Zionist vs. Zionist
The seizure of the Jewish Agency by the British and the
demolition of the King David Hotel ended the cooperation
between Haganah and the dissidents.
Although Israel Galili told Begin that Haganah would pre-
vent Yishuv and Jewish press criticism of the Irgun attack on
28
the King David Hotel, Haganah didn't follow through. Even
though Haganah had an interest in the attack, politically it
felt it could make greater gains in Yishuv support by con-
demning the Irgun act. Ben-Gurion, in France-Soir, said "The
Irgun isthe enemy of the Jewish people--it has always opposed
me."2 9 A rather odd condemnation from the man who possibly
benefited most from the attack.
Menachem Begin claims that the June 29 attacks on the
Jewish Agency allowed the "defeatists" led by Moshe Sneh to
gain control of the official Jewish institutions (Haganah
and Palmach) at the expense of Israel Galili's "activist"
faction. Begin says this event ended all Haganah resistance
against the British and redirected Haganah efforts toward im-
31
migration. Begin goes further to state that Galili, under
pressure from the Irgun to support anti-British civil dis-
obedience, was unable to do so because of Jewish Agency inter-
ference.
In early 1947, the Palmach engaged in anti-terrorist,
beatings and kidnappings. With Haganah assistance seventy-
eight Irgunists and Sternists were caught and imprisoned by
the British.3 4 The Palestine Government attempted to persuade
the Palestine newspapers to publish pictures and descriptions
of the terrorists to aid in their identification and capture.
Under threats from the Irgun and the Stern Gang, the papers
elected not to do so.
In a speech to the Vaad Leumi on April 1, 1947, Ben-Gurion
said:
"The terrorists have guns, so have we. We
have more men than they, and when that time comes
our force will have to act because they only under-
stand the language of force. '3 6
The London Times analyzed the Haganah attacks on the terrorists
as pro-Zionist but not pro-Bcitish, "These attacks by moderates
U should not be taken as an indication of growing Jewish support
for the Government, as actually anti-British feeling among the
Jews is stronger now than ever. '3 7 The Times perceived the
Haganah would rather punish the dissidents themselves than
turn them over to the British
After the announcement of the British withdrawal from
Palestine, the Irgun
"resolved to give immediate and unequivocal
support to a provisional government established by
the Jewish Agency on or before May 15. If, however,
the Jewish Agency fails to set up a government by
May 15, the Irgun would establish a provisional
government by itself or in concern with others."3 9
In the face of competition for control of the Israeli Govern-
ment, official Jewish Agency attacks on the dissidents were
stepped up. Katz says:
"Begin and his comrades were not to be allowed
to reap the political rewards of the Irgun war on
British rule. Ben-Gurion was to be acclaimed as
the man who forced the British to leave.
As the day of independence approached, Ben-Gurion was
determined to eliminate the "independent" armies, and create
one Jewish force. He felt he could control Haganah. The
leftest Palmach had to be handled with kid gloves. Ben-Gurion
said the right wing dissidents couldn't be handled at all. 4 1
But, even Haganah wasn't homogeneous and totally under Jewish
Agency control. Ben-Gurion felt it needed corrections to
create the core of the IDF. He and Galili reorganized Haganah
to allow closer control by the Jewish Agency and tightened
n.
Haganah discipline.
Several agreements were then made with the Irgun to
assimilate them into the Israeli Defence Force. On March
8, 1948, the Irgun and the Stern Gang agreed to be incorporated
into the IDF. At the last moment, however, the Irgun pulled
out because its fighters would have been dispersed within the
IDF. The Irgun wanted to join and fight as a unit.3 A second
agreement was made on June 3, but an incident occurred which
according to Begin almost kindled a civil war. According to
Ben-Gurion it was a civil war.
The Hebrew Committee (the Irguns' counterpart to the
Jewish Agency) had purchased a surplus U.S. landing ship/tank
(LST). It had been renamed the Altalena. It was purchased
before the U.N. partition and British evacuation of Palestine 44
and had been loading Irgun recruits and arms in France for
Shipment to Palestine. On June 11, 1948, while a U.N. cease-
fire was in frce, the Altalena sailed with 1000 Irgunists, 27
trucks, 5000 Lee-Enfield rifles, 250 Bren guns and 5 million
rounds of ammunition. Attem.pts by the Provisional Israeli
Government to prevent its sailing under the U.N. cease-fire
were too late to prevent the Altalena's departure. Kurzman
alleges that the French supplied the arms to the Irgun because
they were bitter over Britain's handling of French interests
in Syria and Lebanon and because the Irgunists had convinced
Foreign Minister Georges Bidault that a strong Irgunist poli-
tical power in Israel would support France in her North Africa
disputes.
