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October 4, 2002
A revival of Van Paassen
B.C. publication features Christian Zionist's writings.
CARL ALPERT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
The name Pierre Van Paassen means nothing to most members of this
generation, but to those who lived through the 1930s and 1940s,
mere mention of the name stimulates a rush of memories. To report
that as early as 1934 he was voted by the Jewish editors of the
United States and Canada as "one of the greatest Christian
friends of the Jewish people" is to tell only a small part
of the story, for his major activity came in the years that followed.
Journalist, lecturer, author, he fought the anti-Semites and motivated
ground swells of public opinion in favor of the creation of a Jewish
state in Palestine.
Van Paassen was among the first to warn, bluntly, what Adolf Hitler's
true intentions were toward the Jews. His books Days of Our Years
and The Forgotten Ally became best-sellers. Even the Zionists
sometimes lagged behind his exuberant espousal of the cause, as
when he joined forces with the "extremists" who loudly
demanded that the Allies mobilize a Jewish army to fight the Nazis.
These days, when much of world public opinion, based on ever latent
anti-Semitism, is hardly sympathetic to Israel, we are reminded
of a fascinating series of episodes that Van Paassen sought to publicize
in his day, but which were nevertheless destined for archival obscurity.
Israel: Democracy's Neglected Ally, edited by H.D. Kirk of Victoria,
B.C., and Ed Ephgrave, is a booklet published by British Columbia's
Ben-Simon Publications. With full historical notes and introduction
to Van Paassen for those who didn't know him, the tract reprints
Chapter 4 of the 1943 edition of The Forgotten Ally. In its
original, the chapter was headed "The Best Kept Secret of the
War." Against an explanatory background, the editors let the
chapter speak for itself. There is no need to elaborate.
The time was 1942. The war was going badly for the Allies. Rommel's
army was sweeping across North Africa and the British were retreating.
Van Paassen tells of a number of decisive exploits carried out by
Jewish units (ironically they were known as Palestinians in those
days) that helped turn the tide of battle in British favor. We get
the details.
It was not in the British spirit to credit the Jews, but Gen. Koenig
of the Free French units was at one of the crucial fronts. As Van
Paassen tells it, after the action was over, one Jewish soldier
took down the blue and white flag of Zion, which had been surreptitiously
displayed within the unit, and rolled it up. Queried by Koenig,
the Jew explained that they were not permitted to fly that flag.
"I am in command here," Koenig burst out. "That flag
goes on my car in front, next to the tricolor. That's where it belongs."
He called upon his legionnaires to salute the Jewish flag.
Other incidents are recalled. The Allies invaded Lebanon and Syria.
Again the Jews were in the thick of the action, and that was when
Moshe Dayan lost one eye. The Arabs? They sided with the Mufti,
against the Allies.
British policy saw to it that the Jewish role was suppressed throughout
and even Van Paassen's revelations, here recalled, failed to alter
the historic records. It is good, therefore, that we are reminded.
Even in his day, this Christian Zionist was sometimes victim of
internal Zionist politics, as parties struggled for control. Aware
of the partisanship, Van Paassen, addressing a Jewish army rally
in New York in 1941 declared: "I refuse to recognize in the
appeal for a Jewish army any factional views within the Zionist
movement. Those who cannot rise above petty partisan squabbles while
Palestine is in danger are betraying the Zionist ideal."
We shall no doubt be hearing more of this now legendary personality.
For almost two decades, Kirk has been engaged in an intensive research
project, exploring every aspect of Van Paassen's background and
career. Studies recently published in English and Hebrew journals
may yet be topped by a full-scale and revelatory biography.
For more information on Israel: Democracy's Neglected Ally,
write to Ben-Simon Publications, P.O. Box 318, Brentwood Bay, B.C.,
V8M 1R3.
Carl Alpert is a freelance writer living in Haifa.
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