GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ISRAELITE PARTY. Handbill. [No place:] 1929.

Very rare Arabic text handbill published by Jews defending themselves against accusations of changes in the religious status quo.

Handbill (353 x 247 mm.), text in Arabic. (Short 20 mm. closed tear to left-hand margin, some other light creasing, very minor spotting confined to margins at lower left-hand side and top right-hand corner.)

VERY RARE HANDBILL, denouncing 'lies' and 'rumours' broadcast by such prominent Arab politicians as Musa Kazim Basha al-Husayni, president of the Arab Executive, declaring that the Jews wish to take over the Haram al-Sharif and Al Aqsa Mosque. The handbill continues with a quotation from the Executive Committee of the Zionist Congress dated 20 September 1928 confirming that the Jews respect the Islamic holy sites. This is followed by a British declaration confirming that the Jews have not asked for control of the Western Wall. Finally, the handbill denounces a Jewish attack on unarmed Arabs.

1929 became a watershed year in the degeneration of the relationship between the Jewish and Arab communities of Mandatory Palestine. In August of that year, long-running religious tensions between Muslims and Jews over access to the Western or Wailing Wall in Jerusalem came to a head. Arab riots in Jerusalem spread to Hebron and Safed, leading to the deaths of 133 Jews and 110 Arabs, accompanied by destruction of property.

The British government, in response to these events, established a commission in consultation with the League of Nations which set out ownership of the Wall and the religious observances permitted there.

Please note that this lot is the property of a private collector.

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