P 1222 – The Complete Diaries Of Theodor Herzl
February 17, 1902
But then Izzet returned with the Sultan’s decision, and it was unfavorable. The Sultan is willing to open his Empire to all Jews who become Turkish subjects, but the regions to be settled are to be decided each time by the government, and Palestine is to be excluded. The Comp. Ott.-Juive is to be allowed to colonize in Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, anywhere at all, with the sole exception of Palestine!
The Ottoman Empire did forbid the European Jews to enter Palestine – but one has to wonder how did at least 75,000 of them enter Palestine between 1882 and 1914? This shows you how many Jews entered Palestine during those periods.
1882-1903 ….. 35,000
1904-1914 ….. 40,000
1919-1923 ……40,000
Total……………115,000