The Denver Jewish news., 1919-03-19

Anti Zionist Petition
To President Wilson
PETITION DRAFTED BY DIR.
HENRY BERKOWITZ. AND PRO
FESSOR NORRIS JASTROW. OF
PHILADELPHIA AND MAX sen.
lOR OF CINCINNATI.
As future form of government for
Palestine will undoubtedly be consid-
cred by the approaching Peace Con.
ference. We, the undersigned citizens
OF the United States, unite in this
statement, setting forth our objections
to the organization of a Jewish State
in Palestine as proposed by the Zion
iSt Societies in this country and Eu-
rope and to the segregation of the
Jews as nationalistic unit in any
country.
We feel that in so doing We are
vOicing the opinion Of the mn iority of
American Jews born in this country
and of those foreign born who have
lived here long enough to thOroly as
simulate American political and social
conditions. The American Zionists rep
statistics available, only small pro-
portion of the Jews living in this COIN
try. about 10000 out of 3JO0.OOO
iAmerican Jewish Year Book 1918.
Philadelphia.)
At the outset We wish to indicate
our entire sympathy with the efforts
Of Zionists which aim to secure for
Jews at present living in lands Of op-
preston a refuge in Palestine or else
where. where they may freely develop
,heir capabilities and carry on their
activities as free citizens.
But we raise our voices in warning
and protest against the demand of the
Zionists for the reorganization of the
or in the future territorial sovereignty
in Palestine shall be committed. This
demand not only misinterprcts the
trend of the history Of the Jews, who
ceased TO he a nation 1000 years ago.
lut involves the limitation and possible
amnulment of the larger claims of
Jews for full citizenship AMI human
lights in all lands in which those rights
are not yet secure. For the very
reason that the new era upon which
the world is entering aims to estab-
lish government everywhere on prin-
ciples of true democracy, we reject the
Zionistic project Of national home
for the Jewish people in Palestine"
Zionism arose as a result of the in
tolerable conditions under which the
Jews have been forced to live in Rus
sia and Roumania. But it is evident
that for the Jewish population of these
countries, variQusly estimated at from
six to ten millions, Palestine can be-
come no homeland. Even with the i'm
provement of the neglected condition
of this country. its limited area can
offer no solution. The Jewish Ques-
tion, in Russia and Roumania can be
stttleu oihs ~
the grant of full rights of citizenship
10 Jews.
We are all opposed to the Zionists.
because they, themselves, distinctly re.
pudiate the solely ameliorative pro-
gram. They demand and hail with de-
light the "Balfour Declarat ton" to
establish "a national home for Jewish
people in Palestine" /. C., home not
merely for Jews living in countries in
which they are oppressed, but for Jews
universally. No Jew, wherever he may
live. can consider himself free from
the implications of such grant.
The willingness of Jews interested In
the welfare of their brethren to aid
in redeeming Palestine from the blight
of centuries of Turkish misrule is no
acceptance Of the Zionist project to
segregate Jews as political unit and
TO re-institute section at such a poll
tical unit in Palestine or elsewhere.
At the present juucture In the
worlds affairs when lands that have
hitherto been subjected to foreign dom
nation are to be recognized as free and
independent states. We rejoice in the
avowed proposal Of the Peace Congress