Summary
Acting Chairman of the Zionist Commission whose evidence to the Haycraft Commission of Inquiry the Commission reports as expressing, frankly and without sophistry, the claims at the root of the May 1921 unrest, differing materially from the declared policy of the Secretary of State and the High Commissioner (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.59).
Details
- Until the Commission examined Dr Eder, it was unaware to what extent the expressions of opinion quoted from Zionist publications were authorised by responsible Zionists; Eder was a most enlightening witness, quite unaggressive in manner and free from any desire to push forward opinions offensive to the Arabs, but perfectly frank on vital matters (PDF p.59).
- In the Commission’s report of his evidence, he gave no quarter to the National Home view of the Secretary of State and Herbert Samuel: there can only be one National Home in Palestine, and that a Jewish one, and no equality in the partnership between Jews and Arabs, but a Jewish predominance as soon as the numbers of that race are sufficiently increased; he declined to admit the word “dominion,” but chose “predominance” (PDF p.59).
- He was quite clear that the Jews should, and the Arabs should not, have the right to bear arms, and stated his belief that this discrimination would tend to improve Arab-Jewish relations (PDF p.59).
- He considered that the Zionist Organisation should be allowed either to formulate objections to the British Government’s selection of a High Commissioner for Palestine, or to submit a list of its own nominees for consideration (PDF p.59).
- As acting Chairman he presumably expresses in all points the official Zionist creed, if such there be; the Commission notes the diversity of view in that Arab witnesses denounce the Government of Palestine as a Zionist Government while Dr Eder stigmatises it as an Arab administration (PDF p.59).
Related pages
Zionist Commission, Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, Jewish National Home