PALESTINE DISORDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 11

PALESTINE DISORDER

DAILY DETERIORATION MANY LAWLESS ACTS Times Cable LONDON, May 19 The Jerusalem correspondent of the Times reports that the situation in Palestine is deteriorating daily. Another Jew was fatally shot to-day and the murderer escaped, and an Arab was stabbed later in a street in the Jewish quarter. The announcement of the British Government's intention to send a Commission to inquire into the dispute between the Arabs and the Jews is too late to allay the disorder, which is expected to continue until a truce is called because both sides have had enough of martial law.

Effective emergency regulations are being tightened up. The penalty for carrying a knife now is three years' imprisonment, but in addition to eight murders in six days there have been daily acts of lawlessness. Bombs have been thrown and shots fired, telephone wires have been cut, trees uprooted and property set on fire. An Arab attempted to blow up the railway near Jaffa, but the charge exploded prematurely and killed him. Also it damaged the permanent way for 40 yards. The Arab Committee has issued a statement saying it has no confidence in a new Commission, and that Arabs cannot assent to Jews building their national home at the expense of the Arabs' national existence. The committee urges a continuance of the present strike until its fdemands are granted, but appeals that there be no violence.