Exodus - Leon Uris [241]
Ben Gurion, Weizmann, Barak Ben Canaan, and the other Yishuv leaders argued with tremendous skill the morality and justice of the Jewish case.
On the Arab side, the Higher Arab Committee, steered by the Husseini family stirred up bitter demonstrations against the United Nations. They barred the committee from many of the Arab towns where the squalor and primitive factory conditions would turn the strongest stomach. When the inquiries opened, the Arabs offidally boycotted it.
It became obvious to the UNSCOP that there could be no middle road in Palestine. On a basis of strict justice the United Nations would have to recommend a settlement in favor of the Jews, but there was the weight of Arab threats to consider.
The Jews had long accepted the theory of compromise and partition, yet they were fearful of the creation of a land ghetto like the Pale.
With the tour of Palestine and the inquiries concluded, the UNSCOP prepared to leave and retire to Geneva to analyze their findings while a subcommittee studied the displaced-persons camps in Europe, which still held a quarter of a million desperate Jews. They would then present recommendations to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Barak Ben Canaan once again accepted a commission to travel to Geneva and continue his advisory capacity.
He returned to Yad El a few days before departure for Geneva so that he might spend some time with Sarah, who, despite his many departures, had never quite got used to them. Neither did she ever get used to Jordana’s and Ari’s being away.
Ari and David Ben Ami were at the nearby Ein Or kibbutz, at Palmach headquarters for the Huleh. They came to Yad El and Jordana came down from Gan Dafna for a farewell dinner.
Barak was preoccupied through the entire evening. He spoke little of the UNSCOP, the coming trip, or of the pressing politics. It was a grim reunion.
“I suppose you’ve heard that Mrs. Fremont is leaving Palestine,” Jordana said at the end of dinner.
“No, I didn’t hear,” Ari said, masking his surprise.
“She is. She has given her notice to Dr. Lieberman. She is taking the Clement girl with her. I knew she would run at the first sign of real trouble.”
“Why shouldn’t she go?” Ari said. “She is an American and the girl is what she came to Palestine for.”
“She never had any use for us,” Jordana snapped.
“That’s not true,” David said in defense.
“Don’t always take her side, David.”
“She is a nice woman,” Sarah Ben Canaan said, “and I like her. Many times she passed this way and visited with me. She was very good to those children and they love her.”
“She is better gone,” Jordana persisted. “It is a shame she is taking the girl with her, but she has the child so spoiled now one would not think she was a Jewish girl.”
Ari stood up and walked from the cottage.
“Why must you make it a point to hurt Ari?” Sarah said angrily. “You know what he feels for her and she is a fine person.”
“He is well rid of her,” Jordana said.
“And who are you to judge a man’s heart?” Barak said.
David took Jordana’s hand. “You promised we would take a horseback ride.”
“You are on her side too, David.”
“I like Kitty Fremont. Come, let’s go for that ride.”
Jordana strode from the room and David followed.
“Let them go, Sarah,” Barak said. “David will calm her down. I am afraid our daughter is jealous of Mrs. Fremont as well she might be. Someday our girls may have the time to concentrate on being women.”
Barak played with his tea, and his wife stood behind his chair and laid her cheek on his thick red hair. “Barak, you cannot go on like this. You must speak or you shall regret it to your grave.”
He patted his wife’s hand. “I will find Ari,” he said.
Ari was near the orchard looking up into the hills at Gan Dafna when Barak came upon him.
“Does she matter that much, son?”
Ari shrugged.
“I rather liked her myself,” Barak said.
“What is the difference? She comes from a world filled with silk stockings