Volume 3, Issue 49
September 18, 2007
Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 325,635
Israel Government Fellows Program Launched
This week, nineteen young interns arrived from countries around the world to participate in the newest Menachem Begin Heritage Center initiative, in cooperation with MASA (a joint project of the Jewish Agency and the Government of Israel). The Israel Government Fellows program creates an opportunity for young people to work in Israel's Ministries and other governmental offices to gain a unique perspec tive on Israel and to have an unparalleled internship experience. In this September 2007 session, these interns will work in the Prime Minister's office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Justice Ministry, the Labor, Trade and Commerce Ministry, the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, to name a few.
The interns are a diverse group of people, 14 women and 5 men, who hail from the US (Massachusetts, Florida, California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky), from the UK (London), from Australia (Sorrento), from Hungary (Cegled), from Switzerland (Lausanne) and from Argentina (Buenos Aires). Many of them are multi-lingual and most have been to Israel before. All of them have at least a bachelor's degree and are proven leaders in their communities. Most are between the ages of 22-24.
The interns were formally welcomed on Tuesday, September 18, by Harry Hurwitz, Founder and Head of the Menachem Begin Heritage Foundation, and Herzl Makov, the Head of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. The program starts with three weeks of orientation to help the interns acclimatize to life in Israel, to learn about the history of Isr ael and Jewish history and to cover a myriad of other cultural, historical, economic topics. The interns will start their internships on October 10 and will work four days a week for five months. The other day of the week is reserved for additional workshops, tours and trips. They will not only gain work experience, but also have a chance to explore all over Israel, meet their Israeli peers, and meet with leaders in Israel.
Tamar Darmon, Director of the Israel Government Fellows Program, and her assistant Alon Shani are very excited about the beginning of the program and are looking forward to working with these young, dynamic interns. For more information about the program, click here.
30th Anniversary Celebrations in Planning Stages
The 30th anniversary of the historic visit of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt to Jerusalem at the invitation of Prime Minister Menachem Begin on 19 November 1977 will be the opening of a three year program of activities culminating on 26 March 2009—30 years after the signing of the Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel. The series of events proved to be a turning point in the Middle East and a breakthrough in the relationship between Israel and Egypt.
Work is now in progress on various exhibitions recalling the historic period and on the publication of a book highlighting the exchange of letters and statements between Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin. In processing the documents, researchers found that, remarkably, Menachem Begin had written to Anwar Sadat on October 5, 1981, the day before Anwar Sadat was assassinated at the height of a military parade on October 6, 1981.
Parashat HaShavua Renews for 5768
The new cycle of Bible studies in the Rohr Family Parashat HaShavua program will officially start on October 11, 2007. Parasha Bereshit will be combined with a special program taking place on Hoshana Raba (reference below). After an interval of several months, the popular dynamic lecturer, Dr. Micha Goodman, will return to the podium to introduce the new series and new concept. Students from Ein Prat, a Mechina (a pre-army study course) in Kfar Adumim, will give a 15 minute talk about the Parasha of the week and Dr. Micha Goodman will follow that with a 40 minute lecture about prophecy.
Special Program for Hoshana Raba
On the evening of October 2, 2007 the Begin Center will hold an all-night study session to celebrate Hoshana Raba. The evening begins at 10:00pm with a special opening lecture by Dr. Micha Goodman covering Parasha Bereshit. Lectures continue through the night until 4:00am. Speakers for the evening include Danny Segal and Rabbi Rafi Feurstein among others.
Yemenite Evening
During Chol HaMoed Sukkot, on Monday October 1, an evening celebrating Yemenite culture will be held at the Begin Center. The evening will be hosted by former MK Geula Cohen who is currently the head of the Uri Tzvi Greenberg Heritage House. The evening begins at 5:00pm with a round table discussion until 6:45pm. At the intermission, Yemenite foods will be available for tasting (inside a Sukkah). The evening continues with traditional Yemenite dancing. Entrance to this event is 40NIS. Tickets for the event are not available at the Begin Center, but only by calling 02-623-1532 or 02-625-1856.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
A Quotation of Menachem Begin
We found this in an op-ed by Nadav Shragai:-
Menachem Begin once said, in a paraphrase on Ahad Ha'am's (Asher Zvi Greenberg) famous saying about the Sabbath, that more than the Jewish people have kept Jerusalem, Jerusalem has kept the Jewish people.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Center Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 48
Volume 3, Issue 48
September 10, 2007
Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 325,119
Begin to be Celebrated by Druze Group
Next Wednesday, 19 September, the Druze community of Daliyat El Carmel will assemble for an event celebrating the great Israeli leader Menachem Begin. The event was initiated and organized by Amal Nasereldeen who is a former Knesset member and chairman of the Druze Yad L'Banim. He is also a member of the public council of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.
