Jabotinsky Led Off to Prison

As a result of Ze'ev Jabotinsky's activity during the Passover 1920 murderous pogrom by Arabs in defending the Jewish population, a task to which he was appointed in late 1919 by the Zionist Commission, he was arrested. Eventually, a British military court found him guilty of possessing and using illegal arms and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment. He was led to Akko Prison.

The way he was accompanied to Akko became a subject for a Parliamentary Question. Two, in fact:

1.

HC Deb 10 June 1920 vol 130 cc628-9W 628W

§ Brigadier-General COLVIN asked the Secretary of State for War whether Mr. Jabotinsky, who did service for this country during the War, was marched to gaol in company with Arabs who were sentenced for violating Jewish girls; and whether he is still confined in the gaol at Acre?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL According to the latest information in my possession, Mr. Jabotinsky is still confined at Acre. I will inquire of Lord Allenby the exact conditions of his imprisonment.

2.

HC Deb 29 June 1920 vol 131 cc232-3 232

§ 19. Brigadier-General COLVIN asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state under what circumstances Mr. Jabotinsky was conducted to prison and the conditions of his imprisonment?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL I am informed that Mr. Jabotinsky was conducted to prison under the escort of a British officer, and travelled first class by rail to Haifa. He walked from the station to the civil gaol, which is quite near, and there spent the night in separate quarters. He proceeded by train the following morning to Acre, and then in a motor ambulance from the station to the civil goal, where he was handed over to the civil authorities by the British officer escorting him. He is confined in division 2 (simple confinement), and is in separate quarters. He is allowed to wear his own clothing and has his own bedding. Any food he wishes may be sent to him. He is allowed exercise in the open every two hours under supervision; facilities for bathing and medical treatment by a doctor from outside the prison if necessary. He has facilities for reading and studying. His wife visits him twice a week, and he is allowed interviews with Zionist friends at any time.

§ Brigadier-General COLVIN Is it not the fact that Mr. Jabotinsky rendered great service to this country during the War, both in the field and on the platform, and was he not quite justified in taking steps to protect himself and the Jews in Jerusalem from threatened attacks of the Arabs?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL A British tribunal has found otherwise, and that has been the opinion of Lord Allenby. The sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment has been reduced to one year, and is being served under the extremely modified conditions which I have described in detail to the House, and which I took the trouble to have telegraphed to me.

Hadar.

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