JEWS IN PALESTINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 138, 8 December 1938, Page 5

JEWS IN PALESTINE

HELP IN TIME OF WAR

SUEZ CANAL PROTECTION

ADDRESS BY DR. SHEIN

The value to Britain of Palestine being occupied in the time of war by a friendly people was emphasised by Dr. Benzion Shein, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in an > address on "Palestine and the British Empire" to the New Zealand Club, yesterday. Dr. Shein said that the Abyssinian war had shown that the Suez Canal, which was vital to British communications, could be defended only from the Palestine side. In time of danger it was essential that Palestine should be populated by a friendly people, and should the occasion arise, the Jews would put on the same uniforms as the British and would fight for the same ideals and aspirations that the British fought for. About twenty years ago the British and Jewish peoples went into partnership to rebuild the old historical land of Palestine. In the Hebrew, it was said that they "made a match." There were two reasons for the match, one being idealistic, and the other practical. The idealistic reason was genuine admiration and love, and the practical was that the Jewish people were able to offer the English people a valuable and considerable dowry. "THIS LOVE AFFAIR." When did this love affair between the two peoples commence? asked Dr. Shein. Thousands of years ago the Jews, in Palestine, created the Book of Books, and that Holy Book was presented to the whole world. But no nation had proved to be such a student of that book as, the English people. It was said at one time that every Englishman knew his Bible better than his own literature. The Jewish people had always felt a great admiration for the English, and twenty years ago the practical issue was decided, and was witnessed by 52 nations. "Twenty years ifive passed, and we can say, 'Thank God, this match has proved to be a success.' Your enemies and our enemies have been a little bit jealous and have tried to create strife, but they have not succeeded, and they will not succeed. We will never part till the ultimate goal is achieved and Palestine is rebuilt, and it will bring credit and glory to the English and Jewish people alike." AFTER MANY YEARS. Dr. Shein said that although the Mandate was not ratified till after the Great War, Britain's interest in Palestine went back much further than that. In 1839 a letter appeared in the English Press uring the then Foreign Minister (Lord Palmerston) to help the Jewish people to return to Palestine, and the same ideas were expressed in English literature from time to time. However, it was impossible to do anything of a practical nature because Palestine belonged to Turkey, and the suggestion was m?/.e in 1903 that the Jews should colonise part of East Africa. * The Jewish movement felt, however, there was only one place for I a home for Jewish people, and that was Jerusalem. The declaration that Britain lavoured. j the establishment in Palestine of a Jewish National Home was welcome news. "It is the Magna Carta of the Jewish people," he said. "It was a great day; we opened the Ark, took out the Holy of holies—the scrolls of the Law; we blessed the English King, the British Government, and the whole British nation.' The Jewish people began to. return to Palestine, but they did not return as conquerors or with the idea of taking anything away from anybody. It was their endeavour to help the Arabs as much as possible." Dr. Shein reviewed the progress that had been made in Palestine, and also referred to the agitation to incite the religious feeling of the Arabs. The Arabs were told that their holy places were to be taken away from them. That was not so. He hoped the British Government would overcome the difficulty, and that that Government, which governed millions of people, would become master of the situation in Palestine. Dr. Shein said some good would come out of the occupation of Palestine for Britain. Palestine was on the border of the Suez Canal, and it was shown, during the Abyssinian war, that the canal could be protected only from the Palestine side. In time of danger it would be essential that Palestine be populated by a people devoted to the British Empire.

"The Jews are a peace-loving people," he said, "but should the occasion arise we will put on the same uniform as you are wearing, and we will fight for the same ideals and the same aspirations."

Dr. Shein hoped that peace would reign, however, and that the work in Palestine would proceed peacefully. It was hoped that Palestine would be rebuilt in our generation, and such work would reflect glory and credit on the two nations. .