Begin, Avraham, Meridor and Katz were all present on May
15, a month before the Altalena sailed, when Begin told
Haganah leaders Israel Galili, David Cohen and Levi Shkolnik
(now Eshkol) of the arms and men ou the Altalena. Ben-Gurion
protested the sailing. He saw the arms shipment as a violation
of the ceasefire. Katz and Begin say that in an agreement June
1, Begin agreed to give 80% of the arms to the IDF, but he re-
served 20% for the Irgunists in the Old City of Jerusalem.4 6
At this time. Jerusalem was under seige and the defense of
the Jewish sector was undertaken by the Irgun and Stern Gang.
Jerusalem was not part of Israel at the time because it had
not been conquered by the IDF. Begin felt that Ben-Gurion had
no control over Irgun actions in Jerusalem because Ben-Gurion
didn't control Jerusalem. 4 7
When it arrived in Israel, the Altalena attempted to land
its uargo at Kvar Vitkin, a kibutz in northern israel. The
Ben-Gurion government demanded that the Irgun yield all of the
arms to the IDF. The Irgun rpfused. A violent clash took
place between the Irgun and IDF forces at Kfar Vitkin. The
Altalena put to sea once again. As it headed south toward
Tel Aviv, the Altalena was shadowed by two Israeli corvettes
which would not let the Altalena make for open water. The
Altalena's captain finally beac:hed the shi) in Tel Aviv off
Fishman S'reet. 4 8 The Irgun again refused to give up the
arms to the IDF. Ben-Gurion cried civil war. In a call to
Yigal Allon of the Palmach be said, "We are being faced with
an open revolt. Not only is Tel Aviv in danger of falling to
the rebel forces, but the future of the state is at stake. '4 9
In an artillery and small arms battle, the Altalena was sunk
50by IDF artillery. Casualties were 16 Irgunists killed, 40
wounded, anL 2 Haganah killed, 6 wounded.
Katz analyzes the Altalena affair and comes tc the con-
clusion that Begin was at fault for his naivete in believing
that Ben-Gurion as the head of the government of Israel could
allow Begin's private army, the Irgun, to exist, let alone
receive weapons. However, Katz goes further, saying that
Ben-Gurion's explanation, designed to calm the pro-Irgunists
in the Yishuv was full of holes.
"First, Mr. Ben-Gurion's declared concern fcr
the truce was sheer nonsense. Second, the Irgun
had brought the ship to, of all places, Kfar Vitkin,
a Ptronghold of anti-Irgun forces. Trird, the fight-
ing men on board [the Altalena] had been landed at
Kfar Vitkin and sent away. Fourth, at Tel Aviv, the
ship had been fired on after raising the white flag.
Finally, men who had abandoned the ship were fired on
as they swam to shore." 5 3
Begin claims that when the Altalena landed, the Irgun had
ceased to exist. It had been integrated into fe IDF everywhere
except Jerusalem. He claims that the attack on the Altalena
was necessary to strengthen Ben-Gurion's position in the
Government of Israel. 54 Begin says.
"Official propaganda, hiding behind the smoke
screen, pretended that the Irgun had brought over
the Altalena in order to prepare an armed revolt
against the Government of Israel.
"I must therefore repeat: the Provisional
Government knew about the arms ship sailing towards
our shores against the instructions which had arrived
too late. And it was that Government that decided to
bring the Altalena in during the truce period." 5 5
Katz summarized that Ben-Gurion manufactured a civil war with
Begin cver the Altalena to reduce Begin's political power base,
his Yishuv popularity, and to destroy the Irgun, thereby eliminat-
ing the major threat to Ben-Gurion's rule.5 6
On September 20, 1948, the Irgun was presented with an ulti-
matum by the Israeli Government. Disband, period.
On September after eleven years of underground and four months of
public existence, the Irgun Zvai Leumi disbanded and integ-
rated into the Israeli Defense Forces. 58 The Stern Gang had
become part of the I.D.F. on creation of the Jewish state.
The subsequent assassination of Count Bernadotte by the
"Fatherland Front" cast doubts on the ability of the new
Israeli government to control internal terrorism. 5 9 U.S.
special representative, J. G. MacDonald, told Moshe Sbaret,
"I want the provisional government to realize how important
it ncw is for it to demonstrate its own authority.' 6 0 The
Israeli government moved against the Stern Gang with the intent
of liquidating it. 6 1 The Lehi numbers were so small they didn't
really pose a threat to the State of Israel. Katz claims the
government had plans to attack the Irgan as well as the Stern
Gang in the confusion following Bernadotte's assassination. 6 2
Many Lehi members were given Irgun identification cards by
Begin to hide their true affiliation from the Israeli ;overnment 3
After this incident, the war against the Arabs took precedence
over the internal conflicts and the wee.kened dissidents took
their programs aid policies to the oniy forum left to them by
Ben-Gurion--the Knesset.