Evening star., 1946-06-30
British Hold Scores
As Curfew Lifted
In Most Of Palestine
BY the Assoeistsd Press

IN Most Of Palestine
By the A,seeistsd Pres.
JERUSALEM, June 80 (Sun-
day. The British early today
began lifting the 18-hour cur
few, imposed at dawn yesterday,
which at one time held more
than IS per cent of Palestine's
500, 900 Jews under virtual house
arrest as British troops clamped
a tight military siege over the
Holy Land ito end the state Of
anarchy"
The ban was removed from all of
Tel Aviv and most Of Jerusalem.
Unconfirmed reports said five per-
sons were killed in various Jewish
settlements during the day and that
scores of persons were injured, in
cluding 20 in the Yagur settlement
near Jerusalem where Jewish re-
sistance was described as particu-
larly fierce. The deaths of Brit
ish soldier and one Jew were re-
ported ofiicially.
1000 Caught In Dragnet.
The curfew was put in force Just
as soldiers and police struck swiftly
at daybreak in an effort to end a
series OF disorders which have
spread widely over Palestine in the
past two weeks While in force, it
was estimated that the house ar
rest confined 100000 Jews to their
homes in Tel Aviv, 10000 In Jeru-
salem. 10000 In Haifa and many
other thousands in rural areas.
The British dragnet took in at
least 1000 Jews who were detained
and questioned. Although most OF
them later were released, scores
were held for further action. Among
those held were high officials of the
Jewish Agency, including Moshe
Shertok, head OF the agencys po-
litical department., and DR.. Bernard
Joseph. an agency executive COM
mitteeman. Jewish agency head
quarters buildings were seized.
Despite the violent events of the
day, quiet which fell over the Holy
Land asvdusk, was broken in the
large cities only by the occasional
rumble 'of military trucks through
the streets. Palestine communica-
tlons were partly "blacked OUT dur
ing the day and the nation was
isolated at times from the rest of
the world.
Gas Used at One Town.
An Official statement said troops
met considerable resistance" at va
gur. which had to be overcome"
by the use OF tear gas. A cache OF
arms, including 20 rifles and 80 900
bullets, was found at Yagur. the
statement said.
British officials accused the Jew
lsh agency, recognized Jewish su-
pervisory body, OF completely in
recent disorders and killings.
GA British Foreign Once
spokesman said last night in
London that the British govern
ment notified American Ambas-
sador w. Averell Hartman on
June l9 that it would take "coun-
ter measures" to eliminate dis
order in Palestine. Mr.. Harri-
man was not available for
comment.
The State Department an
nounced later that it knew roth-
ing in advance about the British
raid on Jewish Agency headquar-
tiers in Palestine.
Regarding the actual British
activities. the State Department
said it did not have sufiicient
information to enable it to make
any comment. -.-.....
The department said It "re-
ceived no information Until after
the raid apparently had taken
place 1t added that 1t vas in
formed by the British Embassy
here yesterday that the raid was
planned for early yesterday
morning.
Kept From Synagogues.
Almost the entire Jewish popula-
ton OF Palestine was kept from
attending synagogue services yes
terday. and a few who attended
early services were picked up as
curfew violators as they left the
temples.
Soldiers blasted open safes and
seized more than a thousand docu-
ments In Tel Aviv. Glass Uttered
the streets and walls OF buildings
were DESTROYED by explosives used
to open strong boxes. The damage
buildings included two or three jew
ish banks and the Jewish Agency's
sub-headquarters.
Raiding police and troops cut
telephone lines isolating areas to
be searched for illegal weapons.
All motor traffic was prohibited in
Galilee. Haifa, Samaria. LYDIA and
in Jerusalem except in the sub
districts Of Nablus and Janin, which
are principally Arab.
un London the political de-
partment of the Jewish Agency
said the British action was a
clear act of aggression" designed
to destroy both the achieve
ments and aspirations Of the
Jewish people" and declared the
charge that the Jewish Agency
civil servants and the thousands Of
volunteers who are giving their time
to make price control success. to