The government of Israel will be represented by Minister Yitzhak Herzog, the Minister of Welfare and Social Services and Minister of the Diaspora, Society and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, who will address the gathering. Other personalities expected to attend the event and to deliver greetings or short addresses are Prof. Moshe Arens, former MK Amnon Linn, Sheikh Tarif (who is the spiritual leader of the Druze). There will also be a panel of speakers from the Jewish community and the Druze community.
Menachem Begin Park Dedicated at Azur
Overcoming a decade of opposition from the Labour-oriented Local Council, the town of Azur finally approved the dedication of its central park to the memory of Menachem Begin. The initiative originated with Advocate Navon Katzav and it was he who organized the ceremony held on September 5th. It was addressed by Yechiel Kadishai, Efrayim Even, as well as Mr. Katzav. The park is 55 dunams in area (16 acres). The Menachem Begin Heritage Center donated the large stone memorial with a special text that is placed at the park's entrance. Present at the ceremony were Chassia Begin, Council Head Amnon Zach and Yisrael Drobles, representing the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, in addition to scores of local residents who will benefit from the recreational area.
Chol HaMoed Sukkot
Large crowds of visitors are expected at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center during the five days of Chol HaMoed Sukkot and therefore, persons desiring to visit the Center are urged to make reservations ahead of time by calling (02) 565-2020 (or from abroad at 972-2-565-2020). Those requiring translations of the commentary in the museum are fortunate this year to have the translation available in five languages—English, Russian, Spanish, French and Arabic. These all appear on the sound system that can be heard on the earphones provided at the reception desk. Recent visitors have been most grateful and complimentary about the various languages available to them.
During Chol HaMoed Sukkot the museum will be open as follows:
First day of Chol Ha'Moed (Friday)
September 28 9am-12:30pm
Chol Ha'Moed
September 30-October 2 9am-7pm
The day before Simhat Torah
October 3 9am-12:30pm
Mazal Tov
A hearty Mazal Tov to Yuval and Nirit Bar Or on the birth of their second son, brother to Magen. Yuval is the Director of Office Administration at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.
Begin's Speaking Venue to Become Apartments
The Edison Theater, located on Yeshayahu Street corner of Belilius Street in Jerusalem, one of the city's landmarks since it was built in 1932, and a site where Menachem Begin frequently made major public indoor addresses, is undergoing a major alteration.
The theater was a central element of the city's cultural affairs with distinguished guests and officials in attendance. For many years the theater served as a culture center; artists from all over the world performed there, and political parties held their conferences at the venue. Amos Oz's The Hill of Evil Counsel detailed the p laying of the British anthem "God Save the King" before the screening of movies. On May 16, 1936, at the beginning of the three-year Great Arab Revolt, terrorists bombed the movie house killing three Jews - a doctor, baker and Hebrew University student. Once, in 1944, an attempt to assassinate the High Commissioner MacMichael there was made by the Lechi but failed. In another Amos Oz book, A Tale of Love and Darkness, the author describes a speech made in the theater by Begin in the early 1950s. It was also the scene of many Neturei Karta demonstrations as the old secular-religious border used to run near Edison which borders Geula and Meah Shearim.
However, the building, which stood vacant for many years, was purchased by the Satmar sect led by Aharon Teitelbaum and will become an apartment complex.
Visitors
Prof. Joe Ben Simon and his wife Terry were welcome visitors at the Begin Center last week when they met with Harry and Freda Hurwitz in the White Nights restaurant. They had previously visited the Center and were most impressed at the time by the building, the museum and other features.
September 10, 2007
Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 325,119
Begin to be Celebrated by Druze Group
Next Wednesday, 19 September, the Druze community of Daliyat El Carmel will assemble for an event celebrating the great Israeli leader Menachem Begin. The event was initiated and organized by Amal Nasereldeen who is a former Knesset member and chairman of the Druze Yad L'Banim. He is also a member of the public council of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.
