With the Ashes Still Warm

THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial
Association.
" Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road. Detroit 35. Mich..
.VE. 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of' March 3. 1879

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

SIDNEY SHMARAK

Advertising

Manager

FRANK SIMONS

City Editor

Sabbath Nahamu Scriptural Selections
. This Sabbath, the thirteenth day of Ab, 5716, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in- our synagogues:
'Pentateuchal portion, Vaethanan, Deut. 3:23-7:11. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 40:1-26.

Licht Benshen, Friday, July 20, 7.44 p.m.

VOL. XXIX. No. 20

Page Four

July 20, 1956

Tragic Perpetuation of Refugee Problem

/

It 'was Adolf Hitler's philosophy that
if you repeat a lie often enough, it will
:'be accepted as truth. This has been the
case with misstatements about the Arab
•refugees. No matter how often the factual
data has been offered for consideration
by those who are, rightfully, plagued by
the frightful problem of the Arab re-
fugees—a problem that was created either
by the refugees themselves or by the
leaders of the anti-Israel Arab forces—it
seemed to fall on deaf ears. Those who
are bent upon destroying Israel keep on
repeating the lies that embrace inflated
numbers, the origin of the problem and
-its present status: a status involving forced
'perpetuation of the issue so that it might
serve as the most serious weapon' against
Israel.
It becomes necessary, therefore, to re-
vert to the issue, to offer facts whenever
they become available, to make every
effort to enlighten all who are concerned
'regarding the true facts, so that public
opinion may not be either biased or
poisoned with anti-Israel sentiment.
A former British member of the In-
ternational Refugee Organization, Edgar
Kennedy, recently analyzed the problem
for Hadassah's Newsletter. While, on an
earlier _ occasion, we already had made
reference to Mr. - Kennedy's views, which
'must be considered authoritative because
'of the years he had given to the adminis-
tration of the refugees' needs in the Middle
East, we consider his current statement
sufficiently important for additional con-
sideration. Mr. Kennedy poses the ques-
tion, "how did this problem arise?" and,
referring to "the turbulent last months of
the British Mandate in Palestine in 1948,"
he describes, as follows, how "the unfor-
tunate refugees found themselves on the
other side of the border, bereft of posses-
sions, and unable to return to their
homes:"

"Unmolested by the withdrawing British
forces, Arab guerrillas had invaded Palestine
from neighboring countries. The governments
of these Arab countries made preparations
for sending their troops into Palestine on
May 15 when the Mandate officially ended.
The Palestine Arabs would have been in the
way of the invading forces, and orders were
given for their removal. They were assured
by the Arab leaders that their stay in neigh-
boring Arab countries would last only a few
weeks and- that they would return in the
wake of the victorious Arab armies to re-
'claim not only their homes but a fair share
of the loot from conquered Jewish property.
On the other hand, anyone who stayed be-
hind, they were told, would be considered a
traitor and would suffer the fate of the
Jews."

An aftermath, of the war the Arabs
lost—"for which they have never since
forgiven Israel (or themselves)" — is
mentioned by Mr. Kennedy as "seldom
referred to." It is: "The Jews who had
lived in Arab states, if not in perfect
amity, at least, no more molested than the
Jews in many a Christian land, suddenly
found their position untenable. More than
350,000 Jews, notably from Iraq, Yemen
and North Africa fled to the security
which Israel offered. In Iraq, they were
obliged to leave behind their property
and possessions. The disastrous Arab-
Israel war had resulted not only in the
creation of an Arab refugee problem, but
had added almost intolerable burdens on
the new Jewish state. But whereas, in
the neighboring Arab states, the refugees
are for the most part regarded as un-
wanted guests, and, they clamor to return
to what they obstinately still refer to as
Palestine, the Jewish refugees from the

Arab lands have shown no disposition to
return but have bent their energies to the
building up of Israel. In any talk of com-
pensation to the Arabs for abandoned
property, however, they demand similar
treatment for themselves."
The number of Arab refugees remains
an ever puzzling problem. Here we come
to Mr. Kennedy's revelations, and to an
expose that should assist in establishing
facts and in removing misunderstandings.
Mr. Kennedy states:

"No one will ever know the exact number
or Arabs who fled their homes before the
onrushing tides of war. According to British
Mandatory figures, the number of Arabs who
were living in the area that is now Israel
was about 700,000. Of these, close to 200,000
remained in Israel or returned under Israel's
"reunion of families" regulation. Allowing
for natural increase, the number of legiti-
mate refugees is estimated by Israel sources
at not more than 650,000.
"There are, however, over 900,000 Arabs
on the UN ration roles. The UN authorities
have never been able to make a complete
census. They find, too, that the longevity of
Arab refugees verges on the miraculous.
Even making allowance for the greatly de-
creased infant and maternal mortality rates
and longer adult life-span resulting from
health and sanitation projects of the UN and
the World Health Organization (WHO), the
low incidence of mortality startled the UN
statisticians.
"Soon the explanation for the Arab
Methusalahs became known. No burials seem
to take place, at least not in the daylight
hours. To register the death of a ration-card
holder means giving up the card which might
otherwise be sold or bartered.
"The Director of the United Nations Re-
lief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Henry
R. Labouisse, asked the Jordan government
last summer for its co-operation in rooting
out what Mr. Labouisse called "refugee
capitalists." According to the Arab News
Agency, Mr. Labouisse said that these "re-
fugee capitalists" hold as many as 500
UNRWA ration cards-7499 of them belong-,
ing to refugees long dead—and they are
black market dealers in UNRWA food and
clothing and ration cards.
"UNRWA attempted to counter this situ-
ation by ordering a burial bonus of $14, but
few claimants came forward.
"It is also believed- that the ration rolls
have been inflated by "infiltrators" from the
local population. General Howard Kennedy,
then director of UNRWA, explained the dis-
crepancy as between 'mathematical calcula-
tions' of bona fide refugees and 'hundreds of
thousands of hungry Arabs claiming need.'"

