יומנים > יומן - מלא 11/05/1948

Tuesday, May 11, 1948 Safed is in our hands, Bet Mahsir is in our hands. Today a convoy may set out for Jerusalem. Large capture of weapons in Safed. The LEHI matter [the abduction] has been settled by Shkolnik: they promised not to take action until statehood is declared. All the abductees will be freed. - Staff meeting with the participation of Yisrael [Galili] and Yohanan [Ratner]. Yigael [Yadin] reported on Galilee [operations] and the road to Jerusalem. Aharon Remez (Air Service): there are 3 Austers, 2 Bonanzas (small, for reconnaissance), a new Rapid, a broken-down Egyptian Rapid, a C-46 [Commando cargo plane], a Dakota, a broken-down Norseman (probably irreparable). Maybe two additional Norsemen will arrive, perhaps three C-46's from Panama (five took off for Europe with loads). No knowledge about ten Venturas. A Constellation [four-engine passenger plane] in Canada. Ten Messerschmitts in Europe. Our pilots began to train. It's believed that [the Messerschmitts] will be [dismantled] and delivered to us in the C-46. Nine broken-down Austers ["Primuses"], some of which will be repaired. Two Tigers [de Havilland Tiger Moths] with irreparable damage. Two broken-down Polish [aircraft], maybe one will be made from them. Internal working conditions [at the Air Service and at the staff] are also rough. Proposes establishing an Air[-Service] staff comprised of professionals only. One man should be positioned over the staff as minister of supply, aircraft manufacture, and air ministry. (The administrative, the organizational), and the professional command side should be left to the Air[-Service] staff. Conversely, air services on all fronts should be seriously cut back; otherwise, no aircraft may remain for May 15. In the vicinity of Saris [in the Judean hills], a plane was hit by a large shell, perhaps 75 mm, and the Arabs may have anti-aircraft artillery. Our plane reconnoitered yesterday and found no traces of the craft with its six passengers in the Jerusalem hills. Aharon complains about not having received clothing and gear from Supply. The airfield in Tel Aviv has long been unfit for incoming planes, the Ekron [Tel Nof] [field] has to be secured with fortifications and a garrison force, and the pieces [ships] from Europe and America have to be moved faster. Zuckerberg [Emanuel Tzur] proposes that if they nail down the funding-he'll deliver French combat aircraft to [Eretz-Israel] [by means of] French pilots. Abroad, we bought and paid for 20 Norsemen but only two have been delivered. Ten Messerschmitts were purchased. We still owe $ 900,000 on their account. Aharon proposes a three-member staff: Yehoshua Gilutz, Yehuda Helbitz, Aharon Remez. Zvi [Ayalon] disagrees with this setup. I said we should expedite the delivery of aircraft from this end-we should finish the purchase of the Messerschmitts, and if Zuckerberg's plan is practical-we should fund it. We should also send someone to speed up delivery. It was agreed not to use the airplanes for the time being and to fix up the Ekron airfield. [Ephraim] Ben-Artzi will send them all necessary supplies. Yigal [Yadin], Aharon [Remez], Yisrael [Galili], and I will look into the structure of the Air[-Service] staff. Ben-Artzi brings up the question of motor vehicles: 800 are on the way, they'll arrive during the month. We have 300 rentals; 250 more are needed. They propose "borrowing" 230 cars, including 80 large ones, for a month. Confiscating cars-they say-is harmful to the loan [program]. Eliahu [Ben-Hur] thinks 400 and not 250 [more] are needed. Ben-Artzi wants to prioritize the unloading of ships: steel helmets, tents, etc., that came from America. He also wants to confiscate all canned food for the army-it should be sent to the combat [zones]. There are shortages of socks, shoes, and blankets. Shoes made in this country wear out quickly, in two months instead of six. Canteens are being delivered from South Africa. Eliahu [Ben-Hur]: It was decided that the police officers will take a one-month platoon commanders' course. [Bechor] Sheetrit objects. An inquiry with Sheetrit is needed. Lehrer [Zadok] demands that administrative appeals about the soldiers who have just reported for duty should be accepted only after a month. It was decided to hand this over to the Committee of Four (Shkolnik [Eshkol], [Binyamin] Avniel [from the Induction Center], Lehrer [Zadok], and one more from Command). Ben-Artzi reports that the military post has been activated and will be all right by the 20th-21st of this month. Aharon, Zvi, Yigael, Yisrael propose that Eliahu Sacharoff go abroad to speed up the delivery of the airplanes. We will propose to Yisrael [Amir] and the air force people the following arrangement for the Air [-Service] administration: Yisrael is named manager of the air force, Aharon (or someone else) as commander of the air force. The commander is accountable to the manager and presents important appointments to the manager for approval. The manager attends to all the air force's needs so that it can carry out its mission. Command is in the commander's hands. The manager reports deficiencies to the commander. [If] he suggests that someone should be dismissed-and the commander refuses-he presents the matter to the staff. - I invited Zuckerberg [Emanuel Tzur]. He says he can purchase warplanes in France (he has connections with the customs bureau where the registration takes place), in each plane a 20 mm [Hispano-Suiza] cannon, two 0.303 machine guns, and French pilots who will deliver it to our country. Each airplane, with its gear, [will cost] around P£ 10,000-but only in Swiss or American money. He's willing to fly out tomorrow for this purpose. If we buy 20-30, it'll be cheaper. Last week he bought a Rapid in England and is about to go to England again to buy