Palestine question – Arab League protest – Press release

UNITED NATIONS

Department of Public Information

Press and Publications Bureau

Lake Success, New York

Press Release PAL/461

16 March 1949

SECRETARY-GENERAL OF ARAB LEAGUE PROTESTS TO UN

Secretary-General Trygve Lie has received the following cable, dated 13 March, from Abdul Rahman Azzan Pasha, Secretary-General of the Arab League, (unofficial translation from French):

"At the time when philanthropic international organizations are cooperating with states inspired by principles of humanity to help Arab refugees from Palestine and at the time when interested organs are searching for a just and adequate solution of this problem, it comes to my knowledge that the Zionists have expelled groups of Arabs numbering 479, including women, children and old people, from regions where they had taken refuge and which are now under Jewish control and intend to drive away all invalid Arabs so as not to be responsible for their upkeep.  The above mentioned refugees had gone in the direction of the Iraqi front and have been attacked by Jewish machine-gun fire.

"I request you to take note of my emphatic protests in the name of the League of Arab States against these acts committed in violation of principles of humanity and of human dignity and contrary to the laws and usages of war.  Moreover, these acts aggravate the problem of refugees and seriously affect the realization of a Palestine solution in general.

These communication has been forwarded to the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine and to the Acting Mediator, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, for their information.

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