יומנים > יומן - מלא 14/06/1948
Monday, June 14, 1948
I remarked to Yigal that it was very risky to transfer two Harel battalions from Kiryat ''Anavim [for a respite] to Sarafand [Tzrifin], because of the danger that [during the truce] they won't allow us (and perhaps justifiably) to mobilize armed forces beyond Hulda (eastward) [via the Burma Road], or at the very least beyond Sha'ar HaGai, and if the war resumes - and we should prepare for this possibility - the absence of two battalions on the Jerusalem Hills front could tip the balance. Arrangements can be made for the two Harel battalions in Romema or another neighborhood in Jerusalem, and leave for these soldiers will be granted as for any soldier on the Jerusalem front - through an arrangement with the [UN] observers. Yigal sees some inconvenience [in this arrangement] but recognizes the risk that I mentioned.
During the conquest of ''Asluj [in the Negev, near Revivim] a day before the truce we had heavy losses caused by a landline and later by a large amount of explosive material hidden in the police [station]. All the men who entered the building were injured, [and] the structure collapsed. Our losses [-] 13 killed, 2 missing, 9 wounded; the enemy's losses [-] more than 15 killed, 14 taken prisoner (7 Egyptian, 7 Eretz-Israeli [Arabs], among the Egyptians a one-star officer). Much booty was found.
At 10:30 Yigal came and told me that all of Harel had left Jerusalem. A Jerusalem garrison company had revolted and abandoned two strongholds near Beit Mahsir, and a Harel company remained at the location.
Yitzhak Rabin [Yigal Allon's deputy in Operation Yoram] claims that if his men remain in the city - they won't toughen up, because the city causes demoralization. They have many new immigrants. Yitzhak Rabin removed 1,800 men, including 600 wounded, 300 "deggies" (degenerates, exhausted). Since the beginning of [Operation] Nahshon 250 Harel men have been killed, longtime [fighters] and commanders.
I asked Yitzhak Rabin how he'd handled the commander Uzi [Narkis] after Yigal [Allon] admitted that he had swiped the weapons from Levitze. He replied that it wasn't within his authority because he [Rabin] had been appointed as Yigal [Allon]'s deputy, and was replaced [as brigade commander] by Yosef-le Tabenkin. In the presence of Yigal and Yitzhak Rabin I instructed Zvi [Ayalon] to dismiss Uzi from service until the trial, and to task the public prosecutor with summoning those charged to a military trial.
I asked Rabin about the new charge - the theft of cheese and other goods sent to Jerusalem. He replied that there'd been a hearing. What was the outcome?
- Arrangements that need to be made in the army: transfer and replacement [of personnel], training, discipline, system of appointments, divisions in the Defense Ministry, Staff structure, force structure, ranks and insignia, flags, forming new brigades, completion, fronts, logistics, manpower, additional recruiting, production, procurement, science, signal, R&R, garrison force in cities and settlements, reinforcement for settlements, work practice and duty roster, quick contact between the Staff and Defense Ministry, weapons distribution, reserve duty, air force and navy, continued training abroad.
- In the early afternoon I visited three ministers at the Kirya. Fishman [Rabbi Y.L. Maimon] and Rosenblüth [Pinchas Rosen] to resolve the lacuna regarding the authority of rabbinical courts. I proposed an unofficial committee [composed] of [Rabbi Y.L.] Fishman, [Binyamin] Mintz, Rosenblüth, Zalman [Shazar], and [David] Remez to clarify the problem and present an agreed-upon proposal, or two proposals, to the government or the Constituent Assembly. Both accepted this suggestion. I also suggested deleting Article 8 of the Courts Ordinance, [as it] could raise questions about these courts. Both agreed to this as well. Rosenblüth also agrees to take on a seasoned lawyer who's well versed in Jewish law, as one of his assistants (Fishman proposes either Dr. Bar [sp.] or Dr. Glasner [sp.] or Warhaftig or someone similar. Rosenblüth agrees, and is inclined to accept Warhaftig).
I provided Sheetrit with material explaining the dismissal of Kalman Cohen.
- [Haim] Slavin came to see me. During the truce he'll make 200 3" mortars and 700 shells per day. It will take another 6-7 weeks for him to turn out 2" mortars. He'll produce 30,000 Mills [grenades] in 4 weeks, finish the remaining Stens (he's already delivered 9,100), increase the production of 303 bullets - currently 6,000 per day, by the end of the truce 12,000 per day. There's no steel for 120 mm mortar [shells], so he'll use cast iron, which weakens the strength of the shell; it will harm people but not buildings. Over the course of 7 weeks they'll make all the preparations [for production]. After 7 weeks they'll begin production; two months later we'll have the results. [They're] short on Cordite or Ballistite [a chemical explosive]. Bought 50 tons Cordite abroad. Hasn't arrived yet. He might be able to produce 65 mm cannons.
- Yosef-le Tabenkin [Harel Brigade commander] came to see me - supposedly on Jerusalem matters. Complained that he was only sent 300 men, and all are new, untrained. He spoke about the downhill road and about the possibility of a second road to Beit Mahsir. Finally he got to the point - the matter of Uzi [Narkis]: Why is he being "dismissed" before the trial?
I said that he wasn't yet being "dismissed" but suspended; that is, his service is being halted until the trial, and the trial will determine the matter. However, truth be told, I'm convinced that Uzi is only a scapegoat, and you, Yosef-le, are the true culprit, if not of this deed of weapons theft - then of the entire background that made this deed possible.
- Government meeting in the afternoon.
- Yosef [Avidar] reports that a Swedish colonel came from Jerusalem via Latrun to Sha'ar HaGai with an American consul and one spy (Larsson's son) and three others in military uniform. They announced that food could not be transported unless supervised, otherwise the Arabs would open fire.