יומנים > יומן - מלא 07/01/1948
[Wednesday,] January 7, 1948 [Jerusalem - until 9 a.m.]
Golda reports on behalf of [Adv. Avraham] Gorali that so far 50 weapons bearers [Haganah members] have been released on bail of P£ 100. The trials are being expedited.
The question is: Will those released on bail show up for trial or will the guarantors pay a fine of P£ 100? If they show up and are ordered to pay a fine - will they pay it or go to prison?
I tend towards imprisonment, because there is a clear tendency on the part of the government to "squeeze" money out of the Haganah and the Agency. I promised Golda an answer from Tel Aviv: [Whether]: A - to pay a fine. B - not to pay and to go to prison. C - whoever is released on bail should show up. D - whoever is released should not show up.
- I summoned [David] Baharal [assistant to the Jewish Agency treasurer in Jerusalem] to clarify the financial situation: Since Kaplan's departure [for America] he has received: for the Agency from America half a million dollars, from KKL P£ 200,000 (as against Bitzaron Fund). Received for defense: from South Africa P£ 75,000, from Kaplan half a million dollars, from England zero. Via Geneva he received P£ 150,000, for the Agency. He asks me to lend Slavin [Ta'as] P£ 10,000 - to be repaid in a month. I agreed.
- At nine I returned to Tel Aviv [from Jerusalem]. Up to Latrun we didn't encounter any vehicle, neither Jewish nor Arab. For some reason we drove through Masmiyya this time. In Yazur, at the Bet Dagan and Abu Kabir turnoff, army [British soldiers]. The trip took 2½ hours.
- When I arrived home I found a telegram from [Arthur] Lourie [saying] that the investigation into the material seized [in New Jersey] could expose all the financial activities to date, and they're considering speaking openly with the government. This is the only thing to do.
- Rabbi [Ze'ev] Gold came from Geneva. He saw [Eliezer] Kaplan there. He'll arrive here at the start of next week. He's engaged in procurement and needs to meet with the inter-governmental committee. According to him 3 airplanes will arrive here this week and another eight over the course of two weeks. He hopes that over the course of the coming days he will have ten million dollars (from three countries - England, Canada, America) - but not only for defense. He's optimistic about the money.
- Yisrael Zabludovsky [Amir], Yitzhak Sadeh, Yisrael Galili, Reuven [Shiloah], Ya'akov [Dori]: The Old City has been cut off. The options are: to forcefully breach Jaffa Gate or Zion Gate (where the Arab Legion is stationed); to close off Jaffa Gate by firing [on it] from the Muslim Cemetery. We agreed that they'd warn the Arabs: If they don't release the Old City - we'll embitter the lives of Arabs in the new city.
Seventy children were removed from Etsiyyon Bloc under army escort. At four settlements [in the Bloc] there are weapons for 150 fighters. The number of settlers is about 250. Another hundred men will be sent there, half are trained, half need training. There aren't enough weapons. In Kefar Etsiyyon and Masu'ot they're demanding fortifications. The fences from before are no longer suitable. At least P£ 4,000-5,000 is required.
Yitzhak [Sadeh] suggests bringing a reinforcement of 350 men to Jerusalem, because the men are tired. Around Jerusalem 200 Hayish are enlisted. A new supplement will allow Hayish in Jerusalem to train. Right now about 700 men are enlisted in Jerusalem. Yisrael [Amir] says that the Arabs are planning to attack ''Atarot and Neve Ya'akov after the [British] army leaves. The Arabs evacuated Kalandiya [near ''Atarot]. Yitzhak suggests turning Hartuv into a reinforced base that will safeguard the Jerusalem Road (access to Bab el-Wad).
- Yosef Yaakovson: The Arabs of Jaffa are looking for a way to reconcile with the Jews. A dignitary from Abu Kabir is seeking peace, on the condition [with a commitment on his part] that they will turn over any foreigner who comes to them. What's the reason? The army is pressuring. When one shot is fired in Abu Kabir - the army fires for hours.
- Egged announces: The government agreed to grant licenses to every bus for two instruments: either rifles or pistols (but not automatic), on the condition that there not be any other weapon in the vehicle, and that they conduct a search. We advised not to agree to the licenses but rather to demand weapons.
- Kozlowski [Pinchas Sapir]: We obtained 500 tons of [barbed] wire: black P£ 17 per ton, white P£ 40 per ton.
I instructed that he take upon himself the coordination of purchasing. He asked about authority. I said that all purchases for the "Organization" will be conducted by him only. He said that Yosef Yizraeli advised that he participate in Staff meetings on these matters.
- I gave Yisrael [Zabludovsky-Amir, Jerusalem commander] instructions regarding the response in Jerusalem.
- At six Yitzhak Sadeh informed me that ETZEL had seized an army vehicle, breached Jaffa Gate, killed a number of Arabs, and fled.