יומנים > יומן - מלא 22/03/1949

Tuesday, March 22, 1949

During the night [Walter] Eytan and Yigael [Yadin] woke me. Moshe Dayan had telephoned [to say] that Tall told him that the government of Transjordan was prepared to come to Jerusalem tomorrow and sign a secret agreement in which they concede the territories of the Triangle to us, as we wanted. They’re opposed to bringing the matter to Rhodes. I suggested that Moshe meet with Tall immediately to inquire how long it will take to implement the change to the [border] lines.

         – Ya’akov [Dori] came. He proposes disbanding the military government, aside from a few places. I had already reached this conclusion a long time ago for political and civilian reasons. I asked what would be A’s fate – whether a military position can be found for him – not as a commander – in this respect he might be lacking – but in one of the Staff departments (Personnel Department or Logistics Department). Ya’akov is doubtful.

         The Staff is preparing a plan to downsize the army to 6 brigades; only those up to age 25 would remain. I commented that manpower also has to be cut in the Navy and the Air Force, and to be built up from the civilian merchant and air fleet. Of course it’s necessary to have military oversight in planning the civilian naval and air [fleets].

         After the agreement with Lebanon is signed it will be necessary to have a road from Manara to Misgav Am, because right now Misgav Am can only be reached through Lebanon, and Lebanon is allowing us to use the road for a month. Paving the road will require P£ 10,000; it’s 6-7 km long.

         The Air Force has 3 important men: Hashimshoni (aeronautical engineer), Nes [?] Cohen (intelligence), David Yehuda (from South Africa) – operations officer. H creates a negative atmosphere. They appreciate E. Remez – in terms of his honesty and seriousness. But they complain about H having a bad influence on E.R. What will [H?] do [?]. Manage the Training Bureau (in place of Dan Polkovsky [sp.]) or join the Defense Ministry to ensure the Air Force’s needs.

         Ben-Artzi requests 2-3 officers to serve as his assistants and they would be given the opportunity to study, because at this time there’s no agreement to admit students into military institutions.

         – Globman – proposes establishing production committees in the Histadrut and Manufacturers’ Association; after this is accepted legislation should be introduced regarding production committees.

         – Avraham Rutenberg and Hai [Issachar]: [He?] raises the question of the [power station] in Naharayim. The matter was turned over to [Walter] Eytan. [He?] proposes taking waters from the Yarkon [River] to the Negev. Digging wells would require too much electricity. The wells in the Negev have a known quantity of salt. If we bring Yarkon waters, well waters can be added; a channel from the Yarkon – all the work would be done in-country; pipes – would be brought from abroad, and foreign funding would be required.

         In the war against the cost of living, he proposes coordinating three: one for finances, one for work, one for technique [logistics?] (Hoofien, A. Rutenberg gave him an assistant for statistics, Dr. Katz). A. Rutenberg – proposes himself as teniq. [technique (logistics?) point person?]. He offers an example: the Haifa [-] Tel Aviv Road is congested. Why not transport by sea? There are unemployed; why not have them make bricks for construction?

         – Rivka Shulman [sp.] – April 4 marks the anniversary of the slaughter of the Hadassah convoy in Sheikh Jarrah. [I?] propose a government health committee to coordinate activities; Dr. Davis would represent Hadassah. She asks to participate in the broadcast to America on April 4.

         – In the afternoon Knesset. I proposed the legislation on discharged soldiers.

         –At 6 p.m. a reception for industry workers at the government house.