The government of Israel will be represented by Minister Yitzhak Herzog, the Minister of Welfare and Social Services and Minister of the Diaspora, Society and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, who will address the gathering. Other personalities expected to attend the event and to deliver greetings or short addresses are Prof. Moshe Arens, former MK Amnon Linn, Sheikh Tarif (who is the spiritual leader of the Druze). There will also be a panel of speakers from the Jewish community and the Druze community.
Menachem Begin Park Dedicated at Azur
Overcoming a decade of opposition from the Labour-oriented Local Council, the town of Azur finally approved the dedication of its central park to the memory of Menachem Begin. The initiative originated with Advocate Navon Katzav and it was he who organized the ceremony held on September 5th. It was addressed by Yechiel Kadishai, Efrayim Even, as well as Mr. Katzav. The park is 55 dunams in area (16 acres). The Menachem Begin Heritage Center donated the large stone memorial with a special text that is placed at the park's entrance. Present at the ceremony were Chassia Begin, Council Head Amnon Zach and Yisrael Drobles, representing the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, in addition to scores of local residents who will benefit from the recreational area.
Chol HaMoed Sukkot
Large crowds of visitors are expected at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center during the five days of Chol HaMoed Sukkot and therefore, persons desiring to visit the Center are urged to make reservations ahead of time by calling (02) 565-2020 (or from abroad at 972-2-565-2020). Those requiring translations of the commentary in the museum are fortunate this year to have the translation available in five languages—English, Russian, Spanish, French and Arabic. These all appear on the sound system that can be heard on the earphones provided at the reception desk. Recent visitors have been most grateful and complimentary about the various languages available to them.
During Chol HaMoed Sukkot the museum will be open as follows:
First day of Chol Ha'Moed (Friday)
September 28 9am-12:30pm
Chol Ha'Moed
September 30-October 2 9am-7pm
The day before Simhat Torah
October 3 9am-12:30pm
Mazal Tov
A hearty Mazal Tov to Yuval and Nirit Bar Or on the birth of their second son, brother to Magen. Yuval is the Director of Office Administration at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center.
Begin's Speaking Venue to Become Apartments
The Edison Theater, located on Yeshayahu Street corner of Belilius Street in Jerusalem, one of the city's landmarks since it was built in 1932, and a site where Menachem Begin frequently made major public indoor addresses, is undergoing a major alteration.
The theater was a central element of the city's cultural affairs with distinguished guests and officials in attendance. For many years the theater served as a culture center; artists from all over the world performed there, and political parties held their conferences at the venue. Amos Oz's The Hill of Evil Counsel detailed the p laying of the British anthem "God Save the King" before the screening of movies. On May 16, 1936, at the beginning of the three-year Great Arab Revolt, terrorists bombed the movie house killing three Jews - a doctor, baker and Hebrew University student. Once, in 1944, an attempt to assassinate the High Commissioner MacMichael there was made by the Lechi but failed. In another Amos Oz book, A Tale of Love and Darkness, the author describes a speech made in the theater by Begin in the early 1950s. It was also the scene of many Neturei Karta demonstrations as the old secular-religious border used to run near Edison which borders Geula and Meah Shearim.
However, the building, which stood vacant for many years, was purchased by the Satmar sect led by Aharon Teitelbaum and will become an apartment complex.
Visitors
Prof. Joe Ben Simon and his wife Terry were welcome visitors at the Begin Center last week when they met with Harry and Freda Hurwitz in the White Nights restaurant. They had previously visited the Center and were most impressed at the time by the building, the museum and other features.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Begin Park in Azur
The town of Azur, just south of Tel Aviv, dedicated the central park area in the community in the memory of Menachem Begin on September 5, 2007.
In the presence of the Local Council head, Mrs. Chassia Begin, Yehiel Kadishai, Efrayim Even of the Irgun Veterans' Associations and Israel Drobles of the Begin Center, a large stone was uncovered reading
The Menachem Begin Park
1913 - 1992
Sixth Prime Minister
Signer of the Peace Treaty with Egypt
Irgun Commander
Here's a picture.
Deep appreciation is extended to Advocate Navon Katzav who initiated this project a decade ago and belabored on its behalf until achieveing the authorization of the Local Council.
