Summary
Large Jewish agricultural colony (Arabic Mulebbis), about seven miles north-east of Jaffa, with about 3,500 inhabitants and 25,000 dunums under cultivation, attacked by Arabs on 5 May 1921 (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.40).
Details
- In the two attacks (from north and south), the report’s medical table (read in the original) gives Jews 4 dead and 12 wounded and Arabs 28 dead and 15 wounded, besides evidence that the Abu Kishk tribe removed about 20 more of their dead (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.43).
- Indian Cavalry under Captains Hudson and Vickers and Flying Officer Flynn’s aeroplane dispersed the attackers; unresolved allegations about acid poured on a wounded Arab and about Jews shooting wounded/surrendering Arabs were left to criminal investigation (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.40-43).
- The colony had expelled an M.P.S. branch attempt in spring 1921 (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.23). Its inhabitants are said to have lived on good terms with the Turks and Arab neighbours and never to have been disturbed before the British occupation (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.40).
- Appendix B splits the Arab figures into Petach Tikvah (14 killed, none wounded) and Yahudieh (14 killed, 15 wounded) (PDF p.62). In the conclusions only the Abu Kishk tribe can clearly be saddled with responsibility for the attack; the Yahoudieh men never actually raided the colony (PDF p.47-48).
- Outcomes in Samuel’s despatch: Sheikh Abu Kishk was sentenced by the Military Court to 15 years penal servitude, reduced to 10 years on account of his youth; the two Yahudieh charges that emerged from the legal authorities’ investigation — shooting at the wounded and throwing vitriol on the wounded — were dismissed, as a printed footnote records (PDF p.63-64).
Related pages
Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, Jaffa Riots of May 1921, Kfar Saba