NCJ Number
62444
Editor(s)
D R ELSTON
Date Published
1964
Length
317 pages
Annotation
SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONS OF THE HAGANAH, AN UNDERGROUND JEWISH ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATED IN PALESTINE PRIOR TO STATEHOOD, ARE DESCRIBED FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF A PARTICIPANT.
Abstract
THROUGHOUT 1936 TO 1939, PALESTINE WAS IN CONTINUOUS TUMULT FROM ARABS WHO ATTACKED JEWISH COMMUNITIES WITH THE AVOWED AIM OF DESTROYING THE JEWISH NATIONAL HOME. THE BRITISH MANDATORY ADMINISTRATION AND ARMY, WHICH WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING ORDER IN THE AREA, WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE DEFENSE FOR THE JEWS. HAGANAH WAS CREATED AS A DEFENSE FORCE AGAINST ARAB ATTACK AND WAS NECESSARILY AN UNDERGROUND ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE ANY SYSTEM OF ARMAMENT WAS ILLEGAL UNDER BRITISH RULE. THE INITIAL DEFENSE STRATEGY OF HAGANAH WAS TO CREATE 'STOCKADE' FORTIFICATIONS AROUND JEWISH COMMUNITIES. IT WAS SOON EVIDENT, HOWEVER, THAT THIS PASSIVE DEFENSE MEASURE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO DETER ARAB AGGRESSION AND RELIEVE THE FEARS OF THE JEWISH POPULATION. RETAILIATORY STRIKES WERE THEREFORE UNDERTAKEN UPON STRATEGIC TARGETS SUPPORTIVE OF ARAB AGGRESSORS. ALL PLANS OF OPERATION, HOWEVER, INCLUDED MEASURES TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF INNOCENT PERSONS BEFORE THEY WERE APPROVED BY HAGANAH LEADERS. HAGANAH WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES TO ASSURE THE CONTINUED IMMIGRATION INTO PALESTINE OF EUROPEAN JEWS AND JEWS FROM NATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST; TO SECURE NEEDED WEAPONRY; AND, AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND PRIOR TO STATEHOOD, TO BRING LARGE NUMBERS OF EUROPEAN JEWS INTO PALESTINE. WITH THE COMMING OF STATEHOOD, THE ORGANIZATION AND PERSONNEL OF HAGANAH BECAUSE THE NUCLEUS OF THE REGULAR ARMY. AN INDEX AND A GLOSSARY OF HEBREW AND ARABIC EXPRESSIONS ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)