weakness of Britain’s position in the Near East, where the Suez Canal provides a main artery of her Empire, can. be readily seen. Aggravation of disorders to their present point is attributed to reluctance in the past to use sufficient force for their yepresrion. That defect is now being remedied; additional troops are being rushed to the Holy Land, but it is not expected that the restoration of order will be an easy task. Palestine is but the extension of a huge Arab dominion, every portion of which is in sympathy with its rebels, who find help and refuge across every border.

The trouble has also been complicated by Italian and German agents, on the principle that a Britain which is beset with difficulties in the Near East will be less likely to interfere with Fascist designs in Europe. It is_ obvious that the British authorities would'have an additional reason for not showing more force than was absolutely required while the reports of the Peel and Wood-' head Commissions were still matters for decision, and hope remained for a peaceful settlement of grievances. Now it is predicted that the partition plan which was advanced by the first report is likely to be abandoned, at least temporarily, and concessions made to the Arabs, which may include a temporary suspension of Jewish immigration. Palestine, in any case, could not provide a home for more than a small fraction of the Jews who fire now being turned out of Europe. Since the population is now estimated to number one million Arabs to only 400,000 Jews, Arab fears of dispossession would appear to be rather prematurely formed, but the fears exist and will not soon be removed. The Woodhead Commission’s report is not expected to be presented before the end of this month, so that predictions of what its recommendations will be or what will be done with them may he made also too soon. It is certain, however, that Great Britain cannot afford to make a display of weakness in the Near East by a surrender to Arab force.

At the moment 2,000 British troops are investing the old walled city which forms part of Jerusalem, and which is held defiantly by,, Arabs. The “ old city,” it is recalled, has not known such an experiencq jgnice it was captured. by Saladin in the twelfth century. But Jerusalem in its long history has known over twenty sieges. Eighteen times it has been reconstructed and twice desolated, and six times it has passed from one religion to another. The capture by Saladin, in 1187, was really a reconquest ending the Latin kingdom which was set up in 1099 as a result of the first Crusade. The earlier capture by, the Crusaders followed' a month’s siege. “ The slaughter,” it has been said, “ was terrible; the blood of the conquered ran down the streets, and men splashed in blood as they rode.” With the exception of two short periods, Jerusalem, after its reconquest by Saladin, remained in Moslem hands until its capture by Allenby. The holy city, without rival, of, the Jews and also of Christians, it stands second among the holy cities of Islam, yielding the palm* only to the twin capitals of Mecca and Medina.