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the streets in this manner until late at night.

“But while this great demonstration for Palestine and its fighters was taking place, it was not published in the Lebanese newspapers, because Colonel Stitten, the British comptroller-general of the press and news, prohibited its publication. A brief communiqué was issued and broadcast the next day, stating: ‘The British army has deported the Palestinian volunteers from Lebanon...’

“On the twenty-fifth day of May, the Lebanese newspapers published the text of a petition bearing the signatures of an elite group of Lebanese notables, including members of Parliament, party and organizational leaders, and men of the press and intellectual life. It was addressed to the Lebanese prime minister at the time, His Eminence Sheikh Abd al-Hamid Karami, may God have mercy on him, and asked the Lebanese government to seek from the Allied authorities my return to my homeland. The newspapers also published many other petitions and statements on this subject in succession.

“National organizations and newspapers showed great interest in the Palestine cause and held many national meetings in support of it and in protest against America’s and Britain’s position on Palestine and their support for the Zionist cause. The Najjada and Kata’ib organizations called for a strike in solidarity with ‘sister Palestine.’ The newspapers and organizations demanded my return to the Arab homeland, the release of our expelled and imprisoned brothers, and their return to their homeland.”

[image]

One of the photographs showing the Lebanese press’s interest in the Palestine cause and its enthusiastic support for His Eminence Sayyid Muhammad Amin al-Husseini.