TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9991, 11 March 1910, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

RE-PEOPLING PALESTINE. The Jewish question is now facing the Constitutional " Government in Turkey as it never has done before. Although the admission of Jewish colonists from Russia, the Balkan States, Austria, and Persia seems to be sanctioned by constitutional principles, still self-preservation is a motive more potent than equality. The inhabitants of Palestine are beginning to see the reason why Russia has shown such intolerance of the descendants of Abraham. Thousands and tens of thousands of Jewish colonists are already settled on the fairast lands of Palestine. Helped by rich capitalists in Europe, they build comfortable homes and estahlish flourishing colonies. Large portions of land round Lake Tiberias have been bought up from poor natives and converted into* prosperous domains. The Plains of Sharon, between Jaffa and Lydda, is one vast garden, owned and tended by Jewish skill and labour the Hauran, one of the most fertile wheat districts in the world, is being Kfadually sold to Jewish syndicates. The Ghor (Valley of the Jordan), which two years ago belonged to Abdul Hamid, who was in communication with Jewish capitalists for its sale when his dethronement took place; is now being bargained for* and will soon become Jewish property. To say that Jaffa and Jerusalemare Jewish towns is only saying the bare truth. Towns like Ramoth-Gilead. Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Gaza, where a few years ago no Jew dared show his face, have now their Jewish quarters and synagogues. Zionism in Europe has, indeed, been working with a will.