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The Arab Higher Committee for Palestine

Mr. President Gamal Abdel Nasser Prime Minister of the Egyptian Government Cairo

Peace, God’s mercy, and His blessings be upon you. The Arab Higher Committee for Palestine presents to Your Excellency, in the name of the Arab Palestinian people, its sincere thanks and appreciation for what sisterly Egypt, the greater sister, is doing by opening the way for Palestinians in the Gaza area to volunteer for military service, carry arms, and train in preparation for fulfilling their duty toward their homeland, which regards beloved Egypt as its best reserve and strongest support. It expresses its joy at enabling the Palestinians to perform this national duty, which they are the people most entitled to perform.

In view of the recent developments, the Jews’ determination to carry out their treacherous attacks, and the vigilance and alertness prevailing in Arab public opinion, the Arab Higher Committee draws Your Excellency’s attention to the need to expand the recruitment and training of Palestinians and to arm them, and to take the measures normally followed in emergencies so that the recruitment of Palestinians may become general, those of military age among them may be trained, and they may be prepared for defense, strengthen the Egyptian regular forces, and carry out all the tasks required by the military situation and its various developments. The Arab Higher Committee believes that the situation requires the honorable Egyptian government to apply to the Palestinians the recruitment regulations and military laws in force in Egypt.

At the same time, the official and popular bodies in the Gaza area, such as the Supreme Islamic Council, the municipal councils, the chambers of commerce, and the executive committee of the Refugee Conference, share this view with the Arab Higher Committee and hope that action will be taken to implement it. Representatives of those bodies have called on us concerning this matter to convey their desire to the honorable Egyptian government.

Please accept sincere greetings and abundant respect.

19 Sha‘ban 1375 1 April 1956

President of the Arab Higher Committee for Palestine Muhammad Amin al-Husseini