The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, November 10, 1944. PALESTINE PROBLEM.

Grey River Argus, 10 November 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, November 10, 1944. PALESTINE PROBLEM.

. When it comes to plans for preserving peace, few areas will present greater need for foresight than the Middle East, especially the area 'in Asia between the Black Sea and the Indian Ocean It is there that Islam abides, and there also that Israel aspires to regain a territorial foundation Since the last war the Balfour Declaration has been quoted by the Jewish race as warranty for their aspiration, but meantime Britain has had also to make allowance for Arabian-feeling. It. is stated half a million Jews are now domiciled in Palestine, while a great many Arabs, who admittedly 'sold their holdings, have regarded the new colonisation as designed to dispossess them, and turn them into workers for the new occupiers. By all accounts, Jewish settlement has been on lines that are up-to-date and cooperative, but evidently political feeling has been growing, and the Jews are anxious in that, as also in economic respects, to con solidate their position as the dominant one. For some time past there has been in Palestine insurrectionary activity, occasionally attributed to Nazis, but the assassination of Lord Moyne, Bri tish Minister at Cairo, goes to illustrate the real lay of the land Evidently in the estimation of al least a section of the Palestine Jews, Britain has not been facilitating the development of a Zion ist state with the expedition desired. Apart from the Avar, however, Britain has inevitably had to have regard for the Arabs and their Moslem ■ sympathisers throughout Egypt, India, Iran, and adjacent territories. Recently the Egyptians proclaimed their solidarity with the other Moslem peoples. The question is whether a Jewish state could be defended without'Britain guaranteeing its protection. Recently there has been a Jewish agitation in favour of making Palestine a British Dominion, allowing the Arabs to remain, but ensuring eventually that there should be a Jawish majority, which would be-attain-ed by immigration. But the result of such immigration probably would be the passing of much more property from. Arab to Jewish ownership. The Jews are anxious for the more fertile areas nearer the coast, leaving areas east of the Jordan for Arab occupation. The action at Cairo of the men who shot Lord Moyne is repudiated by Jewish leaders in Britain, and probably represents the spirit of only a small section in Palestine. Whether /it will hasten or retard a solution remains to be seen. It does at least show the possibility that as the Jewish position is strengthened new difficulties may arise, and care is necessary to avert conflict between such traditionally antagonistic elements as those, of Israel and Islam. British officials have had no easy time in Palestine, but, as the situation is one of transition, easy going is not to be expected. Exactly what led up to the assassination remains yet to be disclosed, but it has presumably been, at least a suspicion that British policy regarding a 'Zionist state is sthl lackingin finality.