Zionist Position Delimited in the Knightley and Simpson
New Volume Describing 'The Secret Lives of Lawrence of Arabia
Eccentric, never devoid of intri-
gue, always with one objective in
view—that of serving his country,
Great Britain — Col. T. E. Law-
rence, who became famous for his
"Seven Pillars of Wisdom" as
much as for his leadership in the
Arabian revolt, was certainly a
strong supporter of Zionism.
His aim may have been to ad-
vance British colonial rule, but
throughout his career he consis-
tently believed in the Jewish abil-
ity to rebuild Palestine and in the
justice of the Zionist cause.
Out of all of the revelations
about the lives of this "Lawrence
of Arabia" described in "The
Secret Lives of Lawrence of Ara-
bia," by Phillip Knightley and
Colin Simpson, the Zionist idea
certainly emerges among the ma-
jor elements in an interesting ca-
reer.
What puzzles the Jewish read-
er of this vast study published
by McGraw Hill Book Co. seems
to be a measure of one-sidedness
that could well serve the Arabs
in their battle against Zionism.
It is not the Jewish aspiration
and the historic role of the dream
of an Israel redeemed that is
treated by the authors, but sort
of a politically schemed move-
ment called Zionism. Also—the
authors seem to have inherited
an old myth regarding the rich
Jews who could serve so well in
building up a Palestine that
would serve British needs. There
is something Machiavellian in
the suggestion relating to Zion-
ism. In today's scheme of things,
with Zionism depleted as the
scheming old woman in Middle
East politics, the treatment of
the libertarian movement in the
Knightley-S impson book ap-
proaches such a role.
Nevertheless it should be ac-
knowledged that the authors of
"The Secret Lives of Lawrence of
Arabia" did gather all the basic
data about Lawrence's activities
among Arabs, together with Dr.
Chaim Weizmann in support of
Zionism.
"During the Paris Peace Con-
ference, far from devoting himself
to fighting for a fair deal for the
Arabs, Lawrence was working on
a scheme to upset the French posi-
tion in the Middle East by arrang-
ing for international Jewry to
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 1, 1970-19
Membership Now. Open
for
SINGLE JEWISH
YOUNG MEN'S GROUP
was in many respects their be- Arab state in Syria, under British
finance Feisal, and perhaps all
trayer because of his role as a protection financed and advised
Arabia, at 6 per cent. The intrigue
by Zionists!"
British agent.
this involved played a part •in
Ages 21-27
What a fantastic story! The
Much in this volume is historical-
creating Israel, which can hardly
British chiefs in the Arabs sphere
ly
valuable
and
creates
very
deep
be said to have turned out to be
Contact
interest in the entire scheme relat- were anti-Semitic, and friends in
in the Arabs' best interests."
KE 8-6227
Richard Hitow
How ludicrous! To speak of an ing to the Middle East. General the administration who were true
of Zionism kept quitting
international Jewry as if there Allenby's entrance into Jerusalem, friends
the
service
because
they
could
really was a combine of Jewish the roles of many British notables not tolerate the prejudices. Sir
interests working %with Law- in the developing situation—many
Deedes, the civil secre-
rence! And this amazing com- are the factors of interest, some Wyndham
tary, was typical among them.
ment both discredits Lawrence's of puzzlement.
In speaking of the Sykes`-Picot Also: Zionists struggled to collect
sincerity as a pro.Zionist while
for the work in Palestine,
it almost gives credence to anti- agreement, the authors state that pennies
Zionists
were led to believe that yet the authors of the book about
and
Semitic claims of Jewish control
Lawrence
of Arabia speak con-
their
dream
was
about
to
come
of everything, especially with
Zionists financing Brit-,
stantly
of
true
but
that
the
point
about
the
money. While the historic truth
agreement was that "it left hardly ish schemes.
is that except for the Baron anything
Viewed in the light of such dis-
worthwhile for the
Rothschild's support of some Arabs." There
is an exaggeration tortions, the Knightley - Simpson
setters in Palestine the rich here that emphasizes
book is shocking and distressing.
a
possible
Jews were the enemies of the
prejudice: how does this state- It represents such a vast amount
Zionist movement.
ment square with the emergence of research, yet it misrepresents
And so we have a tale of Law- of 14 Arab states that now battle Zionism. What a pity! —P.S.
rence's intrigues in behalf of which against the existence of an Israeli
,
the Knightley-Simpson story would entity?
