PALESTINE RIOTS

PALESTINE RIOTS PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS

Large-format photographs focusing on the events of the 1929 riots in Palestine.

A group of 18 press photographs, dated 1929, various sizes (mostly approx. 200 x 250 mm. or 165 x 220 mm., a few smaller), most with typescript descriptions on versos, stamps and serial numbers of various American press agencies. (Some minor crinkling, a few lightly dogeared and creased.)

One large-format photograph shows the Western, or Wailing, Wall, the changes to the status quo of which triggered the 1929 disturbances. Three photographs show Jewish victims of the riots, including one of William Berman, a 24 year-old American from Philadelphia who had been studying at the Hebron yeshiva, and was killed during its destruction. Another image shows Edward Best of Tottenham, London, who was killed during the riots while serving as a Special Constable in Jerusalem. Further images show an Arab mass meeting at the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem – apparently taken by a secret camera – and Jews fleeing in advance of an attack. One picture shows Meir Dizengoff, first Mayor of Tel-Aviv, while another shows demonstrations by Jews in New York against British inaction. As a counterpoint to this latter, photographs are also included of Palestine Police searching Arab suspects, and the flag battleship, HMS Barham, sailing to Palestine to help restore law and order. Her crew helped to suppress rioting in Haifa, and also operated the Haifa-Jerusalem railway in the second half of 1929.