Mr. Kennedy calls attention to the
fact that UN had set up a $200,000,00 fund
in 1952 for refugee resettlement projects
and that only $7,000,000 has been spent for
that purpose thus far.
Israel's Ambassador to the United
States, Abba Eban, has offered 'reasonable
compensation in respect of cultivated land
abandoned by the refugees," in a state-
ment of policy on behalf of his govern-
ment, at the United Nations. U. S.
Secretary of State John Foster Dulles has
suggested an American loan to assist in
making such compensation possible. But
the Arab politicians cling to a policy of
pursuing political advantages at the ex-
pense of hundreds of thousands of refu-
gees who should be repatriated and
trained for productive pursuits in Arab
countries. As long as such a policy exists,
difficulties in the path of peace also will
be perpetuated in the Middle East. The
added tragedy is that people who should
know better encourage the Arab propa-
gandists by accepting their facts and by
refraining from acquiring knowledge
about the actual situation, as indicated in
the figures we have just quoted.

Louis Fischer's Stimulating Book

'

This Is Our World'

Louis Fischer, keen observer, noted student of world affairs
and one of our best known foreign correspondents, shows his
keenness and emerges as 'an authority on international events
in his latest book, "This Is Our World," a Harper product.
In it, he raises the curtain on many lands and issues. He
takes the reader to Israel, Egypt, India; he discusses the
problems of Asia, Europe and Africa, in relation to America.
He shares with his readers his experiences in meeting the
world's leading personalities and in discussing with them the
issues that face mankind today.
Of great importance are his references to Israel. Mr. Fischer
is not a stranger to Israel. He served in the Jewish Legion in
World War I and had visited Israel and the Arab countries
before. The present material is both new as well as a resume
of events that led to the current conditions in the Middle East.
The area is viewed in the chaPter "Storm Center." Mr. Fischer
warns:
"Arab-Israeli coexistence is the best nationalism. Conflict
defeats national growth. The Arab middle class is interested
in growth; it is truly nationalistic. But the Arab nationalist's
desire to destroy Israel is self-destructive. It not only obstructs
progress by giving guns precedence over bread and water. It
could lead to a dangerous mood within the Arab world and a
dangerous alliance between it and Soviet imperialism."
The "weather prediction," described as "stormy," is explained
by the statement that "the Jews had not waited almost 2,000
years for a state to be indifferent about it." He describes
Zionist politics as "volcanic," and adds: "Though the hostile
neighbors have their ears to the wall, no Israeli thinks he ought
to make less noise. Outbursts in parliament, the press and
public meetings . . are evidence of divisions, but also of
democracy."
The pro-Soviet attitude of Mapam is exposed, and Mr.
Fischer states that "the political struggle between the religious
and Socialist parties, between the Socialist and capitalist parties,
and especially 'between the moderate and pro-Soviet Socialist
parties is ferocious." In this connection he relates:
" The story is told, and it is revealing even if apocryphal,
that one day Prime Minister Ben-Gurion received a telephone
call from his son in London. 'Papa,' said the boy, 'I'm getting
married.'
"Papa Prime Minister, who had a lot 6n his mind, extended
hasty congratulations.
-
"'But Papa,' the son went on, 'my bride is not one of us.'
"'What,' shouted the father. 'From Mapam?'
"`No, no,' the boy explained, 'she's a Christian.'
" `Oh,' said Ben-Gurion with relief, 'that's all right.'"
In view of latest developments in Russia, and the discrediting
of Stalin by Krushchev, Mr. Fischer's comments on the Soviet
situation adds additional light on the East-West conflicts.
In its entirety, "This Is Our World," is another of the
valuable books which help Americans in their judgments of
world conditions.

White House Political Revelations

By BORIS SMOLAR
Editor, Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Now that President Eisenhower has announced that he will
run again for the Presidency, Robert J. Donovan's book "The
Inside Story" — published by Harper's — assumes special im-
portance. In it, Eisenhower's little known views on various
subjects, including Israel, are revealed . . . According to Mr.
Donovan, President Eisenhower indicated at a Cabinet meeting
on Nov. 12, 1953, that he had been told that. the Truman Admin-
istration had used the Israel issue for domestic political ad-.
vantage . . . He cautioned the Cabinet against "playing politics"
with foreign affairs ... These views were given at a meeting of
the Cabinet at which Secretary of State Dulles reported on
Ambassador Eric Johnston's mission to promote a plan for the
development of the Jordan River similar to the Tennessee Valley
Authority. The Johnston project, aimed at bringing Israel and
its neighboring Arab countries closer together, has so far not
been accepted by the Arabs . . The book. highlights President
Eisenhower's opposition to racial and religious discrimination ...
It reveals his preoccupation with preventing such discrimination
in enterprises working on government contracts.

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