Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-08
JEWS LOSE FIGHT
ON MAILING WALL
MosIems' Ownership Ruling
by British Commission
Gives Free Access.
PLENNIE L. WINGO


BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 8.-The Governmen
commission appointed to adjudicate
differences between Moslenls and Jews
over the rights to the use of the wall
ing wall at Jerusalem for devotional
purposes today ruled that sole owner
ship OF the wall is vested in the Mos
lens.
At the same time the commission
held that the Jews should have free
access to the wall for purposes of de-
votion at all times, under definite con-
ditions regarding appurtenances of wor-
ship.
1t is stipulated that the Jews shall
not blow the rams horn near the wall,
nor cause any avoidable disturbance
to the Moslems, and that the Mos
lens, in turn, must not annoy the Jews
during thcir devotions.
Held Owned by Moslems.
Moslem ownership is established by
reason of the fact that the wall forms
an integral part of the Haram Esh
Sheriff area, which is a Wagf property.
Ownership of the pavement in front
of the wall and the adjacent Moroccan
quarter opposite the wall also is vested
in the Moslems, the commission found
The commission, created by the Brit
ish government in May, last year, with
the approval of the League of Ma
tions Council, consists of Charles Barde,
Swiss: Eliol Loefgren, former Swed-
ish foreign minister, and A. Van Kem-
pen, former Dutch colonial official. They
spent month in Palestine last Sum-
mer taking evidence.
Jewish Rights Defined.
BY today's ruling the Jews on their
days of worship may place near the
wall the cabinet ark containing the
Torah scrolls and the table on which
the ark stands. These appurtenances
may be used on special fast DAYS or
days Of public prayer ordered by the
chief rabbis of Jerusalem. on the Jew
ish new year day and one the day Of
atonement.
The temporary prohibition against
the use of benches, carpets and similar
appurteRances is made absolute.
The ruling stipulates that Moslems
shall not construct, repair or demoliSh
any building adjacent to the wall in
such manner as to encroach on the
pavement or to interfere with the Jews
during their devotional visits.
Political Acts Barred.
Political speeches or demonstrations
OF any kind near the wall are pro-
hibted, and the report states that it
should be matter of common interest
to both parties that the pavement
should be kept clean and the wall
should not be disfgured. Because of
its character AS historical monument.
maintenance of the wall is intrusted
to the Palestine administrator.
This contentious problem" said the
report. does not owe its existence to
two different conceptions regarding a
standard of law which both parties
recognize and accept.
"On the contrary, 1t has arisen from
an existing incompatibility in the
actual principles of right and religious
faith.s
The commission hopes both Moslems
and Jews will accept and respect this
verdict with an earnest desire to at
tain mutual understanding. that i'm
portant prerequisite for the common
and for peaceable development in the
world at large"
The Wailing Wall of Jerusalem forms
part of the western exterior of the
ancient Jewish Temple of Solomon, de-
stroyed by the Babylonians, restored
by Ezra and Nehemiah. torn down by
Titus in So A. D. and cherished by
the Jews through the ages.
Periodically the Jews gather to
lament the destruction of the temple
The Moslems, contending that the wall
was Moslem property. appealed to the
Mandates Commission of the League
OF Nations three years ago to prevent
encroachments by the Jews. At that
time restrictions were placed upon the
appurtenances permitted in, the Jewish
ceremonies.
Disputes over the property gave rise
to violence, in which a number of
Jews and Arabs we're killed in riots at
Jerusalem and elsewhere in Palestine.