Ida Nasati writings List of honorees Louis Rose Society Jewishsightseeing home
Writings of Ida Nasatir
April 10, 1947—Book review—O
Whom Palestine? by Frank Gervasi—Southwestern Jewish Press, page
6: Lest the author be suspected of special pleading, he states that he is not a
Jew. He is of Italian descent. He felt impelled to write this book after
some six years study of the problem of Palestine. Furthermore, as war
correspondent, he says: "I'd seen Jews die alongside Catholics and
Protestants...I didn't see any Arabs die in freedom's cause." He had gone
to Palestine a pro-Arab in 1939-40. He has weighted the evidence from all
angles, and he fines the weight of the evidence preponderantly in favor of the
Jewish claims. Persuasively, the author presents a full and rounded
picture of modern Palestine, the nature of the country, its resources, and its
peoples. He exposes the oil and power politics, the British and Arab
machinations, and the conniving American interests involved in the Near
East—all participating in a dark and ugly game that threatens to frustrate the
building of the Jewish National Home. Mr. Gervasi does not overlook any phase of
the problem of modern Palestine. While the well-informed Zionist is acquainted
with most of what the author writes, he will find his spirit refreshed and
rekindled by the warmth and humanity of the author. In his chapter on
"OIL," the author makes crystal clear how much that universally needed
fuel plays a decisive part in British-Arab interests in Palestine. Russia, too,
is involved in the struggle for mastery of the Near East. He calls upon the
Great Powers to solve the Palestine issue with justice, for "Palestine is
one of the ways to world peace." He explains the frequent outbreaks of
terrorism in the Holy Land. He sketches the personalities of British, Jewish and
Arab leaders. He includes the texts of all pertinent documents. He strikes a
balance among all these matters, and presents conclusions that are original and
worthy of serious attention. Mr. Gervasi, as a Christian, proclaims the
responsibility of European Christendom for the Jewish tragedy today. Palestine,
he says, speaks to the conscience of Christians in no uncertain terms. He
reminds the nations of the world: "Somewhere we must begin to acquire the
habit of keeping our promises." How pathetically true.