Palestine question – Threat of Jewish attacks – Letter from Iraq

NOTE DATED 3 JANUARY 1949 FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

CONCERNING THE PALESTINE QUESTION

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations at Lake Success and has the honour to refer to the note No. 648 dated 9-11-48, submitted by the Iraqi Command to the truce observers at Nablus, the Iraqi Government has received with deep regret the complaint lodged with the Iraqi Military authorities by the inhabitants of the Arab village Daliat-Karmel (154233) in Palestine in which they stated that the Jewish gangs had broadcast a threat of their determination to annihilate completely the inhabitants of the aforementioned village whose number amounts to (300) including women, men and children, and to take them as hostages, in the event of the execution of the death sentence passed on both Ali Kaid al Namer Hassoon and Said Naif Hassoon, two Arabs who were proved to have acted as spies against the Iraqi Forces in Palestine, after they had been tried by the appropriate Iraqi Court Martials in accordance with their legal powers and with the Iraqi laws in force.  In view of the alarm which prevails amongst the inhabitants of the aforementioned village by reason of the broadcast and as the taking of hostages or threatening the peaceful inhabitants with murder and annihilation is considered to be a barbarous method which is absolutely contrary to the principles of international law and practice, the Iraq Government, therefore places on record its strong protest against the acts of threat and terrorism committed by the Jewish gangs in a manner which is inconsistent with the simplest principles of law and humanity which regulate the relations between civilized nations and communities, and requests the esteemed Secretariat to present this protest to the Security Council of the United Nations and the Acting Mediator in Palestine in order to take speedy and effective measures for the elimination of the real fear felt by the inhabitants of the above-mentioned village and the prevention of the occurrence of any threats by Jews towards the Arabs there or in any other part in Palestine.

The Iraqi Government also feels itself bound to warn against the serious consequences which are expected to occur, should the Jews venture upon such barbarous acts to Jews living in Arab areas in Palestine itself or in the other Arab countries as a result of the great indignation and rage on the Arab public opinion and its determination to avenge their Arab brethren.

The Arabs have until now suffered much from repeated Jewish savage attacks and aggressions against innocent Arab inhabitants including women and children.  Any thing, therefore, which the Jews add to those monstrous crimes inevitably will lead to a violent reaction amongst the Arabs, the consequences of which cannot now be predicted and for which the Arab Governments can in no way bear responsibility.

The Ministry avails itself of this opportunity to renew the expression of its highest consideration.