TERROR IN PALESTINE

Grey River Argus, 24 November 1944, Page 8

TERROR IN PALESTINE

Moyne Murder

MR. CHURCHILL REMONSTRATES RUGBY. November 19. Mr. Churchill, in a statement in the House of Commons on the assassination of Lord Moyne, said that the whole of the future of Zionism depended on the extirpation of Jewish terrorists and not only the British authorities, but the entire Jewish community must do its utmost to bring them to justice. The F'rime Minister, after referring to Mr. Eden’s full statement on the assassination, said: “This shameful crime has shocked the world. It has affected none more strongly than those like myself, who, in the past, have been consistent friends of the Jews and constant architects for their future. If our dreams for Zionism are to end in smoke and assassins pistols, and our labours for its future produce a new set of gangsters worthv of Nazi German)/, many like myself would have to reconsider the position we have maintained so consistently and so long in the past. If there is to be any hope of a peaceful and successful future for Z onism, these wicked .activities must cease and those responsible destroyed, root and branch. “Primary responsibility must, Oi course, rest with the Palestine authorities under the British # Government. Those authorities are already engaged in an active and thorough campaign against the Stern Gang and the larger but hardly less dangerous, Irgun Zyai Leumi. In particular, the Palestine police have been loyally and effectively carrying out their duties amidst constant dangers. A number of persons suspected of active complicity in terrorist .activities have been arrested and on October 19, 251 were deported from the country, where their presence, with possibly a large scale attempt at rescue, only led to increased insecurity. Since then, numerous further arrests have been made, including those of some wanted terrorists.

“t am satisfied that the Palestine authorities have all the powers necessary to deal with Ihe situation. They will, with the help of the military and the close co-operation of the general officer commanding-in-chief intensify their activity. "But it is to be realised, that although ’the primary responsibility is that of the Government, full success depends upon the whole-hearted cooperation of the entire Jewish community. This the British Government is entitled to demand and receive. I have received a letter from the President of the World Jewish organisation Dr. Weizmann, a very old friend of mine, who has arrived in Palestine, in which he assures me that Palestine Jewer_v will go to the utmost limit of its power to cut out this evil from its midst. The Palestine executive of the Jewish agency calls upon the Jewish community to cact'out members of this destructive band, to deprive them of all refuge and shelter, to resist their threats and render all the necessary assistance to the authorities in the prevention of terrorist acts and the eradication of terrorist orgF.,hisation,s.’ These are strong words, but we must wait for these words to be translated into deeds. We must wait and see that not only the leaders, but every man, woman and child of the Jewish community does hie or her utmost to bring this terrorism to a' speedy end.”