Some other photographs:-
In the presence of the Local Council head, Mrs. Chassia Begin, Yehiel Kadishai, Efrayim Even of the Irgun Veterans' Associations and Israel Drobles of the Begin Center, a large stone was uncovered reading
The Menachem Begin Park
1913 - 1992
Sixth Prime Minister
Signer of the Peace Treaty with Egypt
Irgun Commander
Here's a picture.
Deep appreciation is extended to Advocate Navon Katzav who initiated this project a decade ago and belabored on its behalf until achieveing the authorization of the Local Council.
Some other photographs:-
Friday, September 7, 2007
About the Docu-Drama "Altalena"
Last week filming began on the historical docudrama "Altalena," directed by Eli Cohen ("Avia's Summer"). It tells the story of the Altalena, a munitions ship brought to Israel by the Irgun (the pre-state underground militia led by Menachem Begin) during the War of Independence, and the dispute that erupted between prime minister David Ben-Gurion (played by Yossi Kantz) and Begin (Yoram Hatav). B-G ordered the shelling of the ship by the fledgling Israel Defense Forces. The film requires the Tel Aviv skyline of 1948 and will place actors against a computer-generated background. Moti Lerner wrote the screenplay, and the film is being produced by Riki Shelah and Zvi Shapira, with a budget of about $600,000, provided by Keren Makor (the main investor), Keshet Television and the Israel Film Foundation. It has not yet been decided whether the film will be broadcast on TV or screened in theaters.
Source
Head of the Begin Center, Herzl Makov, was interviewed on Israel's Kol Yisrael - Reshet Bet radio on Thursday morning and expressed his concern that the series will present an unhistoric picture and twist facts.
Information published in the press as well as discussions with actors and other persons connected with the production indicate that there is much about which to be concerned.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Center Bulletin, Vol. 3, No. 47
Volume 3, Issue 47
September 4, 2007
Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 324,657
Rosh Hashana Greetings from History
Soon after becoming Prime Minister of Israel, Menachem Begin used the approaching Rosh Hashana holiday to greet the people of Israel and the Jews of the world with blessings from Jerusalem.
In an interview on the Israel Defense Forces radio on 6 September 1977, Menachem Begin said:
We are on the threshold of a new year and I believe with implicit faith that the day of peace will come. The one thing that is inevitable is Peace. It will come because this government's policy leads to serious consideration of Peace Treaties, not interim agreements.
He concluded the lengthy interview with the words:
As I am speaking over the IDF radio station, allow me to wish all the soldiers and officers of Israel a happy and blessed New Year. We have a glorious army of which all the people of Israel are proud. All the best, soldiers of Israel. We are proud of you.
And a year later on 22 September 1978, upon his return to Israel from the Camp David negotiations, he said in a statement:
May there be a good and blessed New Year for the whole House of Israel. A year of Peace. May we, with G-d's help, soon be able to sign a Peace Treaty and to bring the message that not only in this generation, but in the coming generations, too, we shall live in our country in peace, in honor, in liberty and in justice.
Quandt on Carter
William B. Quandt is Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia and was a member of the National Security Council staff during the Carter Administration. He has written periodically about Carter's program during the Camp David negotiations and his attitude toward Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the people of Israel. His latest article, published in the Spring 2007 Journal of Palestine Studies, deals with Carter's latest controversial book and says that Carter believed that the Camp David Accords referred to the "negotiations on final status issues which shall be based on all the provisions and principles of UN Security Council Resolution 242. The word withdrawal was initially listed among those principles, but Begin insisted that it be removed, and it was."
Quandt goes on to say that
"Begin rejected the Carter formulation precisely because it would have obligated Israel to withdraw after a transitional period to approximate the 1967 lines as part of an eventual peace agreement. This he would not do. The most that he would accept was that "the negotiations", not even "the outcome of the negotiations", would be based on "all the provisions and principles of UN Security Council Resolution 242." For Begin this meant that the Palestinians or Jordanians could raise the issue of withdrawal if they so chose, but he was under n o obligation to agree to it. The wording of the final agreement left all parties able to read into the text their preferred positions. It did not resolve the issue and Carter is incorrect to imply that Begin made any commitment to withdrawal from the West Bank."
