The Arab Reform Party, The National Bloc Party, & The First Arab Higher Committee in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 949. Chapter XXIII: Community And Religious Affairs: Section 1

CHAPTER XXII.

Soon after the publication of the White Paper of 1939 (Command No. 6019) by His Majesty's Government Ragheb Bey Nashashibi proclaimed its acceptance by his party.

The Arab Reform party.

This party was formed in August, 1935. Its objects are the attainment of freedom for Palestine; the establishment of self-government; the welfare of farmers and workers; the encouragement of education; and opposition to a Jewish National Home. It was formed by Dr. Hussein Fakhri el Khalidi to strengthen his position after his election as Mayor of Jerusalem in 1934.

This party has never, as a party, had any appreciable influence over public opinion. Dr. Hussein Khalidi , personally, has considerable influence in Jerusalem and his views are given wide. publicity in the local Arab press. He was a member of the first Arab Higher Committee and was deported to the Seychelles in 1937.

The National Bloc party.

This party was formed in Nablus in July, 1935, under the presidency of Abdul Latif Bey Salah, a lawyer and former official of the Ottoman Senate at Istanbul. Its declared objects are : to work for the independence and preservation of the Arab character of Palestine; to unify all political efforts of the Palestinian Arabs: and to disseminate propaganda for this purpose.

The influence of this party is now small and very local, being chiefly derived from limited areas around Nablus and Jaffa.

The Istqlalist (Independence) party.

This party, properly speaking, is the Palestine branch of the Pan-Arab Independence party founded by the followers of the Amir Feisal in Damascus in 1920. The general secretary of this branch is Anni Bey Abdul Hadi. Its declared aim is the independence of Arab countries; it bases itself upon the principle that Arab countries are an indivisible entity, and that Palestine is an Arab country, historically and geographically an integral part of Syria. In Palestine itself the party has now little influence; but A uni Bey himself, when he was private secretary to the Amir Feisal in Damascus between 1918-1920, acquired a close acquaintanceship with Arab politicians who now hold high office throughout the Middle East.

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