יומנים > יומן - מלא 18/09/1948
Saturday, September 18, 1948
As of 8 a.m. the two Harel companies had not yet reached Jerusalem, although Yosef'le [Tabenkin] informed Ezra [Omer] that they'd already reached their base. The military police arrived in its own time.
In my opinion it's necessary to prepare an emergency order tonight against an organization using murder as a political means - to sentence every member of such an organization to life and confiscate his property, and anyone who assists the organization will also be severely punished, and anyone who provides an apartment to store weapons [or] explosives - his home will be expropriated. Mivrak [LEHI's evening newspaper] should be shut down. I'll convene the government tonight.
As reported this morning (8:30) 5 LEHI men were apprehended in Tel Aviv.
- At 9:30 Isser [Harel] came to see me. Last night he sent someone to Jerusalem; there's a good SHAI [Information Service, i.e., intelligence] branch there. Here about 20 men were arrested during the night. The police was reluctant to act. The "heads" weren't found of course: Friedman [Natan Yellin-Mor], Strasburg [Emanuel Hanegbi], his personal assistant, Scheib [Dr. Israel Eldad] (most likely in Jerusalem), [Yitzhak] Yezernitsky [Shamir] (Friedman's deputy) weren't found. Gesundheit [sp.] (teacher, theorist), Akiva Baron (official in the Tel Aviv municipality, manpower director in LEHI), and others - part of the second-tier echelon - were arrested. Policemen and military policemen who were summoned from outside [the city] participated in the arrests - because the military policemen from Tel Aviv went to Jerusalem. They searched the LEHI offices - it's not clear yet what material [was found]. Isser [Harel] wants permission to continue with the arrests. Towards this end instructions need to be issued to the police to act boldly and also to the military police to work with the police, permission to search bases and offices, and to confiscate ETZEL [should be: LEHI] vehicles.
- Elimelech] Avner came to see me (at 10): The people of Nazareth sent a letter demanding, on the basis of equal rights, that the POWs against whom there are no special claims should be released. I tasked Avner with appointing a committee to assess the POWs in Nazareth. They're also complaining about vehicles that were taken from them and demanding that they be treated the same way Jews are treated. They should be given receipt[s]. The people of Jaffa are asking about the right to vote. If they have the right - they need to consult with the people of Nazareth, to decide on a position. This is not so simple. According to Avner there are 55,000 Arabs in the state. If there are 101 elected representatives, then there'll be about 7,000 individuals per representative. Avner objects to the fact that SHAI (Tall Isser [Isser Be'eri]) arrested Abu Laban, without Avner's knowledge. I'll tell Isser that this is not acceptable.
It was decided ([by] a representative [of the Ministry] of Minorities, [the office of] abandoned properties, and Avner) to settle Acre outside of the wall. There are 1,700 rooms, enough for a thousand families. The army occupied about 700 rooms, but it's slowly clearing out. 200 soldiers and officers are to be settled as well. There are 5,000 Arabs in the city of Acre, inside the walls. A governor has been appointed for Acre - Rehavam Zabludovsky [Amir], his deputy will be [Avraham] Yaeli. It seems to me that Yaeli should be the governor, and the other one his deputy. There'll be a committee of 5: the governor, representatives of Finance, Minorities, Aliya, and a representative of the employment bureaus - to resolve disputes regarding housing etc.
Rent has been set at P£ 2 for a room and 3½ for two rooms. The Aliya Department will be responsible for municipal services until a municipality is established.
The issue of a corps [the government's military force] - isn't working out. They were going to take the policemen (800) who were about to be let go - [but] they're staying because their budget was worked out. There's a new proposal: there's Garrison Battalion 41 in Jaffa, comprises 150 soldiers and a number of mercenaries who aren't subject to conscription (300 men). Avner wants to receive this battalion, on the condition that anyone suited to combat will return to the army, except for a few officers.
Avner asks about the implication of the new law on "possessed land" for the military government. I said that in principle every minister can open a department [there]. In practice this won't occur without a special discussion. In any event we'll establish a military government.
- [The ministers of justice and of internal affairs] Rosenblüth [Pinchas Rosen] and [Moshe] Shapira came (10:30). I proposed principles for a law against terrorism, they agreed and will prepare it during the course of today, and we'll bring it to the government this evening.
Ya'akov [Dori] reports that the action in Jerusalem will only start at one. He personally spoke with Yosef'le [Tabenkin], Moshe Dayan, and Shlomo [Shamir].
In America [we were] informed that the assassination would not affect de jure recognition. In the meantime [Ralph] Bunche was appointed mediator for the negotiations.
11:00 - Isser [Harel]: His man returned from Jerusalem, there is no unmediated evidence, but all signs indicate that LEHI did this. Many left Jerusalem two days ago. The bases remained, just the top-tier men disappeared. Dr. Yosef only issued the order to act this morning. As of 9 a.m. no action was underway. Isser thinks it's necessary to have a special unit in the police, at least 30 men, who can be relied on in such cases. The problem is to get men from the Personnel Department, and money from the finance minister.
Moshe [Sharett] presented a statement condemning the assassination in the name of the government. In his opinion [we] shouldn't wait until the evening [for the government meeting] - and he might be right.
