Zionist Paramilitary Organisations

The 'Irgun'

In the Beginning

• Haganah and the schism

• Revisionist Zionism

• Ze’ev Jabotinsky

Differences

• Yishuv and the World Zionist Organisation

• Youth Propaganda

• Increasing militarism and training

1936-1939 Arab Revolt

• April 1937

Total breakaway from Haganah

• Military training in practice

• An “eye for an eye” retaliation

• November 1937

An increase in attacks

A Second Irgun Split?

• David Raziel

- Revisionist

- Arabs are the enemy

• Avraham Stern

- Political independence

- British are the enemy

The ‘White Paper’

• Regulates immigration and landownership

• Rejected by both Arabs and Zionist Organisations

• Escalation of violence

• Arrests at Headquarters

• World War I

• Truces

Stern Succeeds (July 17, 1940)

• Stern calls for…

- End to truce with Britain

- Disassociation from Revisionist party

• Members split

• Death of Raziel

• Resurgence against the Nazis

“The Revolt”

• British remain adamant no Jewish units of the army to be created

• Menachem Begin arrives; newfound expectations

• 1 Feb, 1944: Irgun announces revolt vs. British Mandatory Govt.

“The White Paper is still in effect. It is enforced, despite the betrayal of the Arabs and the loyalty of the Jews; “

“The Revolt”

Demand transfer to rule of Jewish Govt.Mass evacuation of European JewsSigning of treaties with any state that recognises Jewish

state's sovereigntyGranting of social justice to state's residenceFull equality with Arab population

NB. initially weak campaign

“The Revolt”

• First attack: 12 February 1944; no casualties

• Pre-Yom Kippur 1944

No British officers to come to Western WallAttacking of police stations, weapons stolen

• Begin, The Revolt (1977)

“History and experience taught us that if we are able to destroy the prestige of the British in Palestine, the regime will break.”

Jewish Resistance Movement

Labour Party elected, 1945: does not see end of anti-Zionism in Britain

JRM formedConsolidated armed resistance to the British1946: worsening tensions

Operation AgathaPolice and military operation by British officersAttempted to dissuade Zionist paramilitary groups from

continuing attacks against British troops The Manchester Guardian:

“British firmness” brought about more terrorism

Bombing of the King David HotelJerusalem, 22 July 194691 deaths (various nationalities), 46 injured

Most deadly attack of Mandate eraKDH = site of central offices of British Mandatory

authorities of Palestine

Ambiguity over warning/hoax Sir John Shaw case

Jewish Resistance Movement

• “The Night of the Beatings”

Following 18 years, 18 beatings

• The Sergeants Affair

Seen as a major influence on the British govt. to end the Mandate and withdraw from Palestine completely

The IDF and the Altalena Affair

• 14 May 1948: Establishment of state of Israel

• Followed by establishment of Israel Defence Forces

• June 1: Begin and Yisrael Galili's agreement

• June 20: Altalena arrives on Israeli shores

Violation of ceasefire and UNSC Res. 50

• Ben Gurion: “If [Begin does not cease his activities], we will open fire!”

The IDF and the Altalena Affair• Two confrontations: Kfar Vitkin and Tel Aviv

• Uri Avnery (writer; founder of Israeli peace movement)

Considered Begin's restraint hugely influential

• Ben Gurion eventually orders shelling of Altalena

3 IDF dead; 16 Irgun dead, 200 captured Irgun militants fully integrated

NB. Jerusalem Battalion