Palestine: A Modern History (ص 36)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 36)

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74 ‘Polarisation: The-Military Administration 1917-1920
By early 1920 it» was, evident to all parties in Palestine that an anti-
Zionist outburst was imminent. In January British Naval Intelligence
reported that emissaries from Damascus were frequently proceeding to
Jaffa.
These hasty visits are thought to foreshadow an attempt at simulta-
neous disturbances throughout Syria and Palestine on the lines of
those prganised in Egypt.'” a
The report further asserted that anti-Zionism was responsible for a
decided rapprochment between Christians and Muslims. As for the
fellahin,
They allege that the Jewish colonists are subsidised from without
and have been granted privileges by.the-Administration which were
denied to others, and state that they cannot compete-against such.
advantages, and would therefore be ultimately squeezed out of
existence.
‘ J
By February the process of polarisation had been accomplished. Ina
letter to Curzon, Weizmann pointed out that ‘there is no doubt that
anti-Zionist and anti-British propaganda amongst the Arabs. run
parallel’.!?°
On 27 February 1920 a big Arab: political demonstration } was held
in Jerusalem with the knowledge of the authorities. Despite Zionist
protestations, General Bols, the Chief Administrator, took the view that
organised ‘processions could be controlled and that, they acted as a
safety valve. ‘A second demonstration was held on 8 March amidst
considerable excitement owing to the recent proclamation of Prince
Faisal King of Syria and Palestine:
The speeches were of a violently, political character. . .There was an
incident,said to have been caused by a Jewish boy trying to force, ; his
way through the processes., This started a quarrel and there was some
stone throwing. A few Jews were injured, but the police ‘quickly
regained control and the demonstration dispersed without ‘further
accident. !2°
* '
On I March two Jewish settlements at Metulla and Tel Hai near-the
Syrian border were attacked by armed Palestinian bands’*° probably
organised by the Palestinians in Damascus'?’. Captain Joseph
a
Polarisation: The Military Administration 1917-1920 75
Trumpledor, a .prominent Zionist soldier, and six other Jews were
kijled during the .raid. The incident which was indicative,of the
Palestinian political mood,,and a glimpse of coming events, failed to
spark a general anti-Zionist uprising owing to the deteriorating
political. situation and the imminent collapse of the Arab regime in
Damascus. u I ’
Describing the situation in Palestine on the eve of Easter: 1920, the
Palin Commission Report stated :.
The whole native population Arab and Christian, was in a condition
of active hostility at once to the Zionists and the British Administra-
tion, their sentiment influenced by a-sense of their own wrongs; their
fears for the future, and the active propaganda’of various anti-
British and, anti-Zionist elements working freely in their midst. The
signs’ and. warnings had not escaped either the Zionists or the
Administration.'*
The Spark | .
On 11 March as a tesult of Zionist pressure brought to bear-on, the
Chief, Administrator, demonstrations were prohibited, a measure which
must have added to the already widespread Arab resentment. The
approach of Easter week with its inevitable ‘religious disorders, and" the
coincidence of the Christian and Jewish festivals with the Muslim Nebi
Musa Pilgrimage*caused serious anxiety ta,the Jewish Community and
the Administration. On that occasion Muslim pilgrims assembled bearing
their local,banners from the surrounding villages at Jerusalem. The
Pilgrimage had always been officially recognised by the Government
who used to proyide the necessary troops and.a,band, in honour of the
ceremony... In viewstof the political «excitement and the prevailing
tension, it was not surprising that Palestinian Arab nationalist circles
were determinéd -ta turn any Arab .gathering into,.an~occasion for
protest ‘and!agitation against Zionism and the Administration. Thus,
» whén thé :Hebron pilgrims arrived on 4 April, their procéssion was
‘- halted more than once, to hear speeches by ‘Aref al-‘Aref, Musa Kazem,
the Mayor, Hajj Amir al-Husseini,and other prominent Muslims. The
2 Palin Commission .report stated that the practice of delaying the
& procession-.to hear speeches, was first introdyced in 1919. In 1920,
+ however; the, speeches ,were of a flagrantly political character
culminating in the exhibition of the portrait of the Emir Faisal, who
# was greeted as ‘King of Syria and Palestine’. The crowd at this point
ym was gradually worked up into a high, inflammatory condition and it

هو جزء من

Palestine: A Modern History

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

مجموعات العناصر

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