Summary
Jewish colony (El-Deiran in the report), about four miles from Ramleh on the road to Gaza, attacked on 6 May 1921 by men returning from the Nebi Saleh Festival (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.43-44).
Details
- A false rumour that Rehoboth Jews had attacked the Arab village of West Zermuka — in Mr Miller’s opinion deliberately concocted by certain notables — preceded the move on the colony; a garden house was burned, and an aeroplane and Indian Cavalry made the retreat general; an R.F.A. picket armed with pick handles held the colony’s defence (Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, PDF p.44).
- Conclusion of the attack: three Arabs were ascertained killed by rifle fire, no colonists were injured, the Arabs carried no firearms so far as the evidence goes and none had entered the village; Appendix B gives Rehoboth Arabs 3 killed and 5 wounded (PDF p.45, 62). Certain Arab notables were tried for incitement with no conviction; of the men later tried for the attack, Samuel’s despatch records in a printed footnote one sentence of two years’ imprisonment for inciting, two of one year, and the remainder acquitted (PDF p.45, 64).
Related pages
Palestine. Disturbances in May, 1921. Reports of the Commission of Inquiry with Correspondence Relating Thereto, Nebi Saleh Festival, Jaffa Riots of May 1921