The Fig Tree Putteth Forth Her Leaves

Haifa is to become the new Gateway to the East. So Sir Arthur Wauchope, High Commissioner for Palestine has recently stated.

Where is Haifa ? Along the Mediterranean shore of Palestine there is only one bay-immediately north of Carmel, and under the shadow of that famous mountain, in the shelter of the bay, is Haifa. The only other harbour of Palestine, at Jaffa, is very exposed, and accordingly the one at Haifa is being improved at the expense of �1,250,000 (some authorities place the figure at �3,000,000.-H.E.) and it is in view of its opening in October next that the High Commissioner has made the above remark. Here the produce of the orange plantations of Northern Palestine will be shipped-three hundred million "Jaffas" now pass through the port each year, and this number will soon be trebled.

Then from the Dead Sea workings come great quantities of potash, a thousand tons daily, for despatch overseas. And shortly the oil pipe-line from Iraq (Mesopotamia), after crossing the desert in the path that Rebecca followed, will bring its two million tons of oil each year to Haifa.

Gateway to the East? Yes, but primarily to Palestine. How that country is opening up! In 1920, according to Sir Herbert Samuel's report, "the land had an air of poverty and depression, with villages destroyed and trees cut down." But that "impoverished Turkish Province, with large stretches of malaria-breeding marsh lands, has become prosperous and progressive. The country has no unemployment and no debts." Such are the words of the present High Commissioner.

It was in 1917 that Britain announced in the famous Balfour Declaration

"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jew, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object ."

The mandate of the Territory entrusted to Britain by the League of Nations, came into full operation in 1923. Ten years ago-how brief! But that decade has seen more prosperity brought to Palestine than all the ten centuries of Turkish rule which preceded.

Since 1923, in this land the size of Wales, 90,000 immigrants have settled (95 per cent. Jews); 40,000 acres of orange groves have been planted (the fruit filling four million boxes last year); and amongst many other new industries throughout the land, the banks of the Dead Sea have been converted into a vigorous mining centre, and even the bitumen and sulphur-aye, and the salt, covering the sites of Sodom and Gomorrah, are being worked with profit.

Jerusalem may be reached in eleven hours by rail from Cairo, across the desert in luxurious sleeping cars. The historic City, lit by candle or paraffin lamp till three years ago, is now brightened by electric light conveyed by wires which, where they pass the notable sights, are carefully hidden to avoid offending the tourists!

Just south of Galilee's Lake a barrage has been formed across the Jordan itself so that its waters may be used in generating electric power for the service of the rest of Palestine.

Is it significant that the road from the "New Gateway" at Haifa lies through the prosperity belt of Palestine, the Vale of Esdraelon with its new orange groves--that magnificent sweep of watered fields which Scripture calls the Valley of Jezreel? The Valley of Jezreel will yet be "the Valley of Decision "-ARMAGEDDON?

unknown | Apr 1933
General