Russian Birthright
Two groups of Birthright visitors totaling some 50 people came to the museum last week. Prior to their arrival, the request had been made for them to have the museum soundtrack in Russian. This was easily available through the earphones which carry the Begin story in five languages—English, Russian, French, Spanish and Arabic.
The young people were very pleased with the service and complimented the Begin Center for providing it.
Wolf Blitzer Interviewed on IBA
Wolf Blitzer, the well-known CNN senior political correspondent was interviewed by Leah Stern of the English television program of Israel Broadcast Authority to mark the completion of Blitzer's 30 years in print, radio and television journalism.
When asked to highlight the main stories and personalities that he had followed in Israel, he replied that the main personalities were Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel who have achieved a special place in history by terminating the state of war between their two countries. He also thought that King Hussein of Jordan, whom he had interviewed, was a leading figure in the region.
Museum Hours During the Holidays
Please take note of the following:
The day before Rosh Hashana September 12 Closed
Rosh Hashana September 13-14 Closed
The day before Yom Kippur September 21 Closed
The day before Sukkot September 26 9am-12:30pm
Sukkot September 27 Closed
First day Chol Ha'Moed (Friday) September 28 9am-12:30pm
Chol Ha'Moed September 30-October 2 9am-7pm
Day before Simhat Torah October 3 9am-12:30pm
Simhat Torah October 4 Closed
Friday October 5 9am-12:30pm
We wish all readers of this bulletin and their families and the Whole House of Israel
SHANA TOVA U'MEVUREHET!
September 4, 2007
Total Number of Visitors Since October 2004: 324,657
Rosh Hashana Greetings from History
Soon after becoming Prime Minister of Israel, Menachem Begin used the approaching Rosh Hashana holiday to greet the people of Israel and the Jews of the world with blessings from Jerusalem.
In an interview on the Israel Defense Forces radio on 6 September 1977, Menachem Begin said:
We are on the threshold of a new year and I believe with implicit faith that the day of peace will come. The one thing that is inevitable is Peace. It will come because this government's policy leads to serious consideration of Peace Treaties, not interim agreements.
He concluded the lengthy interview with the words:
As I am speaking over the IDF radio station, allow me to wish all the soldiers and officers of Israel a happy and blessed New Year. We have a glorious army of which all the people of Israel are proud. All the best, soldiers of Israel. We are proud of you.
And a year later on 22 September 1978, upon his return to Israel from the Camp David negotiations, he said in a statement:
May there be a good and blessed New Year for the whole House of Israel. A year of Peace. May we, with G-d's help, soon be able to sign a Peace Treaty and to bring the message that not only in this generation, but in the coming generations, too, we shall live in our country in peace, in honor, in liberty and in justice.
Quandt on Carter
William B. Quandt is Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia and was a member of the National Security Council staff during the Carter Administration. He has written periodically about Carter's program during the Camp David negotiations and his attitude toward Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the people of Israel. His latest article, published in the Spring 2007 Journal of Palestine Studies, deals with Carter's latest controversial book and says that Carter believed that the Camp David Accords referred to the "negotiations on final status issues which shall be based on all the provisions and principles of UN Security Council Resolution 242. The word withdrawal was initially listed among those principles, but Begin insisted that it be removed, and it was."
Quandt goes on to say that
"Begin rejected the Carter formulation precisely because it would have obligated Israel to withdraw after a transitional period to approximate the 1967 lines as part of an eventual peace agreement. This he would not do. The most that he would accept was that "the negotiations", not even "the outcome of the negotiations", would be based on "all the provisions and principles of UN Security Council Resolution 242." For Begin this meant that the Palestinians or Jordanians could raise the issue of withdrawal if they so chose, but he was under n o obligation to agree to it. The wording of the final agreement left all parties able to read into the text their preferred positions. It did not resolve the issue and Carter is incorrect to imply that Begin made any commitment to withdrawal from the West Bank."
Russian Birthright
Two groups of Birthright visitors totaling some 50 people came to the museum last week. Prior to their arrival, the request had been made for them to have the museum soundtrack in Russian. This was easily available through the earphones which carry the Begin story in five languages—English, Russian, French, Spanish and Arabic.
The young people were very pleased with the service and complimented the Begin Center for providing it.
