יומנים > יומן - מלא 06/01/1949
Thursday, January 6, 1949
Last night we received a message that was sent from Cairo on the afternoon of the 14th of this month to New York for the UN office in Haifa, which reached Haifa yesterday afternoon – stating as follows: If the cease-fire is effectively carried out by 5 January, 14 GMT, the Egyptian Government is ready to instruct its representatives to open negotiations immediately with the representatives of Israel concerning the implementation of the Security Council resolutions of 4 and 16 November. The negotiations would be under UN chairmanship.
The UN representative who delivered this message asked whether we are willing to implement a cease-fire on the 6th (today) at 14 GMT (3 [p.m.] our time [should be 4 p.m.]). I replied in the affirmative, on the condition that we receive the Egyptian government’s notice sufficiently in advance. The UN delegates also approached the Egyptian government with the same question.
Although this arrangement will leave the Egyptians in Gaza, and the Faluja “pocket” will not fall either – I see it as a major achievement: this is an important stage to achieving peace and fortifying the status of the State of Israel. If we reach an agreement with Egypt – this is not an easy “if” – it will make it easier for us to reach an agreement with Transjordan and others, although once again England’s stance is decisive here, but it will also be influenced by this.
– I informed the government members of the situation on the fronts. The Egyptians have learned to fight – and the hope of a cease-fire also encourages them to take an obstinate stance. Faluja has become the Egyptian Tel Hai.
– Yesterday I summoned [Dov] Yosef and suggested that he travel to America to the UJA conference on behalf of the government and the [Jewish] Agency. He agreed and left this morning he left.
– From the Personnel Department I received the list of 170 privates, fathers of 4 children, who were discharged. There remain a few individuals who have not been discharged for health or other reasons.
– A conversation with Yigael Yadin on the cease-fire in the south and the next steps – and also on organizing the army for peacetime.
– Rafael Bash was selected two months ago for youth work in the party, and it became clear to him that: 1) There are unlimited possibilities in terms of the youth – the only thing missing is counselors. The Tzofim [Scouts] movement numbers 8,000; its leaders are all party members. HaTnu’a HaMeuhedet numbers 3,000 members now – it can draw thousands of youth if it just wants to. It has members who are inclined towards Mapam. In HaNo’ar HaOved we have a not-large majority, in the educational sector there’s parity [an equal number of counselors]. But the large branches – in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem – are in Mapam’s hands. In the moshavot – we have the majority. 2) Counselors do not want to go to work in a youth movement. The Kibbutz Movement is experiencing depletion (although the national organizations cover it up) and [members] are taking jobs in the army and the state. He suggests that I raise the importance of educational activity among the youth – and that settlement-oriented activity be invigorated (he has a letter in this regard from Baruch [Osnia]: flight! [i.e., the youth are fleeing; there is depletion]).
– In the afternoon Reuven [Shiloah] returned from Jerusalem. They met yesterday [with al-Tall]. The Negev was discussed. Abdallah wants passage to Egypt in the Negev, 100,000 Bedouins who reside in the Negev, strategic interests. Reuven asked: Whose? Your bosses’ [Britain’s] or yours? He replied: You’re our allies. He’s willing to guarantee our interest in the Negev – oil. They explained to him that he’s mistaken in this regard: our interest is land, the Red Sea, settlement, and so on. He replied: The king will work things out with you regarding the Negev.
The second matter was Jerusalem. Tall [the commander in East Jerusalem] requested the Old City for himself (without the Jewish Quarter or access to it), Katamon, the German Colony, Talpiot, and Ramat Rahel – in exchange for Lifta and Romema going to the Jews. We demanded Sheikh Jarrah [and access to Mount Scopus] – he sees this as preventing access between Ramallah and Transjordan. He suggested a road from Sanhedria to the University [in Jordanian territory]. They told him that we would also give him a road of this sort to Hebron. As an international [border], Tall proposes one road between us and them – King David [Hotel] and the like.
The Triangle was discussed – and he understands that the borders need to be changed here. He admitted that the English are behind the negotiations and are obligating him – although according to him they do not know the details. He promised that Iraq would not enter the war and that the government of Iraq, or more accurately the crown prince, is behind him.
– [Yisrael] Amir: 550 packers and woodworkers were released [for the citrus harvest], another hundred packers and woodworkers are being released – this is the number that was demanded of them. He objects to the enlistment of AMAL personnel.
– Ya’akov [Shimshon] Shapira – land purchase can take the following forms: declaring areas to be security zones, where without a special license from the Defense Ministry settlement, residence, and passing through are prohibited. Other areas will be declared open areas – in such areas a minimum will be set for each landowner, the rest will be expropriated by the government, in exchange for investment in developing the minimum [landowner’s] land.
– [Moshe] Zadok – just last night Bader [Labor Ministry director general] demanded another 100 people for the fruit harvest, and this was arranged. So why is Zisling protesting?
– The army rabbi [S. Goren] is again insisting on acting as an escort [to Faluja, to handle the return of POWs and the bodies of fallen soldiers].
– Hava Kirshbaum from Tel Aviv and Malka Shalit from Jerusalem [two nurses who voluntarily accompanied the POWs] returned this Monday [January 3] from captivity in Transjordan. There are about 700 POWs there, including a number of ETZEL members (about twenty) among them. The camp is headed by Yosef Bluestein [sp.] from Naharayim. They were notified that if the Iraqis retreat, the POWs would be killed, and therefore they’re insisting on their immediate release. ETZEL members are causing trouble by attempting to flee, receiving explosive material (the ETZEL leader is Gidon Natanson [sp.]), and inciting the camp to rebel. They’re asking that authorization from the army be sent to Yosef, affirming that he is commander of the POW camp.
– State Council.