Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1405

 AREA AND POPULATION 1353

Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of that object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish com- munities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.'

The object of the British Administration in Palestine is to provide for the establishment of the Jewish National Home without, however, prejudicing the civil and religious rights of the non-Jewish communities in Palestine. The High Commissioner has appointed an Advisorv Council, which is com- posed of the heads of the principal Government f)epartments and 10 'un- official ' members, representing the various communities. This Council is regarded as the first step towards the establishment of self-governing institu- tions in Palestine. The Jewish population of Palestine have perfected their internal organisation by convening an Elected Assembly, which elected a National Committee, to represent the Jewish population of Palestine in its dealings with the Administration. English, Hebrew, and Arabic are the recognised official languages of the country.

Area and Population. — The area and population of Palestine according to the old Turkish Administrative divisions is estimated as follows : —

Area in „, .. •q. miles filiation

Sanjak of Jerusalem (containing cazas of Jerusalem,

Jaffa, Gaza, Hebron, Beersheba) ■ . . 8106 390,000

Sanjak of Acre (containing cazas of Acre. Haifa,

Nazareth, Tiberias and Safed) . . . . £,972 135,000

Sanjak of Nablus (containing cazas of Nablus, Jenin,

andTulkeram) 2,646 150,000

Total 13,724 675,000

Palestine in British occupation is, however, only about 9,000 square miles in extent, and includes only that part of Historic Palestine which lies to the west of the Jordan. The population of this territory on March 31, 1919, was 647,850, of whom 515,000 were Moslems, 65,300 Jews, 62,500 Christians, 150 Samaritans, and 4,900 others. In 1920, 10,000 Jewish immigrants entered the country.

The population of the principal towns is as follows : — Jerusalem, 60,000 ; Jaffa, 40,000 ; Shechem (Nablus), 22,000; Haifa, 20,000 ; Hebron, 18,000; Bethlehem, 15,000 ; Nazareth, 15,000 ; Safed, 12,500 ; Acre, 10,000 ; and Tiberias, 8,000.

The Jewish Colonies are grouped in four districts as follows : — In Judea there are 19, viz., Mikveh Israel, Rishon le Zion, Ness Zionah, Ekron, Gederah, Ber Tobia, Ruchamah, Petach-Tikvah, Fan Ganin, Kfar Mlal, Kfar Saba, Ben Shemen, Hulda, Kfar Urieh, Artuf, Mozah, Dilb, Kalandiah, and Nachlath Jehudah. In Samaria there are 10, viz., Hederah, Hefzi-Bah, Kerkur, Gan Shmuel, Zichron Jacob, Marah, Shvejah, Bath Shlomoh, Shuni and Atlit. In Lower Galilee there are 16, viz., Merhaviah, Sedsherah, Kfar Tabor (Mesha), Jabneel (Jemma), Beth-Gan, Rama (Sarona), Poriab, Mizpah, Tiberias, Kinereth, Daganiah, Hittin, Migdal, Tel Adas, Bethaniah. and Milhamiah. In Upper Galilee there are 10, viz., Rosh Pinah, Ayeleth Hashacher, Maehnayim, Chamra, Mishmar Hajarden, Jessod-Hamaalah, Eiu Zeitim, Kfar Gileadi, Tel Hai, and Metullah. Each colony has one or more