Lawrence of Arabia, Zionism and Palestine - The World War I ...

ZIONISM AND PALESTINE 83
but almost no French. Said he had heard nothing but
discouraging reports from Palestine and that the
Administration seemed to be nettement anti-Z. 1
I
begged them to come out and see for themselves, and
told them that the slow movers like myself were not
only their best friends, but their only hope." 8
The ardent Zionist from Pinsk or Przemysl, between
the bitterly hostile Arab and the coldly impartial British
official, always recalled to me Theocritus' description
of Ptolemy, eiows τov φιλίοντα, τov ov φιλίοιτ eτι μάλλον
"Recognizing his friend, but his enemy even better";
sometimes indeed confusing the two. Jewish Doctors
would alienate the Public Health Department even
where their talents were most admired, and they seemed
1"In the early spring of 1918 Arab leaders in Palestine and
Egypt were eager to come to terms with Zionists on the basis of
mutual concessions. The Jews responded with the greatest readiness
and cordiality. The Arabs' attitude grew more and more reserved,
strictly parallel with the increasing antagonism of the British
military administration to Zionism and Jewish claims. There are
clear indications that in some cases direct advice was given to the
Arab leaders ... to abstain from concessions to the Jews. ..."
"But notwithstanding this artificially-created antagonism on
the spot between the local Arab leaders and the Jews of Palestine,
the National Arab leadership, in their desire to foster the Arab
national cause, were trying to enlist the help of the Jewish people
by expressing their sympathy with the Zionist aims and willingness
to collaborate with the Jews in the rebuilding of the Jewish National
Home in Palestine."
"... Bitter enmity to Jewish national aspirations . . . vigorous,
unscrupulous propaganda against the Jews ... ; unfortunately
it found the sympathetic ear of the British authorities on the spot,
who, for quite other reasons and considerations, were opposed
to the Jewish aspirations."
From Political Report of the Zionist Organisation,
quoted by J. M. Mackover, 1936.
Of these grave allegations some specific proof should be, but
never has been, given. Is the world seriously asked to believe
that the Palestine Arabs, so soon as they realized its implications,
needed prompting and were not spontaneously opposed to political
Zionism ?
2 Before leaving for England I had written: "The Christian
Communities have no idea of allowing Jerusalem to lose any of
its prestige as the centre of the Christian religions, and are far from