יומנים > יומן - מלא 18/11/1948

Thursday, November 18, 1948

It was reported from Paris that the head of the American [intelligence] "station" in Paris spoke with Truman by telephone (on the 16th of this month, two days ago). [US Secretary of State George] Marshall had told the president that Israel would accept the Security Council resolution, and therefore the question of sanctions won't arise. The "intelligence" agent told the president that to the best of his knowledge Israel would not concede; the president said that in such a case his instruction is not to impose sanctions on Israel. The "intelligence" agent said that in such a case Marshall would resign. The president said that he hopes that his previous instructions will be upheld. Truman also asked whether Marshall's visit to London would influence the British government. The answer was - apparently not. On the contrary, the British hope to exploit Marshall's hesitancy to bring the Security Council discussion to a close.

       It was also reported by the American "intelligence" that mobilization of Transjordanian units is continuing towards the Negev [''Aqaba, as it turned out]. The Egyptians apparently decided to launch a military operation at the end of November, after all the Arab states promised to assist.

       - Pre-afternoon government meeting. Yadin and Yigael [should be: Shiloah] haven't arrived yet, but a new cable from Moshe indicates that there's no need to provide an answer, but instead to appoint officers to conduct negotiations with the UN observers' chief of staff, General Riley.

       - In the afternoon State Council. Here I was informed that Yigael and Reuven had returned.

       I didn't hear a lot of news from them. They oppose the brief response that Moshe proposed this morning, and along with [Walter] Eytan I formulated a response and summoned the government. Following a discussion the response was approved. Those who voted against a withdrawal to Deir Suneid [from the Beit Hanoun wedge] were Gruenbaum, Bernstein, Mapam [Zisling, Bentov], Fishman [Maimon], Sheetrit. Against the wording of the response - Mapam, Gruenbaum.