Following atrocities committed by Arabs on Jews in Palestine during the late 1920’s, HM Government commissioned a report by Sir John Hope Simpson which was produced in 1930.

The Arab riots were instigated by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a title conferred on this future Nazi collaborator by the British who needed an Arab point of liaison during their administration of Palestine. The Report concentrated on immigration to Palestine and the effects on the people, land and economy.

The current narrative portrayed by the pro-Palestinian industry is that colonial Jews stole the land from indigenous Palestinians and thereafter ethnically cleansed them to facilitate further Jewish expansionism. I have been challenging this mythology for years in numerous articles and interviews and the Hope Simpson Report, a masterpiece of British administrative, documented eloquence totally supports my understanding.

This report when read in conjunction with the Peel Report of 1937 and perhaps the Middle East Diaries (1917~1956) of Colonel Meinertzhagen, British Middle East Military Advisor and Senior Government Diplomat will totally debunk the last fifty years of Palestinian revisionism and propaganda alluding to ‘stolen Palestinian land’.

There is total endorsement, ratification and confirmation within the Reports that all land had been legally acquired by Zionists, Jews or Jewish organizations from both Arab and non-Arab owners. This truth has been distorted over decades and lies about Jews stealing Palestinian land are now believed by the majority.

Furthermore, the narrative pertaining to immigration has followed similar revisionism and ignores mass Arab immigration. The documented evidence alluding to immigration confirms that not only was there Jewish immigration but uncontrolled Arab immigration as a direct result of the economic benefits created by the Zionist inflow.

The advantages of Jewish immigration were not just limited to economic benefits either. There are continuous references to healthcare, employment, educational and agricultural improvements throughout the Hope Simpson report assisting both Arab and Jewish populations. There are no references to the collective term Palestinian to identify a particular group of beneficiaries. The term Palestinian describing such a collective is nonexistent.

The ‘stolen land’ accusation was and is a public relations slogan running parallel with the origination of the Palestinian identity which started during the early 1960’s. Until that time the Arab Executive in both the Hope Simpson and Peel Report testified that all land transferred either to Jewish individuals, Jewish organizations and/or collectives had been legally purchased.  No land had been stolen by Jews from Arabs or non-Arab owners.

The Grand Mufti testifying before Sir Laurie Hammond during the Peel Commission report stated this several times under oath reconfirming all that Hope Simpson had established after forensic examination of legal documentation and numerous meetings with the Arab Executive during his comprehensive study. The accusation of Jews, Israelis or Zionists stealing land is a lie, a myth, an absolute fabrication of the truth.

The Hajj Mohammed Effendi Amin el-Husseini (1895~1974) the Grand Mufti, was interviewed by the Peel Commission on January 12 1937 and this interview has been historically documented. Both he and various other leaders of the Arab High Committee testified that no land had been stolen. Prior to the discussion below was a debate between the Grand Mufti and Sir Laurie Hammond regarding the area, cost and type of land purchased.

Grand Mufti – “In one case they sold about 400,000 dunams in one lot”.

Sir Laurie Hammond – “Who, an Arab?”

Grand Mufti – “Sarsuk. An Arab of Beyrouth”.

Sir Laurie Hammond – “His Eminence gave us a picture of Arabs being evicted from their land and villages being wiped out. What I want to know is, did the Government of Palestine, the Administration, acquire the land and then hand it over to the Jews?”

Grand Mufti – “In most cases the land was acquired”.

Sir Laurie Hammond – “I mean forcibly acquired – compulsory acquisition as land would be acquired for public purposes?”

Grand Mufti – “No it wasn’t”.

Sir Laurie Hammond – “Not taken by compulsory acquisition?”

Grand Mufti – “No”.

Sir Laurie Hammond – “But these lands amounting to some 700,000 dunams were actually sold?”

Grand Mufti – “Yes they were sold, but the country was placed in such conditions as would facilitate such purchases”.

Sir Laurie Hammond – “I don’t quite understand what do you mean by that. They were sold. Who sold them?”

Grand Mufti – “Land owners”.

Sir Laurie Hammond – “Arabs?”

Grand Mufti – “In most cases they were Arabs”.

The interview continues and it is obvious that absentee Arab and non-Arab landlords forced the peasant farmers off the land in order to sell to the Jewish and Zionist buyers at highly inflated prices. Those same peasant farmers and Arab immigrants then found employment on the lands that had legally changed ownership.

The myth of Jews and Zionists forcibly evicting any farmers from their land is totally exposed for the false narrative that it is, paradoxically by the most anti-Zionist Arab leader in history.

Source: Peter Baum - Blitz