ARTICLE IN YOUNGINDIA
MARCH 23, 1921
The most thorny part of the question is, therefore, Palestine. Britain has madepromises to the Zionists. The latter have, naturally, a sacred sentiment aboutthe place. The Jews, it is contended, must remain a wandering race unless theyhave obtained possession of Palestine. I do not propose to examine thesoundness or otherwise of the doctrine underlying the proposition. All Icontend is that they cannot possess Palestine through a trick or a moralbreach. Palestine was not a stake in the War. The British Government could notdare have asked a single Muslim soldier to wrest control of Palestine fromfellow-Muslims and give it to the Jews. Palestine, as a place of Jewishworship, is a sentiment to be respected and the Jews would have a just cause ofcomplaint against Mussulman idealists if they were to prevent Jews fromoffering worship as freely as themselves. By no canon of ethics or war,therefore, can Palestine be given to the Jews as a result of the War. EitherZionists must revise their ideal about Palestine, or, if Judaism permits thearbitrariment of war, engage in a "holy war" with the Muslims of theworld with the Christians throwing in their influence on their side. But onemay hope that the trend of world opinion will make "holy wars"impossible and religious questions or differences will tend more and moretowards a peaceful adjustment based upon the strictest moral considerations.But, whether such a happy time ever comes or not, it is clear as daylight thatthe Khilafat terms to be just must mean the restitution of Jazirat-ul-Arab tocomplete Muslim control under the spiritual sovereignty of the Caliph.