Wolf Blitzer Interviewed on IBA
Wolf Blitzer, the well-known CNN senior political correspondent was interviewed by Leah Stern of the English television program of Israel Broadcast Authority to mark the completion of Blitzer's 30 years in print, radio and television journalism.
When asked to highlight the main stories and personalities that he had followed in Israel, he replied that the main personalities were Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel who have achieved a special place in history by terminating the state of war between their two countries. He also thought that King Hussein of Jordan, whom he had interviewed, was a leading figure in the region.
Museum Hours During the Holidays
Please take note of the following:
The day before Rosh Hashana September 12 Closed
Rosh Hashana September 13-14 Closed
The day before Yom Kippur September 21 Closed
The day before Sukkot September 26 9am-12:30pm
Sukkot September 27 Closed
First day Chol Ha'Moed (Friday) September 28 9am-12:30pm
Chol Ha'Moed September 30-October 2 9am-7pm
Day before Simhat Torah October 3 9am-12:30pm
Simhat Torah October 4 Closed
Friday October 5 9am-12:30pm
We wish all readers of this bulletin and their families and the Whole House of Israel
SHANA TOVA U'MEVUREHET!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Haggai Segal Recreates the Altalena Quandry
In this past week's Makor Rishon weekly paper, Chagai Segal wrote a fiticious piece on the Altalena incident:-
Segal wrote this on the backdrop of what happened in Hebron two weeks ago.
(thanks to The Muqata)
In the [Israeli 1948] War of Independence, I served as an infantry soldier in the religious platoon in the 22nd division of the Carmeli Brigade. Our company commander assembled the company, and announced that the IDF and Hagana Chief of Staff had ordered us to quash an insurgence by the “Etzel” as a boat full of ammunition and Etzel soldiers was arriving. He threatened us that we needed to follow every single order, including opening fire, if so commanded. Insubordination would be dealt with extremely harshly.
The religious platoon was the only one in the company, perhaps the only one in the Brigade. We inspired shock and awe. I will mention that our company, specifically our platoon, were very battle experienced. We labored tirelessly, with unparalleled mesirut nefesh, and through the help of Hashem we had many successes -- the conquests of Haifa, Acre, Bazet, Ramat Yochanan, the Hula Valley, and more. Afterwards, we fought in the Jordan Valley, Jenin and others. We all served in the “Hagana” and were drafted in January 1948. Our platoon was the pride of the company and brigade, and we paid for that honor with the lives of our fighters and many wounded.
The orders about the “Altalena” reached us when we were up North, far away from Tel Aviv. Our platoon got on the bus in silence. There was no rabbi or spiritual leader that told us to refuse orders. The refusal was not as a collective, but each and every one individually, according to their conscience. I will note that Religious Zionism movement at the time (Mizrachi and Hapoel Mizrachi) was aligned with Mapai, specifically, “Red Haifa.” The leaders of the Religious Zionist movement saw eye to eye with Mapai on matters of security, settlement and social welfare.
During the ride on the bus to the Altalena, I contemplated the predicament, and deicded that I would not fight against my brothers, and if G-d forbid the time would arrive [and the order came] I would remove the firing pin from my rifle. Our luck improved and the drive from the North to Tel Aviv was drawn out, so that when we arrived at Tel Aviv, the Altalena was already burning. Every explosion [from the ship] flayed our skin, as we knew that the [destroyed] weapons and ammunition were desperately needed for the war [of Independence]. In the Hagana camp across from the Altalena, thousands of soldiers arrived from all battlefronts. There were fierce Palmach fighters, bearded and dirty, battle scarred “Negev Fighters” who arrived for this holy mission with rejoicing and merriment. The education they received from their mother’s womb was a hatred of religious Jews, the Etzel, the Lechi, and anything that had the fragrance of an international anthem: “The old world will be destroyed to its foundations.” Their faces beamed with happiness when they saw the boat explode and hundreds of Etzel soldiers taken captive and imprisoned in the camp. I saw the young innocence on the faces of the captives, scarred by fire -- they came with the ship to fight for the Jewish State. I heard that many of them died in battle after being conscripted into the IDF – thrown into battle without knowing the language and without appropriate training.
We returned back to our regular duties, and we didn’t discuss the subject, but our hearts were broken.
Segal wrote this on the backdrop of what happened in Hebron two weeks ago.
(thanks to The Muqata)
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