Mrs. Khartabil Wins Membership in the International Women's Union

Mrs. Wadi'a Khartabil, president of the Palestinian Arab Women's Union in Lebanon, lets no opportunity pass without working in it for the Palestine question. She recently represented the Palestinian Union at the congress of the International Women's Union, which was held in Ceylon and in which 35 states took part.

The task of affiliation with the international union was a very arduous one, as a result of Israeli propaganda, and because the people of Palestine are considered refugees with no state of their own. From here Mrs. Khartabil's efforts began: she held press conferences and made contact with men of politics and with the members of the delegations, until she won the affiliation.

Zionist propaganda had preceded her to Ceylon, so she had to do battle there as well; and indeed she succeeded in the battle, and proved that the Arab woman is capable of bearing a great responsibility such as this.

The most curious thing that happened at the congress was that the delegate of Israel attempted to nominate herself for the elections to the board of directors of the International Women's Union; whereupon Mrs. Khartabil rose to spread publicity and hold meetings to make the Palestine question known in a milieu much of whose truth had escaped it. The women delegates of Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, and Iran helped her in this grave task, until her efforts were crowned with victory... and the delegate of Israel met with utter failure in the elections!

Thus did Mrs. Khartabil prove that within the ranks of the Arabs there are individuals — even women — who can pass out of the sphere of words into the field of earnest work in the service of their countries.