Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

10 Jne AraD Ufle lUed Vi IilcSC pCOPlV
suddenly becoming a dominant race III
land which they, because they owned
it, considered their own. was repulsive.
The government of Palestine became
British and the Jewish colonies were
planted. Jerusalem became center OF
Zionist activities Universities, lesser
schools and hospitals were established.
Much money was spent on improve
ments. The Jews, however, did not
overflow the land.
There are now estimated to be 100000
Arabs in Palestine and 10000 Jews A
recent government report stated that of
late more Jews have been leaving Pales-
tine than were entering it.
The Jews, however, the immigrants
and the descendants of the Palestine
Jews who have long lived there; while
their numbers do not greatly increase,
were extremely vocal. They are, for
their numbers, perhaps the most articu-
late people on earth. Since its estab-
lishment as their national home the
ZionistS throughout the world have built
up publicity machinery which is as
founding to one who comes into con-
slant contact with it.
Thus encouraged to talk and act, the
Jews began, i'll Arab eyes, to encroach.
Sources of Friction.
The points of friction were number
less. The Wailing Wall is as good a
one as any to use as an example.
Trouble concerning the Wailing Wall
and the rights of the Jews there has
been intermittent since the British took
possession of the land. The disaffeCted
Arabs have continued to permit them to
come there to lament, and in British
eyes the length of time they have been
accorded this privilege, as the Arabs re-
gard it, has given them a right of en-
trance. In Britain way used as a
public thoroughfare for number Of
years is dedicated to public use.
Less than a year ago there arose at
the Wailing Wall a quarrel of nearly
exactly the same character as the be-
ginnings of the present trouble. 1t re-
suited in no widespread rioting, as is
the case now, but it was one of many
irritations which brought both Jewish
and Arab communities to such a pitch
of excitement as might at any time
start trouble which cannot be halted
before much shedding of blood.
The Jews desired to place benches be-
fore the Wailing Wall. They main
tanned that many old and feeble Jews
went there for prayer. and because of
their infirmities could not stand through
the time they wished to spend at their
most sacred shrine. AS a result. said
the Jews these fell to the damp ground,
with resulting illness sometimes proving
fatal
They carried their plea to the man
dates commission of the League of
Nations.
Conflicting Rights.
The Arabs replied that the land was
theirs, part of the sacred Mosque of
Omar. They did not object SO greatly
to the benches, but they objected
strongly to precedent. If the Jews
needed benches for rest, they said, they
would need wall for shelter while they
occupied the benches. If they had a
wall, it was of little use without roof.
If there was roof. one side of that roof
would rest against the Wailing Wall,
and there in the mosque enclosure would
be Jewish house of worship. It was
unthinkable, impossible. and in no case
to be thought of. The status of the
Jews at the Wailing Wall must remain
as it had always been. 1t did.
Last year, before the day of atone
ment, the Jews, as they did this year,
erected barrier at the Wailing Wall to
separate the men from the women at
prayer. The Arabs protested at any
building in the enclosure at all. The
British colonial office issued tine fol-
lowing report of the incident:
THE western, or wailing, wall formed
q part of the exterior of the ancient
Jewish temple. AS such it is holy to
the Jewish community, and their GUS
tom of praying there extends back to
the Middle Ages, probably farther. The
wall is also part of the Haram al
Sheriff (sacred Moslem area), and as
such is holy to Moslems. Moreover. il
is legally the absolute property of the
Moslem community.
British Official Attitude.
1.-THE Jewish community had estab-
lished undoubted right of access to the
pavement for purposes of their devo-
tionS"
Pointing out that it had been the rul-
ing OF the Turkish authorities and was
also that of the mandatory government,
which had upheld the Arab protests
against the unheard-of practice of TAX
ing chairs and benches to the Wailing
Wall, the colonial office statement got
to the case of the barrier which was
erected to divide the men from the
women. The Moslems had complained
to the police, taking no action them
selves. The report continued:
Having decided that the mandatory
obligation could not be disregarded, a
government official obtained from a
Jewish official present at the wall an
undertaking that the screen, which had
been introduced in contravention of es-
tabllShed practice, would be removed
before the service of the Day of Atone
ment.
Unfortunately. this undertaking was
not fulfilled. Accordingly, there was
no alternative to removal of the screen
when on the following morning the
Worshipers present at the wall them
selves declined to remove it.
His maJeSty's government felt that
the delicacy of the procedure and the
need for extreme discretion with regard
to the thing that might be regarded by
Watchtul neighborS as a breach of the
status quo should have been obvious to
the responsible Jewish authorities"
In any case, the officers of the Pales-
tine government removed the screen.
and as result parade was organized
to march down Broadway in New York.
to the building at the foot of Whitehall
street which houses the British con-
Sulate.
That was last year. The parade
marched again Monday.
Dubious News Sources.
The Arabs last Fall, over the protests
of the Jews, made an opening through
the wall which divides the alley before
the Wailing Wall from the court proper
of the Mosque of Omar. making two
entrances to the pavement before the
wall where formerly there had been
but one. The Jews demonstrated
throughout Palestine against the build
ing of the gate through the wall,
which is not part of the Wailing
Wall. 1t was also said, as the story
spread, that the Moslems intended to
surmount the Wailing Wall with nina
ret, having discovered that Mahomet
once assembled the wall.
What actually precipitated the begin
ming of the present hoStilities has been
extremely difficult to discover. Despite