יומנים > יומן - מלא 30/12/1948
[Thursday,] December 30, 1948
The Iraqi commander met yesterday in Transjordan with representatives from Egypt, Transjordan, and maybe also Syria. Transjordan proposed that the Egyptian forces from Bethlehem and Hebron [the Muslim Brotherhood force in the light brigade] pull out and serve as reserves, and they [the Jordanians] will defend these places. The Egyptians requested this proposal in writing, to submit to the League.
- Consultation with Yigal Allon, Yigael Yadin, Ya'akov [Dori]. Allon reported: There's no danger from the south. The Egyptian forces are scattered, there's some sort of force in Qusaima, but it will take a lot of time to get organized. From northern Gaza to El-''Arish there are 7 regular battalions, including a new 12th [?] Battalion that was brought from Egypt; there are another 5 semi-regular battalions (garrison). The Gaza-Rafiah line is being contiguously held, as the Ashdod line had been. Each of their strongholds has a counter-attack plan, and each site has a reserve force. Apparently they have a good commander. The ''Auja affair was a complete surprise for them. They didn't expect us to show up - according to the captured Egyptian colonel. Yigal [Allon?] thinks that they'll respond now - will try to drive us out of the Sinai desert, out of Abu Ageila. In El-''Arish there's only a transit camp. The Negev Brigade is in Sinai, and has come close to El-''Arish -ten kilometers before El-''Arish, near the airfield. There are at least 3 airfields there - one between El-''Arish and Abu Ageila, one in El-''Arish, a third to the south [Bir Hama Airbase].
We have two raid battalions (of the Negev and 8th brigades), an armored battalion ([of Brigade] 8), two small armored units of Harel and Golani. Infantry: Golani 1½ battalions, 2 Harel battalions, Battalion 7 under Nahum Sarig [the Negev Brigade], 2 infantry companies of Brigade 8. There are enough jeeps and armored vehicles - infantry battalions are lacking.
We concluded: Henceforth the attack will be directed at the Gaza-Rafiah line [the Gaza Strip], we'll harass El-''Arish [from Abu Ageila] for the sake of deception. If the English show up - we'll return to our border, to ''Auja. If they reach ''Auja - we'll fight. If it's possible - [we'll] mop up [clear any remaining enemy troops out of] Qusaima, clear the way to ''Aqaba [via Qusaima - Kuntila - Ras al-Naqab].
- Consultation on peace with "the king" [Abdallah]: [Moshe] Dayan, [Walter] Eytan, [Shabtai] Rosenne, Dolik [Horowitz], Ya'akov [Dori], Reuven [Shiloah]. There's a stenogram [stenographic record].
[Eliahu] Sasson analyzed the situation in Egypt, Iraq, [and] Syria, and reached the conclusion (- Ya'akov is against action in the Alexandria port; W. Eytan is in favor) that Transjordan is the only stable state in the Arab East - because the state is the king (or Kirkbride! [the British envoy]), and he advises insisting on annexation of the Arab part to Transjordan, and opposing Syria's annexation, and on this basis to hold talks with Abdallah and with Syria. An agreement with Abdallah prevents intervention by Britain; peace with the other Arabs prevents the English from taking control over Arab states. The refugees in Lebanon brought prosperity, because the wealthy from the country [Israel] went there with foreign currency. - Sasson thinks that there's no need to fear a union between Transjordan and Iraq, because in Iraq there's vacillation between those in the East (Kurds [who support the Soviets]) and Westerners, neither of whom are strong enough to take control, but they are strong enough to prevent the other from hatching any plot.
Dayan raised the question of territories of the truce and duration of the talks. It was agreed: As long as the fighting continues in the Negev, the talks continue, even if they're not effective. The truce applies only to the territory of the Legion (excluding the Iraqis' territory), from Budrus [east of Lod] in the west to Hebron in the south, but the truce is not binding on the Egyptians who are in Bethlehem and Hebron.
[Shabtai] Rosenne reported on the formal aspect. It might not be appropriate for the "king" [in terms of etiquette], but we decided that minutes would be taken and signed.
- [Eliezer] Kaplan, [Avraham] Zabar, Teddy [Kollek], and Dolik [Horowitz]. Kaplan: The UJA in America might be able to obtain a loan of 20 million, half of it for defense. David [Hacohen] will conduct a "Golda operation." The inquiry with KKL [the Jewish National Fund] ran into problems on the part of Weitz, who doesn't know whether there's a Jewish state. Zabar finally agreed to remain in the treasury until the end of March, and [Eliezer] Perlson will manage the economy [finances and logistics] in place of [Levi] Eshkol.
- In the afternoon, Hanukkah candle lighting at the base [General Staff].
- In the evening, party center [Mapai Central Committee]. I reviewed the latest operation.
A long conversation with Moshe [Sharett] about ''aliya from Eastern [European] countries.