British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Supplement - Page 146

HAPOEL HAMTZRAHI (Mizrahi Workers). (§ 36)

This party is a branch of the world movement "Torah Ve'avoda" which in turn is an integral part of the World Mizrahi Organisation. Although its nationalist aims are identical with those of the right wing Mizrahi Party in Palestine, it differs by sharing the social and economic outlook of the Jewish labour parties. Its domestic policies, nevertheless, lay emphasis on religion and it strives for the adoption of the tenets of religious Judaism in the everyday life of the community. Its principal aim is the establishment of a Jewish State based on the Torah (the Law) and self-labour. The party, whose membership in Palestine is over 12,000, embraces a number of orthodox religious agricultural workers' and smallholders' settlements and a large number of workers in the towns. Although the party is independent of the General Federation of Jewish Labour it participates in the General Labour Exchanges and in the Sick Fund (Kupat Cholirn). At the elections to the Zionist Congress the party polled Hl,176 votes, or 10% of the total. Its representatives on the Jewish Agency Executive are Mr. M. Shapiro and Mr. S. Z. Shragai. The party associated itself with the Congress resolutions. It opposed the re-election of Dr. Chaim Weizman to the Presidency of the World Zionist Organisation. The daily "Hatzofeh" of the World Mizrahi Organisation serves as its organ.

B. Parties of the Centre.

ALI~A HADASHA (New Immigrants' Party). (p. 958)

(§ 39)

This party, founded in 1942, consists mainly of immigrants from Germany and other Central European countries. It is opposed to maximalist slogans and advocates a realistic approach to the Palestine problem. It strives for a steady continuation of constructive Zionist work in close cooperation with 'Great Britain and a political regime, under the g\1idance of Dr. Chaim Weizman, which will graduall.v facilitate self-government and create conditions favourable to peaceful Jewish-Arab cooperation. The party is supported by a group of agricultural middleclass settlements evolved largely by settlers from Germany, many of whom used to belong to the professional classes in their country of origin : these settlements are based on individual property, complete co-operation in marketing, supply and communal affairs. It has a small labour group which participates in the General Federation of Jewish Labour. The party is the larger group of the centre

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