The Gisborne Times MONDAY, MAY 25, 1936. THE FRESH RIET IN PALESTINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12870, 25 May 1936, Page 4

The Gisborne Times MONDAY, MAY 25, 1936. THE FRESH RIET IN PALESTINE.

The unrest in Palestine will come as a painful shock to all who had believed that the Holy Land was proving a place of refuge for all Jews who wish to make it their national home. It is beyond question that the cause of the revolt on the part of the Arabs is the rapid increase of Jewish migrants. As matters stand to-day. there are 520.000 Moslems in Palestine, 100,000 Christians and 020.000 Jews. Tf, however, Jews are to be permitted to enter Palestine at the rate of 4000 per month, the Jewish population, with the natural increase from births, may exceed that of the Arabs in very little over a decade. What has given such a great impetus to Jewish migration to (he Holy Land is. it would scc-m. the ill-treatment which the Nazis have meted out to the people of Semitic extraction in Germany. The Arabs are hostile to the Jews not only on account of their growing numbers, but also on account of the fact that they are a. more progressive people. Tf the Arabs had their own way they would pursue life in Palestine in the manner of their forefathers. To Ihom, Jewish enterprise ns well as the enhanced prestige which it gives migrants of that faith is anathema to the Arabs. In some quarters, it is held that the antagonism of the Arabs for the Jews is mainly racial and religious. That was, no doubt, the position in times that are past. As far as can be seen, however, a- very live political issue is being created in the matter. The Arabs never did like the Balfour Declaration, which proclaimed the intention of making a national home for the Jews in Palestine, the cradle of their race. In furtherance of that great aim. Britain, it is well-known, wishes to establish in the Holy Land as soon as possible, a legislative body that would have a. fairly broad democratic base. According to many experts, it would be better if Britain, for a time, were to concentrate upon the development of a local government system in Palestine. What they say is that if a Parliament were established, the Arabs would enter it with only one ob : jeet—to prevent Palestine being made a national homo on a bigger scale for the Jews. The fact remains, however, that, if Britain should delay the awarding of self-government to Palestine until the Jews become much more numerous, the Arabs are likely to refuse to acquiesce in the movement. Tr other words, self-government, would suit, tho Arabs to-day; but would be considered by them as inimical to their interests if it should be postponed for, say. another "0 years. What may prove to be the position, however, is that Britain is already so deeply committed to the granting of self-govern-ment to Palestine that she must go ahead with tho plan in the immediate future. It has been most difficult for Britain to decide what should bo done in tho matter of the establishment of self-government in Palestine. If she had set about the task some years back the Arabs would have had a preponderating political influence. Again, if she were to delay it until the* Jews would gain the upper hand politically, the Arabs would be grievously offended. It would seem that, even today, tho Arabs fear that Britain is much more interested in the Jews than in their race. Such a condition of things would account for the recrudescence of hatred by the Arabs towards the Jews that has to be overcome at the present time.