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April 22, 1948 Excerpts from Syrian and Egyptian Addresses in U.N.

United Nations Sponsored Peace ConferenceExcerpts from Syrian and Egyptian Addresses in U.N.

Mr. El-Khouri:

Before I enter into the discussion of the subject proper, allow me to address a few words to a group of pious Christians in this country and in other parts of the Christian world who seem to be moved by fanatic hysteria to adopt blindly a religious anachronism, taken, as they imagine, from the Old Testament in the Bible. These Christians allege that Jehovah promised Abraham to give the land of the Canaanites and the Philistines to his seed, and that those descendants are Jehovah’s chosen people.

Those Christians seem to have overlooked the important qualification to this view – namely, that Jehovah was only setting the stage of history for the eventual appearance of Christ and the fulfillment of the act of redemption promised in the Old Testament itself.  St. Paul in his Epistle to Hebrews, in which the appeal was made particularly to the Jews scattered throughout the world, makes this very clear.

When Christ did come, the chosen people became al those who believe in Christ, who accept his teachings and follow his way.  As for those who have rejected him, they have forfeited their status as the chosen people of God.

Held Opinion of Theologians

This is the established opinion of Christian theologians, who assure us that the prophecies of the Old Testament, concerning the return from captivity of the deported Jews, were fulfilled with their return at the hands of Cyrus, the Persian King. THE JEWS RETURNED FROM THEIR CAPTIVITY IN THE SIXTH CENTURY BEFORE CHRIST, AFTER WHICH NO PROPHET APPEARED IN ISRAEL. CENTURIES LATER ALL CONTACT OF THE JEWS WITH PALESTINE WAS BROKEN.

We have before us the partition of Korea and of the district of Trieste, not to mention Germany, to satisfy power politics and imperialistic aggression.

Nor is it conceivable that there will remain for ever in Palestine an international force to put down every move.  If the uprising is put down by force, it will revive as soon as it finds a possible chance.

The East – both in Asia and Africa – has awakened to a new life.  It has learned to know its right for a free life, and demands it.  It will never again allow the empires of the West or the East to exploit it and subjugate it.  The Arabs had their share of the awakening, and have traveled far on the path of freedom from fear, freedom from aggression.

I appeal to the sublime sense of justice and wisdom of the honorable representatives in this dignified Assembly to keep Palestine citizens to live together in harmony and peace under a democratic regime which would guarantee adequate safeguards and assurances for the legitimate aspirations of its communities.

Mr. Fawzi Bey:

Says Arabs Are Pledged

The Arabs do not oppose the Jews because they are Jews.  The Arabs fight the Jews today because they come to them as invaders, with an announced plan to occupy their country by force and do away with its inhabitants.

The Arabs sympathize with the Jews and are horrified at the terrible treatment which was meted to them in Europe during the last war, as they would to in the case of any religious or racial persecution in any country in the world.  They shared, and would still share in sheltering refugees who seek no wrong and ask for nothing save a shelter.

Denies Arabs Trespass

Can we call the Arabs trespassers or aggressors because they defend their rights and prevent the foreign invaders from occupying their country?

Asks Assimilation of Jews

THE BEST ADVICE TO THE JEWS IS TO COME OUT OF THEIR ISOLATION, TO ASSIMILATE WITH THE PEOPLE AMONG WHOM THEY LIVE AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES AS THEIR COMPATRIOTS, TO BE LOYAL TO THE CITIZENSHIP WHICH THEY BEAR, AS FOLLOWERS OF THE OTHER RELIGIONS DO.

Our Charter affirms the freedom of religious belief and forbids bias on the grounds of religion.

We must further realize the danger of partitioning the one homeland among its inhabitants according to their religious beliefs or racial origins.  Such differences are found within the bounds of every nation in the membership of this organization.

Cites Religious Missions

Arabs respect all the holy places which belong to all sects and religions.

Source:  New York Times.  April 22, 1948

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