Administrative Problems in Regarding to Land Holdings in Palestine before Nakba, British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Supplement - Page 34

(p.265) (§ 98)

Transfers of land in the "free" zone from Arabs to Jewish interests in the year 1945-46 amounted to 6,168 dunums and in the

fast half of 1946-47 to 1,223 dunums. *

Administrative PROBLEMS IN REGARD TO LAND HOLDINGS.

(p. 299)

As an illustration of the difficulties faced by the Administration in giving effect to its dual obligations under Article 6 of the Mandate, the case of the Ma.'Iul Arabs was described on pages 299 to 308 of the Survey of Palestine. The case described has not yet reached a satisfactory conclusion. Subsequently to the events set out in the Survey ~ proposal was made to the Jewish National Fund whereby Government offered in exchange for the 3,700 dunums of Ma'lul land some 1,500 dunums of valuable irrigated State Domain in the Haifa Bay Area (free zone) together with some 3,700 dunums of State Domain in Beisan, part of which was occupied by Jewish trespassers. This offer was somewhat contemptuously refused, the Jewish National Fund contending that in offering them land which was trespassed upon by Jews, Government was offering them what was already their own. After some negotiations in the course of which it was pointed out to the Fund that they had previously admitted that they had no rights in the Beisan lands and that Government had refrained from executionary measures for the eviction of the trespassers because of the impending negotiations for an exchange, the Jewish N ational Fund made a proposal whereby they would receive in exchange for the 3,700 dunums of Ma'lul some 5,433 dunums of Beisan land. The 5,433 dunums of State Domain included about 2,500 dunums which were not already occupied by Jews. This proposal, although it meant banding over to the Fund certain comparatively small areas which bad been let to Arabs on annual leases, upon the expiration of those leases, was regarded by Government as moderately satisfactory since all the Beisan lands included in the exchange were either occupied by Jews or adjacent to lands in Jewish possession or ownership. A consolidation of Jewish holdings in the vicinity would thereby be effected. An agreement was drawn up and signed on 21st May, 1946, by the Director of Land Settlement on behalf of Government and by the representative of the Fund. The necessary work was put in hand at once and a deed of exchange effecting the legal transfer of ownership was signed by the representative of the Jewish National Fund on 2nd December, 1946, and by the High Com-

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