British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 72

CHAPTER II.

than were the members of the Arab Higher Committee in 1937. But they held aloof and did not actively intervene, basing their attitude apparently on the principle that, so long as the aggression was not directed at them, the greater the violence of the Jews the better for the Arab cause.

The renewed campaign of terror began at the end of January with explosions in The Government Transport Agency's car park in Jaffa. On 3rd February two Jews were surprised tampering with the wall of St. George's Cathedral; from articles left behind it appeared that they had been engaged on the installation of an infernal machine at the gate of the cathedral through which the High Commissioner was wont to pass on his way to Sunday service. On 12th February there were explosions in the offices of the Department of Migration in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa and considerable damage done to the buildings. On 14th February a British police officer and a British constable were shot dead in the streets of Haifa. On 24th February bomb explosions occurred in police headquarters at Haifa causing police casualties, and on 26th February the income tax offices at Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv were severely damaged by bombs. During March there were isolated murders of policemen, and on the 23rd eight British policemen were murdered bv shooting and bombs and serious damage was done to police buildings in the four major towns. Following these last attacks curfews were imposed and the death penalty was reintroduced for the carrying of arms, etc. On 17th May the Ramallah broadcasting station was attacked in an abortive attempt to broadcast therefrom. On 14-th .Iulv the district police headquarters and district land registry offices at Jerusalem were attacked and severely damaged by explosives and fire; police casualties were inflicted and the land registry records destroyed. On 8th August a deliberate attempt was made by Jewish terrorists to assassinate the High Commissioner while he and Lady MacMichael were proceeding by car to a municipal farewell function at Jaffa; the Aide de Camp and the British police driver were seriously wounded. A fine of £P.500 was subsequently placed on the Jewish settlement of Givat Shaul for failing to assist the police who investigated the crime. On 22nd August three police buildings in Jaffa and Tel Aviv were attacked with loss of police Jives. On 27th September four police stations were attacked with some casualties to Palestinian police personnel, and on 29th September a senior police officer was assassinated on his way to his office. On 5th October the Tel Aviv offices and stores of the Department of Light Industries were raided by some fifty members of the Irgun Zvai Leumi and textiles valued at £P.100,000 were removed.

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