AS IF AT WAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 2, 5 March 1947, Page 6

AS IF AT WAR

IN PALESTINE TODAY MOSLEM, CHRISTIAN AND JEW Behind the scenes in the country that is the focal point of the world’s news; the goal of trekking refugees* the subject of American political wrangles, the harbour of gunman desperadoes, the centre of Arab and Jewish ambitions—and a British base, “What are you: Moslem, Christian or Jew?” That is the first question flung at you by the guard at the frontier the moment you enter Palestine, and the same question is asked 20 to 30 times a day as long as you stdy. Moreover, it is asked wherever you go. If you want to book a hotel room the hall-porter first asks you: “Moslem, Christian or Jew?” If you want to visit a sacred place the question crops up again. If you start a conversation with anybody you will not get an answer .before the other person knows to what confession you belong. Before you visit the Omar Mosque in Jerusalem you are taken to a big hall which looks like a court room; about a dozen sheikhs sit in this room, and you are examined thoroughly. Only if you can prove without a shadow of a doubt that you are not a Jew you will be allowed to enter the Mosque. You do not go by rail any longer in Palestine, for most of the railways are paralysed as a result of bombs thrown by suspected Jewish extremists. You take a taxi, and that way you will arrive safely at your destination. The streets are the best in 'the whole of the Orient, and you have nothing to fear—particularly in daylight. .The terrorists are working with surprising accuracy; only British police cars or military cars are being bombed. So far not a single private car has been damaged. Like a Country at War

To defend themselves better, the British cars always drive through the streets in closed columns, heavily covered by armoured cars. Every seven or eight miles in the countryside you meet armoured mobile guards. The landscape itself resembles a giant military camp. At intervals of a few miles, to, the roads are lined with barracks large and small and tents crammed with soldiers and war material. You have the impression of not only being in a belligerent country, but almost of being close to the front. The atmosphere itself is that of a country at war.

In the town the conditions are worse. All public buildings are fortified; all doors are protected by sand-bagged machine guns. Day and night armoured guards patrol the streets, and numerous tanks are placed at cross-roads to control traffic.

Whole districts are blocked off with barbed wire, and passports are necessary to enter them. In many places only the pavement is free for traffic. The barbed wire stretches right to the houses and passers’ coats and trousers are continually getting torn.

The conditions naturally affect the nerves of all, whether Jews, Arabs, or other nationalities. Everybody seems discontented, angry, and suspicious. You cannot find a single smiling face. Street Search

Anyone carrying a parcel in the streets is stopped continuously by the police, who examine the contents in case there is a bomb inside. If you want to go into a post office you are examined and have to empty your pockets.

Life is expensive, and prices are about 50 per cent, higher than in, say, mid-Europe. Importers are allowed to handle only British goods. Licenses for goods from other countries, especially the U.S'A., are not granted. Foreign goods are, in fact, smuggled from Transjordania where' thanks to conditions in Palestine, all ousiness men scorn to hove become millionaires. All foodstuffs can bebought in Palestine except sugar, which is still rationed and involves a big black market.

Everybody is waiting for a solution of Palestine’s problems—and everybody thinks there is no solution! The three disputing parties, the Arabs, Jews and British, maintain their viewpoints and they have all more or less irrefutable arguments for their particular cause. They Agree On This

The Arabs and the Jews only agree on one point; the British are responsible for everything. The British keep silent. They do not own the country. They are administrators and consequently cannot make concession to either the Arabs or the Jews. They resort to clauses of international law and the regulations of mandatory government. Palestine means a human problem

to the Jews, an economic problem to the Arabs, and a political problem to the British. The Jews demand their right—their own Government —in order to feel free human beings and to know security, The Arabs fight against the economic superiority of the Jews. And the British need Palestine as a political strategic stronghold.