Palestine: A Modern History (ص 89)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 89)

المحتوى

188 The Great Palestine Revolt: 1936-1939
tranquillising effect on the Arabs, The agitation against the Government
continued, albeit in less violent forms, and sums of money were being
collected in Egypt and elsewhere to subsidise the pro-Mufti elements
and the /stiqial groups.
Zionist efforts to fight the Government’s Legislative Council
proposals were instrumental in bringing-gbout a change of policy. In
February a debate in the House of Lords took place, followed by a
debate in the Commons in March which revealed the existence of
‘serious doubt in all parts of the House as to the desirability of prgceed-
ing with,the proposals’.° ,
The impact of the Commons debate on the Arabs was predictable. It
reminded them of the Zionist efforts that preceded the publication of
the ‘Black Letter and justified the radicals’ call for a total boycott of
all negotiations with the Government.
Despite the setback represented by the Commons.debate and the
‘hostile public mood, the National Defence Party displayed a singular
eagerness: to accept the proposals of the Legislative Council. On 29
March the National Defence Payty officially declared their acceptance
of the proposals and’ two, days later Ragheb Nashashibi urged the
leaders of the other parties to, do likewise. Jamal Husseini refused to
comply as it was the responsibility of the Arab Party’s Executive
Committee to determine the attitude, of the Party on major issues.
On 2 April 1936, the High Commissioner summoned the leaders of
the Arab parties and told, them that the Colonial Secretary had
extended an ivitation to representatives of the five Arab parties to
send a deputation to London ‘to lay their views before him. After a
short discussion the Arab leaders agreed that it was their unanimous
wish to accept the Secyetary of State’s invitation. ‘Twelve days later,
however, the Arab Party issued a manifesto jn which it declared ~its
rejection. of the Legislative Council proposals as these were not in
consonance with the aspirations of, the country for complete indepen-
dence and Arab unity.? The decision was a shrewd move calculated, to
enhance the popular standing of the Arab Party and embarrass all the
ther parties which had already accepted the. proposals. The, objection
to the Legislative Council scheme was not accompanjed by. a
withdrawal from the membership of the delegation. The disputes over
the membership of the delegation delayed the departure of the Arab
leaders and, before they could reach agreement, events had overtaken
them yet again.
Tension between Arabs and Jews had been steadily rising since the
beginning of autumn 1935, as a sesult of Zionist opposition to self-
The Great Palestine Revolt: 1936-1939 189
governing institutions. Continued Jewish immigration on a large scale
and further land acquisition did not- relax the prevailing tensions. In
February 1936, the Government awarded a contract to build three
Arab schools in Jaffa to a Jewish contractor who refused to employ a
single Arab labourer. An Arab Labour Garrison was formed to picket
the site of the school and racial animosity ticked like a time-bomb
ready to explode at any moment.
The incident which triggered: the violent events was trivial yet
enough to throw the country into turmoil and revolution. On 13
April, one Jew was killed and two Jews were seriously wounded in the
course of a general hold-up by Arab bandits on the main roads between
Nablus and Tulkarem. The following night two Arabs on the main road
north of Petah Tikvah were murdered in their huts, as an act, so the
Arabs believed, of Jewish reprisal. The funeral of the Jew killed in the
hold-up on 17 April led to angry Jewish demonstrations where the
demonstrators attempted to penetrate into Jaffa but were turned away
by the Police whom they stoned.’ A series, of assaults on Arab
vegetable merchants began in Tel Aviv and on 19 April following the
circulation of, rumours that more Arabs had been killed by Jews,
clashes occurred between Arabs and Jews on the border between Jaffa
and Tel Aviv, and a number of casualties on both sides were, inflicted.
A curfew was imposed on Tel Aviv and Jaffa and the Palestine
(Defence) Order in Council and the emergency regulations thereunder
were brought into force throughout Palestine.
Spontaneous Reactions
During the clashes of 19 April, scores of Arabs were injured and many
Arab houses were burnt. Arab reaction to -the news in all parts of
Palestine was spontaneous and violent. On 20 April an Arab National
Committee was formed at Nablus, where it was resolved that a general
strike should be declared throughout the country and maintained until
such time as the Government had conceded the demands put forward in
the previous November. “
On the following day National Committees led by /stiqlalists, young
students and activists were, formed in Haifa, Jaffa and Gaza which
declared themselves in sympathy with the national demands and the
national strike declared by the Nablus Committee. Wauchope admitted
to,the Colonial Secretary that ‘the strike was begun independently and
spontaneously in various places by various committees and groups’.?
The Arab parties were quick to react. The National Block and the
Youth Congress associated themselves, without hesitation, with the
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هو جزء من

Palestine: A Modern History

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

مجموعات العناصر

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