PUNITIVE ACTION IN PALESTINE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 9, 4 October 1937, Page 9

PUNITIVE ACTION IN PALESTINE

(Britisb Official Wireless.l

Curbing of Terrorist Activity MUFTI'S LOSS OF OFFICE

(Received 4, s.4 b a.m.; RUGBY, Oct. 2. Commenting on the action taken by the British authorities in Palestine, The Times says: "It "will cause feelings of intense relief in many quarters in Palestine This relief will not be confined to Jews. Before the end- of last year's disturbances several prominent Arabs of moderate views had been killed or attaeked „ by terrorist gjunmen. Since the middle of April nine Arab notables bave been murdered, two have been wounded aud uaany mox*e have been blackmailed. "All these men were opponents of eritics of the policy of tlie Mufti of Jerusalem. The influence of the Mufti is likely to be shaken. He has lost two high offices which gave him control of iarge funds and the appointment of some 1500 clerics who must preach his politics. These losses may well reduce his status to that of an Arab politician among other politicians. "It must be recognised that the unfortunate eft'ects of the long and useless experiment in conciliation attempted by Sir Arthur Wauchope will not disapp.ear immediately and that cannot be given to the recommendations of the Royal Commission until the British mandatory authorities have restored public confidence by ensuring that order and security which the Holy Land deserves. "The decree renders the Grand Mufti ineligible for appointment to the presidency of the bupreme Moslem Courts for which his supporters are endeavouring to secure his election. "New atrests include three notables at Jaffa, resulting in the threat of general strikes at Jaffa and Nablus."