יומנים > יומן - מלא 25/12/1947

[Thursday,] December 25, 1947

[Binyamin] Avniel from the recruitment center is asking to focus on one paragraph in my letter to Shkolnik about LEHI - and to release those who for personal security reasons [fear of arrest by the British] cannot enlist. I said that his rationale only justifies a temporary suspension - not a release. He agreed to this. He promises that LEHI will be disbanded upon [the establishment of] the state, and that according to [Israel] Rokach, ETZEL is also prepared to refrain from any separate action.

       - The Group of [Local] Councils came: Ostrovsky, Ariav, Yosef Yaakovson, Kirchner.

       Ariav: Transport in the south is unruly. Need a road from Tel Aviv to Holon (this is steadily being done) and a Holon - Rishon LeZion road. This should cost P£ 40,000-50,000. Urgently need a small road from Moledet to Rishon LeZion. They estimate this at P£ 10,000. It will be completed in three weeks. Rishon LeZion, Rehovot, Ness Ziona, Holon, and the other settlements of the south will commit to P£ 5,000 for ten years. Need funding for the ten thousand, and an allocation of P£ 5,000.

       Bat Yam is cut off and surrounded by gunfire. Need a connection between Bat Yam and Holon [that will pass] outside of the range of gunfire. [They] want a mesh road over the sand dunes - about two kilometers. It will cost P£ 1,200 (half for labor wages). Aside from this they raised the question of equipment, fortification, reinforcement, medical aid, etc. … I suggested asking Barth for an allocation of P£ 1,200 [for the road] to Bat Yam (if the Headquarters affirms its necessity) and a loan of 5,000 and allocation of 5,000 for the Moledet road. I'll handle the funding, if the UJA doesn't have cash now.

       - Zabrasky is demanding that his authority be defined, and to be involved in the action. I requested a formulated [written] proposal.

       - Reuven [Shiloah] reports on behalf of Amos [Ben-Gurion] that yesterday the brigadier promised him that he would be responsible for the Yazur - Bet Dagan road. I requested that Reuven ask Golda what action the government took in [the village of] Yazur - after we refrained from taking our own action [a response planned by the Haganah was shelved at the request of the British authorities, in exchange for their promise to take action there].

       Yesterday Reuven visited Ezra [Danin] and gave him Sasson's report on the situation and the conclusions. Ezra does not share Sasson's pessimism and objects to one conclusion. [In his view we must] not strike at transport in an area where we have not been attacked. It's good for the people of Nablus to feel that things will be quiet in their state. I summoned Ezra for tomorrow.

       - Isser [Be'eri, head of SHAI] is demanding three vehicles as against their budget - in exchange for $ 5,000. To be arranged with Dr. [Yitzhak] Bezner [sp.].