The National Defense Party (Difa'a) in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 948. Chapter XXIII: Community And Religious Affairs: Section 1

CHAPTER XXIII.

Husseini. Its objects are the independence of Palestine and the termination of the Mandate; the preservation of the Arab character of the country; opposition to Zionism; and the establishment of closer relations between Palestine and other Arab countries.

The Palestine Arab party has always been the largest and most important of the Arab political parties, chiefly because it is preeminently the party of Haj Amin Jamal Etf. el Husseini took refuge with Haj Amin in Syria and the Lebanon in 1937. Subsequently he fled to Iraq and, after the failure of the revolt of Rashid Ali el Gailani in 1941, to Persia. He was arrested in Persia in 1941, and detained in Southern Rhodesia, from whence he has now been released.

Tewfiq Eff. Saleh el Husseini, the brother of Jamal, was chosen as acting president of the Palestine Arab party on its revival, after a momentary eclipse, in 1942. The secretary of the party, Emil Eff. Ghoury, is a Christian.

The National Defence party.

This party was formed in December, 1934, under the presidency of Ragheb Bey Nashashibi, C.B.E. In general it is less extreme than the Palestine Arab party. Its object is to work for the independence of Palestine in such a manner as to ensure Arab supremacy. It acknowledges no international obligations which may prejudice Arab independence or permit the introduction of any foreign influence, whether in political or administrative affairs.

Among the members of this party are a number of notables of influence and standing, including several mayors and chairmen of municipal commissions. Through the influence of Suleiman Bey Toukan, C.B.E., Mayor of Nablus, it commands wide support in Samaria.

Ragheb Bey N ashashibi joined the first Arab Higher Committee in 1936, but was never a whole-hearted supporter of Haj Amin Eff. el Husseini. He maintained his position as a moderate and finally withdrew from the Higher Committee, thus escaping the fate of his colleagues when the committee was dissolved and its members exiled or deported in 1937. In consequence, members of the Nashashibi family and the Defence party suffered losses in lives and property at the hands of the Arab gangs between 1937 and 1939. For that reason the Defence party gave considerable assistance to the authorities in counter-measures against gangs and terrorists during those years. Four members of the party, headed by Ragbeb Bey, visited London early in 1939 and had discussions with His Majesty's Government.

948