Jews Against Bizonal State

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1947, Page 7

Jews Against Bizonal State

(Rec. 11.0.) JERUSALEM, July 4. The chairman of the Jewish Agency executive (Mr David Ben-Gurion), in an address to the United Nations Special Committee, declared the Jewish Agency’s “implacable opposition” to any form of bi-zonal state.

A Jewish state, with Jews and Arabs cooperating, would be the truest blessing for both peoples. This great ,act of statesmanship, which the United Nations possessed the necessary authority to undertake, would change the entire face of the Middle East and free the energies of Arab and Jewish peoples for a great constructive effort. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

Palestine was now the only place in the civilised world where racial discrimination still existed by law. In their long history, Jews had suffered many cruel persecutions, but to be locked up in the ghetto in their own country was treatment they had not hitherto experienced. He accused Britain of responsibility for the deaths of 20,000 Polish children and 10,000 youths in Balkans countries, because they were refused admission to Palestine.

Britain was responsible for the deaths of the passengers in the illegal refugee ship Struma, which was lost at sea. /

Zionism was a plan to cultivate as many acres as possible out of about 4,500,000 acres now uncultivated in Palestine. VIABLE STATE This would allow' Jews to rehabilitate themselves and raise Arabs to the same level. Referring to the Morrison plan of federation, presented by the British Cabinet to Jews and Arabs several months ago, Mr Ben-Gurion said:

“We then said it could not be accepted as a basis for discussion, but we are ready to consider the question of a viable Jewish state—a state capable of self-support within Palestine.”