Post by Diarist on Dec 26, 2017 4:05:15 GMT 1
It was a busy night for British forces in Palestine. Not only were the Grand Mufti's residence and offices raided but also three Arab settlements as well as two Jewish settlements searched for illegal weapons. As expected there were no weapons discovered at the Jewish kibbutzim. I travelled to Jerusalem this morning and met LG Geoffrey Howard for lunch. He opened by informing me that nothing new had been found against the Grand Mufti which could be considered incriminating.
"It's as if they had been prepared," he concluded.
"So what do you recommend, Geoffrey?"
"We deport him and his family along others detained in last night's raids."
"May I presume to Syria?"
"That's my recommendation. Our relations with the government in Damascus can't get any worse. They may even be grateful. Who knows?"
"I like the idea of putting all the bad apples in one basket but what are the French saying?"
"They haven't been told yet. I'm hoping that you could casually mention it to General Huntziger when you meet in Tyre later today."
"I'm not going to Tyre today and to be honest I prefer to keep a low profile. I'm meeting David Ben Gurion this evening and intend leaving Palestine either tomorrow or Monday. Officially I am here for ceasefire talks and one of my negotiating partners has been deported. Upon my return to London I shall be recommending a partition of Palestine with Tel Aviv as the provisional capital of the Jewish territories until the status of Jerusalem is resolved."
"But there won't be an official announcement?"
"No. Just a recommendation. I want to hear the Jewish position before returning home. Any announcement now would be premature and I don't have the authority either. May I suggest that you consider talks with Emir Abdullah."
"To what purpose?"
"To explore a joint administration of Arab territories on the west bank of the river Jordan after a possible partition. Geoffrey, nobody is suggesting that British troops will be leaving Palestine in the near future, however we do need to nurture good relations with the potential Jewish and Arab leaderships."
"With David Ben Gurion and Emir Abdullah?"
"That's what I shall be recommending when I return. Britain (and hopefully France) need to support both against possible conflicts with Arab neighbours. Please don't mention partition plans when you meet the French later today. We soldiers need to stay out of that and let the politicians take care of it."
"How much will you tell Ben Gurion this evening?"
"To be honest I haven't decided yet. I do want to gain his trust though because hopefully both he and the Emir will be invited to London soon. There is also a very vocal Zionist group in England and I don't how good their relationship is with the Jewish leadership here in Palestine. That's something I shall be inquiring this evening."
"I want to meet you in Tel Aviv tomorrow so could you delay your departure to Monday, possibly Tuesday?"
"Tuesday at the latest. Any excuse to stay here longer. I like Tel Aviv, Geoffrey. I may even look for a home there when all this is over. By that I mean the global conflict."
"You are young so you can entertain such plans. My retirement is already planned."
"Rubbish. The last word hasn't been spoken for either of us, Geoffrey. Until tomorrow."
"It's as if they had been prepared," he concluded.
"So what do you recommend, Geoffrey?"
"We deport him and his family along others detained in last night's raids."
"May I presume to Syria?"
"That's my recommendation. Our relations with the government in Damascus can't get any worse. They may even be grateful. Who knows?"
"I like the idea of putting all the bad apples in one basket but what are the French saying?"
"They haven't been told yet. I'm hoping that you could casually mention it to General Huntziger when you meet in Tyre later today."
"I'm not going to Tyre today and to be honest I prefer to keep a low profile. I'm meeting David Ben Gurion this evening and intend leaving Palestine either tomorrow or Monday. Officially I am here for ceasefire talks and one of my negotiating partners has been deported. Upon my return to London I shall be recommending a partition of Palestine with Tel Aviv as the provisional capital of the Jewish territories until the status of Jerusalem is resolved."
"But there won't be an official announcement?"
"No. Just a recommendation. I want to hear the Jewish position before returning home. Any announcement now would be premature and I don't have the authority either. May I suggest that you consider talks with Emir Abdullah."
"To what purpose?"
"To explore a joint administration of Arab territories on the west bank of the river Jordan after a possible partition. Geoffrey, nobody is suggesting that British troops will be leaving Palestine in the near future, however we do need to nurture good relations with the potential Jewish and Arab leaderships."
"With David Ben Gurion and Emir Abdullah?"
"That's what I shall be recommending when I return. Britain (and hopefully France) need to support both against possible conflicts with Arab neighbours. Please don't mention partition plans when you meet the French later today. We soldiers need to stay out of that and let the politicians take care of it."
"How much will you tell Ben Gurion this evening?"
"To be honest I haven't decided yet. I do want to gain his trust though because hopefully both he and the Emir will be invited to London soon. There is also a very vocal Zionist group in England and I don't how good their relationship is with the Jewish leadership here in Palestine. That's something I shall be inquiring this evening."
"I want to meet you in Tel Aviv tomorrow so could you delay your departure to Monday, possibly Tuesday?"
"Tuesday at the latest. Any excuse to stay here longer. I like Tel Aviv, Geoffrey. I may even look for a home there when all this is over. By that I mean the global conflict."
"You are young so you can entertain such plans. My retirement is already planned."
"Rubbish. The last word hasn't been spoken for either of us, Geoffrey. Until tomorrow."