§ Earl WintertonMr. Deputy-Speaker, with your permission, and at the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Colonies, I desire to ask the Under-Secretary a question of which I have given him Private Notice: whether he has any further information to give on the recent rioting in Tel Aviv.
The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)On the evening of the 14th November, rioting occurred in Tel Aviv, following mass meetings by Jews in protestation against the Government statement of policy. The offices of the District Administration, the Control of Light Industries and the Income Tax Department were attacked and set on fire. Damage was extensive. An attack on the Post Office was frustrated by police and military action. As six baton charges were insufficient to disperse the crowd, soldiers who had been brought up to reinforce the police fired ten rounds. The crowd withdrew. Other crowds stoned the police and soldiers. After verbal warning and after three soldiers had been injured, four rounds were fired with the desired effect.
At another place, troops were heavily stoned by a crowd who refused to disperse. Two rounds were fired. A curfew on the municipal area of Tel Aviv was imposed on the night of the 14th 2522 November. Mass protest meetings against the Government's policy were held at Jerusalem on the same night with minor incidents. With the concurrence of the General Officer Commanding, the Officer Administering the Government issued a firmly-worded proclamation, enjoining the people to maintain law and order, and warning them of the consequences of not doing so.
Yesterday the curfew imposed on Tel Aviv was broken by a large number of rioters. Cars were overturned, including a military lorry which was burned out, a section of the railway line was torn up, a branch post office and a number of shops were wrecked and looted. A branch of Barclays Bank was also wrecked but the rioters failed to force the safes. During these incidents, troops were compelled to open fire on threatening crowds after police had been unable to disperse them with baton charges. On two occasions home-made grenades were thrown at troops. Thirty arrests were made for breaking curfew, and five adults and five juveniles were arrested for rioting.
The General Officer Commanding and the Acting Chief Secretary conferred with local military and civil authorities on the steps required to restore law and order in Tel Aviv. It was clearly evident that, in the interest of security both locally and throughout the country, the curfew had to be maintained and rigidly enforced until order had been restored. The necessary military dispositions were made to enforce the curfew fully throughout the town last night. The General Officer Commanding and the Acting Chief Secretary later summoned the Mayor to meet them and impressed upon him the supreme need at the present juncture of ensuring that all law abiding citizens complied with the curfew restrictions and generally co-operated in the maintenance of law and order. The Mayor expressed himself in full agreement with the need for enforcing law and order, and undertook that he and the Municipal Council would use their best efforts to that end. The Mayor subsequently issued a message to the inhabitants of Tel Aviv condemning the irresponsible elements and urging them to desist.
Latest reports last night suggested that these measures, together with the proclamation issued by the Officer Adminis- 2523 trating the Government, had been effective, that the curfew was then in force and the situation in hand. There have been no incidents of major significance in Palestine outside Tel Aviv. The most recent figures of casualties during the two days rioting are five Jewish rioters dead and fifty-six injured and detained in hospital. Thirteen members of the Palestine Police Force have been injured, of whom one has been detained in hospital. The total Army casualties were approximately ten injured. None have been detained in hospital.
I am sure the House will agree with me in deploring these lamentable events. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs made it clear in his statement last Tuesday that there could be no question of allowing an issue to be forced by violent conflict. Those who have the duty of maintaining law and order in Palestine may be assured that they have the full support of His Majesty's Government in carrying out their heavy responsibility.
§ Earl WintertonMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he would ask the Secretary of State to consider whether it would be appropriate to convey to the Palestinian Police Force and its British, Arab and Jewish members an expression of the appreciation which everyone in this country feels of the great courage and restraint they have exercised under the most terribly difficult circumstances? The Jewish members of the Force, I think, are especially to be commended.
Mr. Creech JonesI will certainly do that, because I am perfectly certain that my right hon. Friend is aware of the extraordinary restraint which has been shown by the Forces operating there.