We furnish everything
To'Study Biased Texts
have us believe that Zionism play-
It is unpleasant to see preju-
JERUSALEM, (JTA) —The In-
but the Kids!
ed a part in the anti-French, rro-
dice in a volume that aims at
Arab schemes. The fact is that
unmasking a famous figure the ternational Committee of Jewish
Lawrence together with Weizmann
authors consider a schemer, and Christian Organizations will
and Felix Franidurter conferred nevertheless it is difficult to view hold a conference to consider how
deal with allegedly anti-Semitic
with Feisal and secured from him
the Knightley-Simpson book as to
passages still remaining in paro-
the pro-Zionist statement. But the
anything but biased against chial
school materials.
aftermath could be interpreted as
Zionism.
This was disclosed here by Ben-
another Arab revolt in which Fei-
Corner 12 Mile & Evergreen
In the description of Lawrence's
sal himself repudiated his own deals with Feisal in behalf of a jamin Yaffe, director of the Jewish
statement. We have in this volume Jewish Palestine, and in discus- Agency's department for external
Phone
357-1215 or 588-0300
most interesting data which the sing Weizmann's role and the Bal- relations, who has returned from a
committee session in the Nether-
authors themselves treat with sus- four Declaration, dealing with the lands.
picion, delimiting the entire Law- Sykes-Picot agreement and other
rence role and branding it as the aspects of the Zionist issue, the
selfishly pro-British, anti-French authors state:
scheme.
"Despite obvious difficulties,
Lawrence walked through Pales- once Britain had decided that she
tine and the areas described in- wanted Palestine for herself and
dicate the interest the famed sup- that Zionism would help her to
STILL THE WORLD'S LARGEST
porter of Arab liberation prior to achieve this aim, her chief officers
World War I had and his knowl- in the Arab sphere threw them-
East.
One
of
edge of the Middle
selves behind this policy, either be-
his early comments in a letter he cause they sympathized with the
wrote in 1911 with regard to Pal- aims of the Zionists/or because it
estine was: "The sooner the Jews furthered their beliefs in what was
"REMEMBER"
farm it all the better."
best for the area. Lawrence, for
Much is being said about the example, saw the Balfour Declara-
WE SELL THE MOST
Sykes-Picot agreements, about tion as a way of keeping the
the denial by Sir Arthur Mac- French out of Palestine and, what
WE
GIVE THE MOST
Mahon that British pledges ab- was more to the point, as part of
negated any support of Zionism a scheme which might also keep
WE CARE THE MOST
in the pre-Balfour days. Indeed, them out of Syria. It was a bold
MILT LEVIN
schemes are exposed and inter- plan, though not at this stage fully
RED STOTSKY
national intrigues were in evid- formulated: what Lawrence was
Call 863-9300
Call 863-9300
ence. The anti-Zionist attitude is doing, startling as it may sound,
18650 LIVERNOIS, SOUTH OF SEVEN
not convincing but it proves a was working along the lines of an
factor in a volume that hints
that Lawrence, hailed as the
Arabs' benefactor and liberator,
Rabbi's Award to Gov. Rockefeller
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The New York Board of Rabbis presented Governor Nelson A.
Rockefeller with a gift of a Jerusalem Bible "as a token of apprecia-
tion for his friendship to Israel, for his quarter century of leadership
in the Non-Sectarian Communal Committee of the United Jewish
Appeal of Greater New York and for his continuous cooperation with
the New York Board of Rabbis." Jack D. Weiler, chairman of the
board of the advisory council of the New York Board of Rabbis and
honorary chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, made the presenta-
tion. In the photo (from left) are Samuel Hausman, honorary chair-
man of the UJA of Greater New York; Ravvi Gilbert Klaperman,
chairman of the board of the New York Board of Rabbis; Governor
Rockefeller; Rabbi Israel Mowshowiez, past president of the Board of
Rabbis; Rabbi Edward T. Sandrow, chairman of the executive com-
mittee; Rabbi Harold I. Saperstein, president of the Board of Rabbis,
and William Kaufman, president of its advisOry council. The Board of
Rabbis, which includes 900 Orthodox, Conservative and Reform
rabbis in New York state and environs, is the largest representative
body in the world. It is observing its 89th anniversary.
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