Report Arabs Fleeing Haifa by Land and Sea

United Press, Haifa

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Transcribed from the clipping

“HAIFA, (UP) — The Arab population of Haifa was reported fleeing by land and sea today after refusing a Jewish truce demanding they lay down their arms and submit to search. More than 6,000 fled to sea in small fishing boats across the bay to Acre, Arab stronghold near the Syrian border.

Other thousands, mostly women and children, streamed out by road to Arab strongholds in the hills. A Jewish agency spokesman in Jerusalem, Walter Eyetan, said all Arabs had been evacuated from Haifa, the last of them being taken out by British army transport.

He said at a press conference the evacuation was prompted by a policy to show up the Jews as ruthless, to influence Arab governments to send more armed men to Palestine, and to prepare a pretext for a later invasion of Arabs from foreign countries.

Expect Counterattack. Jewish Haganah forces fanned out from the city in expectation of a quick Arab counterattack. They captured the Arab area of Suq, on Haifa’s eastern gate, and assaulted the southern Arab suburb of Tireh. Not more than 10,000 Arabs were reported left in the city, with more than 40,000 already evacuated.

Three-way efforts for a truce broke down last night after six hours of conferences when members of the Arab National committee refused to sign despite British urgings. It was understood that the British commander, Maj. Gen. H. C. Stockwell, virtually ordered the Arabs to sign the Jewish truce terms.

The Arabs remained adamant, apparently planning to re-enter Haifa when they received reinforcements.

King Issues Call. AMMAN, Trans-Jordan (AP). — King Abdullah urged all Arab nations to send their armies into Palestine to battle the Jews when the British give up their mandate May 15.

Trans-Jordan’s monarch told reporters yesterday the Arab world must act against Zionism — the push for a Jewish homeland in the holy land — because ‘our peace and liberty are at stake.’ ‘I call on all Arab countries,’ he said, ‘to join my army in a movement to Palestine to retain the Arab character of that country.’”

Context added by this archive

One of the eleven clippings here from 23 April 1948. This one prints the Jewish Agency spokesman’s explanation of the exodus — that the Arabs left in order to make the Jews look ruthless — as the only explanation offered, and gives no Palestinian answer to it.

Cite this clipping

"Report Arabs Fleeing Haifa by Land and Sea," The Daily Report, 23 April 1948, p. 1. Covering Palestine archive, CP-1948-022. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-1948-022