A Palestine Affair

Jonathan Wilson

At the end of World War I, and some would contend much earlier, events were set in motion whose results still reverberate today. This tale develops slowly. Arriving home after spending the day painting near the Mount of Olives, Bloomberg hears a soft moaning on his terrace that overlooks Jerusalem. He walks out into the night, and someone crashes into him, knocking him to the ground, dying on top of him. The man, who we learn shortly is named De Groot, is dressed as an Arab, but is an Orthodox Jew from Denmark. Who is behind the murder – a mugger, Pan-Arabs, Zionist extremists, or someone else? The only clue is the last word of a dying man; Saud. Somewhat like the Casablanca line “round up the usual suspects”, the police haul in everyone they can find named Saud and begin interviews to see what they can learn. Not much, as it turns out. Robert Kirsch is the detective assigned to the case. He first visits De Groot's apartment, finding nothing particularly unusual – a few papers and a ticket to visit Rome later in the month. He visits Bloomberg's house to interview he and his wife, Joyce, and to see the terrace. Not until a second visit does he find a button. Eventually a Saud is found that knew De Groot. He is not the killer, but leads Kirsch to the conclusion that the death was the result of arms trade flourishing in the region, and the need to keep the growth of the trade quiet. Who is brining in the weapons, and who is being armed. For that, you will need to read the book.