airplanes for [the] Aviron [company] and Rutenberg. (Why does a Messerschmitt cost $ 180,000?). I cabled Granovski [Dr. Granot] to lend me 1,700,000 dollars for the airplanes. - A meeting of the Four: This month, May 15-June 15, we can bring 10,000 immigrants from Cyprus as we choose. They're giving us the "Pans" [for this purpose]. By the 25th of this month, 2,180 immigrants (770 legal) will have arrived from Europe. [The Zim vessel] Kedma will deliver 400 immigrants. Two days ago, a ship set sail from Italy-500 immigrants. Total: 13,000 immigrants. The ha'apala [illegal immigration] people want P£ 150,000 for two ships. Meeting of the [Mapai] Central Committee. I reviewed the defense situation: achievements and risks. In the middle of the meeting, Golda came [from her meeting with Abdallah] and in response to my question she handed me this note: "A cordial meeting. He's very concerned and facing threats. Didn't deny that we exchanged words and understanding about a desired arrangement, namely: he'll take the Arab part, but now he's only one of five. That's the plan he proposed-a single country with autonomy in Jewish parts, and a year later it will be one country under his rule." I headed for the "Red House" at once and summoned Yigael, Ratner, and Yisrael [Galili]. I demanded that all our forces be made mobile. Expedite the conquest of the road to Jerusalem and the Arab enclaves within [between] the settlements-and plan an operation against an all-out Arab invasion. Yigael asks: Should we fight Abdallah [as soon as] he crosses the [Mandate] borders-or those of the Jewish state? I answered that only the yod-gimmel [the provisional government] can decide. The same goes for the Beersheva question: to conquer it right away nor not? - David [Shaltiel] came from Jerusalem-he wants to go over to the offensive in Jerusalem as soon as the Mandate ends. This, too, is a political question. Obviously we have to attack all along the front on Zero Day-but Jerusalem is different. It may anger the Christian world. David has about a thousand armed men (more than that, I assume). We invited Yisrael Zabludovsky [Amir] and Hai [Yissacharov] to look into the setup of the air force. Yisrael accepted our proposal and only suggests that we say "chief of staff" instead of "commander." We decided to send Eliahu Sacharoff to Europe to speed up the shipments. [Haim] Slavin agreed that he should go. - In the evening: a large-scale conference: [Eliezer] Kaplan, Golda [Meir], Shkolnik [Eshkol], Yisrael [Galili], the department heads: preparing for the invasion. Yigael asks: When and where will we engage Abdallah's forces (only within our state, all over the country, in Transjordan too?). In Jerusalem, we must seize all strongholds-Sheikh Jarrah, etc.-where there are no British forces. Should we hold the Jerusalem road all the time?-to guard the strongholds along the road-yes. Can we help Bet Ha''Arava [and] the Etsiyyon Bloc?-probably only from the air. In the Negev: should Beersheva, which is outside of our state, be taken?-military needs will determine that. Western Galilee: should we send forces there with a convoy?-Ras a-Naqoura [Rosh HaNikra] should be captured. Tulkarm should be harassed. The commanders should take possession of all weapons at the outposts. An immediate order is needed for that. Mobile garrison units should be taken, too. Everyone should be mobilized for construction of local fortifications. Mobilize all experts in military services everywhere. Mobilize transport (Ben-Artzi prepared buses for the battalions and 150 additional vehicles). There are 250,000 gallons [of fuel] in Tel Aviv and 100,000 gallons elsewhere. All brigades should be supplied with maximum quantities of ammunition, food, etc. [Yohanan] Ratner: First of all, our pinned-down forces should be let loose. Increase mobility. Be close to sources of fuel. [Allocate] partisan forces-to harass the enemy and hit his transport lines. I asked [Ephraim] Ben-Artzi whether we can set up logistic centers in different regions in time for invasion day [in case the regions get cut off]. He doesn't have enough food (only 70,000 portions of beef). He wants to establish two bases, in the Negev and in Haifa. An engineering inventory (lumber and construction materials for fortifications) should be mobilized. There's enough personal gear for soldiers except socks and blankets. Enough food for a month can be stocked up. Fuel can be purchased from Shell-but there aren't any [fuel] tanks. The Solel Boneh and Tnuva people should be taken [mobilized]. Eliahu [Ben-Hur] proposes announcing on the radio that anyone who engaged in logistics for the army should report [for duty]. [Eliezer] Kaplan proposes arranging a cease-fire in Jerusalem so that forces can be released. The existing economy has to be kept going, too. Golda asks whether it's a good idea as the Christian world watches to wage war in Jerusalem in opposition to Christianity.. Yitzhak [Sadeh] comments that the enemies don't share one road and won't reach us all at once. We need to exploit that. Jerusalem-it's convenient for us that it will be calm. David [Shaltiel]: the enemy in Jerusalem is weak; there are around 800 foreigners. They're crumbling. Their morale has fallen. We'll receive [the] Generali [building] from the army; the postal [building] is already in our hands. I made two remarks: (1) destroy the Arab enclaves in the [areas of] Jewish settlement (Ramle-Lod, Bet She'an, Zar'in) that pose a special risk in the event of an invasion and may force [us] to pin down forces. (2) Arm Jerusalem more intensively-even if the moratorium continues. [This is due to] the importance of Jerusalem per se, 100,000 Jews there, its being surrounded by large Arab settlements. A large Jewish force in Jerusalem will pin down forces and be very helpful to the Negev.