Palestine: A Modern History (ص 15)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 15)

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32. Crystallisation 1908-1914 ‘
al-Karmal reported in‘itstfrdnt page: a huge demonstration in Nablus
against the intended: sale of the Beisan lands ‘to the Jews, where
spirited -and vehement speeches were delivered, and telegrams of
protest despatched to the authorities. Three days later, al-Karmal
proposed that an anti-Zionist congress be held in Nablus to discuss
ways and means of combating the Zionist peril. The proposed congress
would discuss the establishment of societies' to mobilise ‘the people,
intprove the conditions of the peasant, create wealth and pféserve it and
encourage the quest for applied (practical) sciences. AlKarmal argued |
that promoting the peagant’s well-being and dignity would sharpen his
sense of duty towards his nation. Knowledge, patriotism and Solidarity
were not enough to combat*the encroaching danger. What was at stake,
altKarmal concluded, was survival and in this context organised and
enlightened action‘alone could’save the day.
Many. Arab newspapers and a few political groups endorsed al-
Karmal’s proposed congress. As no enthusiasm. was shown by the
leading notables, the proposal was not carried, out. However,
al-Karmal’s agitation*for organisation was instrumental im preparing the
ground forthe emergence of an Anti-Zionist Society with headquarters
in Nablus and-branches‘ir other Palestinian towns. This Society called
for demonstrations against the Government’s intended land sales.by
public auction, despatched’ telegrams of :protests arid proposed that the
preservation of the peasant’s tights in their lands which wete usurped
by the Government could be achieved through annual instalments. The
Anti-Zionist Society led the‘ agitation and struggle against ‘Zionism in
Palestine by setting the pace and pattern of articulation from Nablus
where ino Jewish element or influence existed to tounteract the
Society’s activities: As early as 3 August, Antebi zeported that, ‘The
Anti-Zionist Society was gaining adherents and was. moving-into its
active phase.”* ~
Throughout September 1913, Falastin and al-Karmal devoted agreat
deal of spdce to*Zionist activities in A deliberate attempt designed to
inspire a desire for emulation. On 20 September, Falastin reported that
a group called The Society of Jewish Youth had been formed to ensure
that the Jews boycotted the ldéal population. Less than a month later,
the same paper attacked the communal Jewish law courts in TeJ-Aviv
and some’ of the Jewish settlements, suggesting that such institutions
were laying the basis of ‘a state within a state in Palestine’. On 4
November al-Karmal published a telegram that declared all those
cooperating with the Zionists to be traitors, and‘ on 8 November
Suleiman al-Taji Farouqi of the National Ottoman Party, published a
Crystallisation 1908-1914 33
poem efititled, The: Zionist :Dangér. In this poem Faroudi ‘did not
merely denounce Jewish designs,to ustrp Palestine from its inhabitants
but also warned the Turkish rulers and reminded:them of their duty to
protect Palestine where many holy Muslim sites existed.
The Ottoman authorities were not altogether happy with the vehe-
mence that characterised Arab opposition to Zionism in the Arabic
ngwspapers and took disciplinary action from time to timesagainst these
newspapers. The suspension’ of Arab’ papers began to -arouse Arab
suspicions'thatthe Young Turks dnd the Zionists were allies in their
wattle against the ‘incipient Arab national ‘movement and Arab
independence. ' ‘
Gsganised Anti-Zionism '
Buring the months that preceded the ‘First World War, anti-Zionism in
Palestine was at its peak. There was more evidence of organised opposi-
tien to Zionism; people? who co-operate with the Zionists were
valequivocally denounced; the press was' extremely vocal against
Zionism; and anti-Zionism played‘a prominent part in the campaign of
most candidates to the Gttoman Parliament in Palestine.
On 24 February 1914, al-Karmal reported that Arab youth in
Constantinople had founded an anti-Zionist Society. Towards the end of
April, ‘Ibry wrote to Drs Ruppin that he was sure that there existed
both in Jerusalem and Jaffa special organisation of youth, both
Christians and Muslims to fightws throughout Palestine by all means.’>?
On 14 June Falastin published adetter from R. Abu al-Sal‘ud which
disclosed the names and programmes of four nationalist and welfare
sotieties which had recently been founded in Jerusalem to ‘stand in the
face of the impending dangers threatening their homeland«and save
their existence from desturction’: These societies were the following:
al-Jam ‘iyya al-Khayriyya al-Islamiyya, jamiyyat al-Ikha’ wal-‘Afaf,
Shirkat al-Iqtisa@ al-Falastini al-‘Arabi and Shirkat al-Tijara al.
Wataniyya al-Iqtisadiyya. The Correspondent added that a reading club
was under way’ where.’magazines, newspapers and books would be
ae for purposes of public education. All the above:mentioned
ieties preached patrioti cation”? ‘
nation Preece patriotism, promoted education™ and ‘supported
In its issue of 21 June, dl-Jqdam published a letter from Jawdat
Qandus which stated that the’Palestinian students in Constantinople
together with the youth from Tyre and Marji‘yun:
established a society whose aim is to unite the word and bring

هو جزء من

Palestine: A Modern History

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

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