Sovereign Jewish State To Be Proclaimed Tonight

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1948, Page 5

Sovereign Jewish State To Be Proclaimed Tonight

^ (N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Thursdav, 10.30 p.111. NEW Y (TRK, May 12. With the British mandate ending in 48 hours United Nations' efforts to establish an emergencv regime met witli eomplete i'ailnre today as both Jews and Arabs tlatly rejected all the main points of tho plan. Informed quarters say there are now only two ehances of a teinporary solution being reached in time. Firstly, it is believed the United States is preparing some |)laii ; secondly, United Nations may compromise and ado])t a sohition which is aeeeptable only to the Jews, namely a mediation regime which should not prejudice tlie ehances of eventnal partition. Meanwhile the eommittees will eontinue their diseussions although delegates admit privately that tho outlook is hopeless. A sovereign Jewish State will be proclainied at midnight on Friday, says the United Press. The Provisional Uabinet made the decision last night al'ter a nine-honi' diseussion behind closed doors. Religious dignitarios grantod the political leaders exerii])tian f'rom the orthodox law which prohibits even writing on the Jewish Sabbath which begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. The Jewish State declaration will emanate on Friday at midnight i'rotn a brieP Uabinet meeting which will announce to the world the existence of a Provisional Jewish Government. One Uabinet niember, roplying to a question whether any serious threat could be expected from the United States when the declaration was made. said : "The front is Palestine. It is there our i'ate will be decided." At the United Nations last night the United States proposed that United Nations appoint a Tligh Uommissioner for Palestine and terrninate the authoritv of the Palestine Uommission which was established by the Ueneral Assembly in November to supervise the carrying out of partition. The High Uonimissioner wonld be selected by the Big Five. Ue wonld not liave governmental power bnt wonld arrange for comnion services in the Holy Land and endeavonr to promote a Jewish-Arab agroement on a fntnre Palestine fJovernnient. Renter's Uairo correspondent states that Egvptian Jews f ealing repercnssions of Palestine events are making heavy bank withdrawals. The demand for gohlen sovereigns sent the price np by sevon shillings.