יומנים > יומן - מלא 21/01/1948
Wednesday, 21 January 1948
I returned to Tel Aviv this morning in a cargo convoy that took less time than the passenger convoy to Jerusalem. We drove by way of Hulda-Ekron, without any adventures along the way. The soldiers didn't search - and only asked about weapons.
- Moshe [Sharett] cables: 1) UJA is planning to fly 29 [of its] leaders to the country, from the 7th to the 17th of February. 2) According to information from Washington, the British have changed their plans: "Intend stay. This welcomed by S.D." (The cable is from yesterday).
- In the afternoon a long talk with Shkolnik [Levi Eshkol]. I explained my thoughts about the organization of the Ministry of Defense: an economic department (for equipment, purchase of industry [manufactured goods], and finances), and a military department - for conscription, training, planning, oversight of military activities, and management of the war - frontline settlement (in the Negev, and in the other territories too, when the villages fight us). At this time I propose him [for the economic department] and perhaps Saadia Shoshani, or someone else from the well-to-do public who's loyal to the Haganah, and Fritz [Eshet] and Yitzhak Sadeh for the military department.
I asked him about a candidate for [the position of] commander of the Negev. He prefers Eliahu Cohen [Ben-Hur] over M. Dayan. Shaul [Avigur] occurred to me for this position - with Moshe Dayan and Nahum Sarig as his assistants.
At six a talk with Hai [Yissacharov]. After the UJA program ended, the situation worsened for our people in New York, both among those from [here] and among the Americans (fundraising campaign personnel and "Friends" [of the Haganah]). Sonneborn and Harold Jaffer objected to terminating our fundraising campaign [for defense and security]. Proof of their assertions: In December they collected $ 1 million in cash for the Haganah (Kaplan told me about 300,000 - Hai left New York on January 15). Ruth Berman and Alice Schulman [sp.] claim that the Jews aren't letting up in demanding that funds be raised for the Haganah. Some people refuse to donate to the UJA, and [donate] only to the Haganah. This opposition is being artificially thwarted.
Before Hai's departure there was a joint meeting of the two offices (our fundraising campaign and the "Friends") regarding their merger. The director of the "Friends" is Dave Wahl. The president - Abe Feinberg. The director of the fundraising campaign is Harold Jaffer. Merging [the offices] and appointing a new manager proved to be problematic.
- I discussed with Golda what needs to be done in America and through her I sent instructions to Alon [Yehuda Arazi]: 1) Purchase jeeps. 2) Guided projectiles [Bazooka anti-tank missiles and launchers]. 3) Fast motorboats. 4) Corvettes. 5) To report on his purchases and plans weekly by telegraph. 6) To explore possibilities for an aircraft carrier. She [Golda] flies out tomorrow morning.
- In the evening the Hungarian consul came to see me and presented me with a congratulatory letter from the Hungarian government and demands regarding the commercial contract between it and the [Jewish] Agency.
- I spoke with Shaul [Avigur] regarding frontline settlement in the Negev and asked him if he would take on this role with the assistance of Moshe Dayan. He promised an answer after Shabbat.
- At 9 p.m. Novomeysky came to see me. He flew back from Sdom today. A 45-minute flight to Tel Aviv. He'd looked into my proposal. It won't be difficult to transfer men to the south. His boat can take fifty men at a time, and if necessary even a hundred. It will also transport vehicles. He needs 50-100 trained men immediately because the [Sdom] kibbutz members are leaving. He has weapons, needs men. His Hebronite workers (about 40 men) have left. He heard that the Negev would be evacuated, [but] the "Nukta" [sp.] [police station] in ''Ein Husub has not yet been evacuated; although the English policeman left, [Arab] policeman replaced them and in greater numbers. Instead of 10, 25 came. He's afraid that if we don't capture the place soon, Abdallah's men will capture it. He heard that Abdallah wants to amend the borders: in the Negev and the north. These territories need to go to him. With this change, he'll agree to a Jewish state.
"Novo" is worried about the security situation in Sdom. There's no commander there, and not enough trained men. For every 30 men we send to the Negev, we'll need two vehicles: one for men, one for supplies. He proposes that we use a ship from Haifa for supplies to Eilat (the ship will pass through the Suez), as well as planes that will airdrop supplies.
- On the 21st of this month towards evening Sheikh Hassan Abu Saud spoke with Haj (the Mufti?) in Cairo: "I investigated all the issues we discussed while I was in Egypt, and I found many shortcomings and disputes among the people that hold important positions in Jaffa. During the brief time [available] I managed to repair things a little. In my opinion and for the greater good, Rafiq Tamimi should be distanced from Jaffa. He and some members of the National Committee, who are not active, have wasted a lot of money for nothing. We're safe on this [telephone] line and no one is listening to us - I sorted things out with the post office." …
The man in Cairo replied: "Excellent. If you have such an option and you're sure that no one is listening, talk to us often."
On the 19th of this month, at 6 p.m., Khaldi [sp.] speaks with the Mufti.
Khaldi says: "Haifa and Jaffa are asking for money and constantly pressuring."
The Mufti: "Speak with Dr. [Izzat] Tannous["] (director of the treasury fund [established by the Arab Higher Committee]). (Then in Turkish): "There's no money."
Khaldi: "I know there's no money, but the situation is very bad. If you don't send money right away, the situation will get worse. Everything should be done to provide the amount immediately - if this matter isn't settled, it's a lost cause."
The Mufti replies: "I'll speak with Dr. Tannous and you'll sort out the matter with him."
Khaldi: "I would ask that you settle the matter, otherwise we're at a loss."
Later in the conversation Khaldi complains: "There's an issue with Abu Moussa (Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni). We have no contact with him. He's always roaming around creating expenses and major hassles for the national committees in their [various] locations. And we have no information about his plans or activities. He approached the national committee[s] in Ramallah, Nablus, and Jenin and told them that the existing committees are civilian and do not have the authority to [engage in] military matters. All the districts are complaining about him, and we don't know what to do."
The Mufti asks: "Did inform you in any way about his activities?"
Khaldi: "No, [not] at all. Since coming here he hasn't approached us, and he does whatever he wants. He hasn't made any contact with us, and the committees are pressuring us and asking whether to listen to him or not. The situation as it exists is bad. And it seems to me that we're interfering with one another's responsibilities, which creates chaos that is hard to control."
The Mufti: "Maybe you should try to travel to Egypt first?"
Khaldi: "It's not possible. The question of provisions is very serious, and mayhem has taken over the entire market. The distribution [rationing] is not going well; there are hungry masses."