Political report of the Executive of the Jewish Agency submitted to the ... Zionist Congress and the ... session of the Council of the Jewish Agency · 1937-08-01 · 8.1937 · p. Seite 110

APPENDIX VI STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE JEWISH AGENCY ON THE POSITION OF SECURITY IN PALESTINE In view of the continuing state of lawlessness and of the growth of terrorism in the country, the Executive of the Jewish Agency deems it necessary to publish the following statement: The disturbances which began in Jaffa on the 19th of April, 1936, have not yet been brought to an end. On the 12th October, 1936, the General Officer Commanding, General Dill, issued an order to the military forces in Palestine in the following terms. "The strike and armed rebellion have been called off unconditionally by the Arab Higher Committee as from today..... It is to be hoped that the campaign of murder and banditry Will now cease." To our regret this hope of the General Officer Commanding has not been realised. Apart from the brief period of relative peace before the arrival of the Royal Commission and during its stay in the country, acts of terrorism, intimidation, robbery and murder have not ceased. During recent weeks they have actually increased, especially in the northern district. During the last seven weeks alone, 12 Jews, 10 Arabs and 2 other persons were killed. There were in addition numerous instances of attempted murder, 23 bombs were thrown, some 60 cases of shooting occurred, 15 highway robberies were committed and there were 9 cases of uprooting of trees. An outstanding example of the reign of terror is presented by the town of Safad. In open defiance of the law and of Government, terrorist groups have seized power in the town. They have set up boundaries between the Jewish and Arab quarters which neither Jews nor Arabs can cross without the express permission of the terrorist committee. This committee imposes duties on merchandise passing from the Jewish to the Arab quarter and vice-versa. The Jewish inhabitants of Safad have no safe access to Government Offices, which are situated in the Arab quarter. The principal cause of the continued state of lawlessness is the belief which has become prevalent during the last ten months among the terrorists and their supporters that there is in Palestine no Government prepared and able to govern and protect the lives and property of the peaceful citizens of the country. At the very beginning of the disturbances the Jewish Agency drew the attention of Government to the fact that its treatment