GOVERNMENT ACTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20926, 4 January 1938, Page 4

GOVERNMENT ACTS

TO CHECK THE TERROR POSITION IN PALESTINE The most important measures for the enforcement of public security since the Mufti was deprived of certain offices and the Higher Arab Committee was proscribed on October 1 have been announced, wrote the Jerusalem correspondent of “The Times” on November 10. Military Courts will be established throughout Palestine on November 18. These Courts, it is officially announced, will consist each of a field officer as president and two other officers, and will be competent to try three main categories of offences:— (D The discharge of firearms at any persons; •2) the carrying of arms, bombs, etc.; and '3) causing sabotage and intimidation. Offences in the first two categories will be punishable by death. The sentences of these Courts will be subject to confirmation by the General Officer Commanding the British troops in Palestine and Transjordan, from whose decisions there will be no appeal.

The Officer Administering the Government. Mr Battershill, says that these decisions have been taken solely on the ground of public security, and have not been prompted by any shortcomings of the Civil Courts, which will continue to deal with all offences other than those mentioned above. “The institution of these Military Courts,” he declared, “together with the enhanced penalties, is designed solely to expiate the operation of the emergency regulations for the suppression of the present campaign of terrorism which it is the determination of the Government to exterminate.” Not Martial Law Further details will appear in the new Defence Regulations. The official statement will be published daily between the publication of the new regulations and their coming into force on November 18 in all local daily newspapers. and will also be broadcast daily by the Palestine Broadcasting Service. The institution of Military Courts is not tantamount to the imposition of martial law, although it is clear that if martial law should have to be proclaimed it would be a convenience to have such Courts already in existence. The decisions were not prompted by recent murders; but have been under consideration since the murder of Mr Andrews at Nazareth on September 26. The timeliness of the new regulations is shown by the numerous acts of violence during the twenty-four hours. Last night shots were fired at a post of supernumerary police near the Schneller quarter of Jerusalem, but nobody was hurt. This morning a Jewish driver was fired at five miles outside the town down at Jericho road This afternoon three shots were fired at a Jewish omnibus near the Old City, and one Jew was wounded in the thigh. It is believed that the assailants were Arabs. Ten minutes later an Arab was killed near the Schneller School when six shots were fired by men believed to be Jews. Directly afterwards a sheikh was slightly wounded near the Austrian Hospice in the street leading from the Damascus Gate to the Harem-esh-Sherif. This attack was witnessed by two Arab ghaffirs. who fired at the assailant.

Reprisals being Made In all three cases the assailants escaped and have not yet been identified. It is to be feared therefore that the exhortations of responsible Jews deprecating reprisals are not being observed. The Jewish Press is strongly supporting the resolution passed by the Council of the Jewish Labour Federation calling on the Government for the immediate supply of modern weapons for their defence to Jews working on roads and living in settlements and outlying places, and demanding authorisation for the formation of a “dependable defence body to repulse attacks.” As far as can be gathered, it seems unlikely that this demanti will be granted, at least until the effect of the new regulations can be tested. Under these regulations the discharge of firearms at any person is made punishable by death, whereas hitherto that penalty applied only to attacks on troops or police. Again, the death penalty against persons found to be carrying arms will, it is understood, be enforced also against persons permitted to carry arms if such authorised arms should be improperly used. Much, then is hoped from the new regulations, which should become widely known before coming into force, as they will be posted up in the villages, many of which also have Government receiving sets and will be able to hear during a whole week the explanatory broadcast announcement.