Yitzhak Sadeh [commander of the 8th Brigade] met with his deputy, Yaacov (Yashka) Levstein [Eliav] (LEHI). He hadn't known about the matter, and he promised Yitzhak that there's no cause for concern, and he'll do everything to ensure that his men don't rebel and don't disrupt, and if he sees unrest among his men - he'll inform Yitzhak immediately. Yitzhak also spoke with a second, less important, commander. Regarding him Yitzhak has no confidence that he didn't know in advance, although he too promised that his men would behave properly. Yitzhak has the impression he'll control his brigade.
[Yitzhak] Gruenbaum came to my office, heard about what we did and are about to do, and I also showed him the instructions to Moshe Dayan - so far he's satisfied (because [we're] not touching ETZEL). But regarding ETZEL he once again proposed an arrangement for as long as we're holding onto Jerusalem.
[Yehezkel] Sahar: The police are doing good work; 40 men have already been arrested (at 1 p.m.).
- Meeting with Y. [Yizraeli], Shaul [Avigur], [Levi] Eshkol, [Avraham] Zabrasky, Pinhas [Lavon], and Ziama [Aran] - on the organization of the Defense Ministry. Yosef proposes: Shaul takes on some of Eshkol's duties, Hillel Cohen coordinates manufacturing, Yosef Gurion - for rehabilitation and settlement (there are already about a thousand discharged soldiers, including disabled ones), Yehoshua Levy - for purchases instead of [Aharon] Becker (if Becker joins the [Histadrut] Executive Committee), Shaul proposes [Nahum] Verlinsky. Yisrael Amir is prepared to be Yosef Y.'s deputy, or secretary-organizer in the Personnel Division. The General Zionists proposed Shimon Entin [Arnin] (one of Asher [Peled]'s assistants in the armament service). Shaul announces that he won't take Eshkol's place - until the end of the war he'll only assume some of the work. For coordinator [of the Defense Ministry] he proposes [Eliezer] Perlson [Peri] or Verlinsky.
Zabar [Zabrasky] is complaining about Eshkol's departure. Need an assistant for economic matters, reinforcement for the procurement committee. In the Logistics Department too, not everything is as it should be and [Yosef] Avidar needs an assistant.
Hillel Cohen's strength is in the economy [logistics and personnel], not in manufacturing. Zabar [Zabrasky] is suggesting to Yehoshua Levy that he join the Finance Division (Eshkol proposes Hestrin [sp.]). Zabar [Zabrasky] proposes Shimon Hecht from Degania.
Ziama suggests [Mendel] Krupnik [Karu] as [Defense Ministry] coordinator, David Hacohen, [Avraham] Kamini as secretary (he has a good reputation as an administrator). The situation in the Cultural Division is raising a lot of concern, and [Yosef] Karkovy should be replaced. Ziama and Eshkol suggest Ze'ev Tchernetsky [Ze'ev Aharon] (not [good] enough! He's not the man!).
Eshkol suggests: Yosef Yizraeli and Yisrael Amir - General Secretariat. Hirsch [Avraham Ofer] [as] secretary to the defense minister, Shaul - for personnel (Shaul suggests that he participate in the Staff meeting), Hillel Cohen for the Defense Ministry (economy [logistics and personnel] and manufacturing]), in the future - to add [Ze'ev] Herring, and Sherer (?) as assistant.
- In the afternoon it was reported from Jerusalem that most of the LEHI bases have been vacated. Yesterday at 4 p.m. LEHI was informed that their organization is dissolving and everyone subject to conscription must join the army. Nonetheless about sixty people were arrested, weapons were found - about 300 Stens, more than ten [heavy] machine guns, some [light] machine guns, and more. About three who were wounded - not from our action - were also arrested. Lundstrom will be able to identify some of the assassins from among these men, whether wounded or arrested.
- Alon [Yehuda Arazi] informs Eshkol by letter that the naval cannons will be ready by September 25.
- At 7 p.m. [James] McDonald and [Charles] Knox came. I explained what took place from 6 yesterday until 6 today - regarding Bernadotte's assassination. McDonald informed me on behalf of a trustworthy man that a LEHI woman had said that after she was informed that Bunche had been appointed in place of Bernadotte for now, she's sorry about [what happened to] him…
He promised to convey my account of activity to Washington immediately.
Manpower as of September 9, 1948: infantry 28,650 (less than on September 2, 1948). The standard is 34,856, shortfall 9,106; garrison 11,977, standard 14,336, shortfall 2,359; Palmach staff 1,533; artillery corps 3,612, standard 7,005; shortfall 3,324; heavy mortars 579, standard 2,234, shortfall 1,640; engineering corps 2,492, S. [standard] 4,948, shortfall 2,504; air force 4,951, S. 7,500, shortfall 2,549; navy 2,535, S. 2,500, services and camps 23,470; S. 36,162, shortfall 12,313; in intake 2,837; in training camps 1,916; in transit camps 440, total 84,992, S. 109,591; not available for duty: deserters 509, prisoners 150, ill and wounded 2,575, POWs 809, missing 547, fallen 2,576 (300 more than last week!)
- Until 1:30 a.m. government meeting on Bernadotte's assassination and a law against terrorist organizations.