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In October 1930, a year after the deadly clashes in Jerusalem and the killings in Hebron, Avisar published this document as a pamphlet in Jerusalem. He hoped it would serve as the foundation for comprehensive political, institutional, cultural, and linguistic Arab-Jewish cooperation in creating a modern state in Eretz Yisrael and Palestine. For days and years we have been talking—in [Zionist] Congress meetings and in various other assembly meetings—about the need, the desire, and the possibility of reaching an understanding and agreement with the Arabs of the Land of Israel concerning the building of our national home. Leaders and politicians , together with trade unions and political parties, periodically declare this ambition. Yet to date not a single person or group has offered a comprehensive proposal, constitution, or practical program for either studying the question or negotiating its resolution. In times of anger this question becomes more acute. All sorts of declarations and partial propositions are thrown into the air and do more harm than good. A comprehensive proposal that takes into account the present and future is yet to be delivered. As a result, the trust between us [the Jews] and the Arabs has been weakened. No one believes or pays attention to our declarations. Fears are increasing, resistance is rising, and we are always standing in front of a blocked wall and confronting the danger to our existence. I therefore think that only a clear, complete, and comprehensive proposal and a wide-ranging political program can provide a basis for discussion between us and the Arabs. It is better for the Oriental to hear the whole truth, even if it is cruel and harsh, than to continue wondering what the intentions of his rival are. 20 | A Proposal Concerning the Question of Understanding and Reaching an Agreement with the Arabs of the Land of Israel David Avisar, “Hatsa‘a lishe’elat Havana ve-Heskem ‘im ‘Arvie E,” in Shlomo Alboher, Identification, Adaptation and Reservation: The Sephardi Jews in Eretz Israel and the Zionist Movement during the “Bayit Leumi” (National Home) 1918–1948 [Hebrew] (Jerusalem: Hasifriya Haziyonit, 2002), appendix 5. 116 | dav i d av i s a r I shall try, herein, to deliver my proposal as points for discussion: 1. The Foundation—the Land of Israel, on both sides of the Jordan River, from Litani and the Hermon to the Red Sea bays, is the motherland of the people of Israel, who currently comprise more than three million households outside the Land and a million people who live in it. 2. The Purpose—the purpose of the people of Israel is to build the Land of Israel, to prepare it and turn it into a safe haven for any Jew who wants to come and settle in it to live a life of independence, freedom, development, and safety. We also want to turn the Land into a center for the rest of the people of Israel, who remain in the Diaspora. The purpose of the Arabs in the Land of Israel is to build the Land and to live a life of development, safety, freedom, and independence. 3. The Agreement—three million Jewish households scattered around the world and the million residents of the Land come to an agreement by forming a constitution—say for a hundred years—that will protect and help to fulfill the goals of the people of Israel and the Arabs of the Land of Israel. 4. The Budget—for the sake of building the Land and for the development of its residents, and for preparing it to always be able to absorb Jewish immigrants , a large budget is required. Three-quarters of this budget shall be paid by the Jewish people, and one-quarter shall be paid by the [non-Jewish] residents of the country as taxes (as the situation is now). 5. The Government—the national and municipal governments, the Parliament , and the city councils, will be made up of 50 percent Jews and 50 percent Arabs. Positions shall be divided according to their ranks and income. [. . .] 8. The Language—the two official languages, Hebrew and Arabic, shall be equally displayed in all official documents. They should appear on each document interchangeably: Hebrew-Arabic and Arabic-Hebrew. All residents are obliged to learn both languages. All decrees and documents, notices and signs shall appear in both languages. All members of the military, police, and bureaucracy must have a good command of both languages. The government is obliged to provide...

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