British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 212

CHAPTER VII.

habitually resident in Trans-Jordan to whom the Immigration Ordinance, 1941, applied, desiring to enter. Palestine direct from Trans-Jordan, should be in possession of passports or other similar documents, and further ordered that any such persons who were not in possession of a passport or other similar document should be refused permission to enter Palestine. That is to say that the habitual residents of Trans-Jordan are admitted to Palestine on the same conditions as other foreigners.

58. The second misconception relates to the movement of certain inhabitants from the Lebanon and Syria into Palestine. The northern frontier between Palestine on the south and Syria and the Lebanon on the north intersects some properties and in other cases separates an owner or a tenant from the land in his possession. As a consequence of this state of fact a Bon Voisinage Agreement between Syria and Palestine was concluded in 1924 between the authorities of the two territories in virtue of which certain persons living on either side of the frontier might cross that frontier at will for the normal pursuit of their occupations. Such persons are required to hold border passes which they are required to produce on challenge. If the Lebanese and Syrian holders of these border passes travel beyond the sub-districts in Palestine that lie along the frontier they become illegal immigrants. These people have no intention of permanent settlement in Palestine since their homes lie to the north of the frontier.

59. The conclusion is that Arab illegal immigration for the purposes of permanent settlement is insignificant.

60. There has, however, been considerable illegal immigration of a temporary nature by Arabs from neighbouring territories in search of employment during the war years. With the deterioration of the Allied position in North Africa ill 1942, Palestine became an arsenal for both offence and defence. Airfields, defences and roads had to be rapidly constructed and there arose a demand for labour exceeding the local supply.

61. As a matter of emergency, official arrangements were made, in October 1942, to bring labourers from Syria and the Lebanon under the auspices of the Army. To facilitate entry it was agreed that the labourers should be brought in compact groups by trucks and train; nominal rolls stating details of identity were accepted as collective travel documents, each labourer carrying an identity card. Under this arrangement 3,800 labourers were admitted. Of• this number it is known that 713 deserted; 828 were officially repatriated; and 178 remained in employment at 31st December,

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