יומנים > יומן - מלא 16/01/1949
Sunday, January 16, 1949
This morning I consulted with Ya’akov [Dori] and Yigael [Yadin] on military arrangements in the face of a threat or danger of English intervention. The Negev Brigade, Golani Brigade, [and] Brigade 3 [Alexandroni Brigade] will remain in the Negev. ‘Ein Husub [and] the Beersheva surroundings need to be fortified. If they take action – we’ll attack at the Jerusalem and Center [Merkaz] front[s] – in Jerusalem in the direction of Bethlehem, in the Center in Wadi ‘Ara. [Our] concern relates not only to the Negev – but also to intervention on a large-scale.
Radio Ramallah had a broadcast in English yesterday regarding a “new orientation” – [asserting] that is necessary to recognize the fact that the Arabs were defeated by Israel, they were helped by American’s dollars, and England betrayed the Arabs (“traitorous England”) whether for lack of choice or willingly – in terms of history it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t make a difference. There’s only one bloc remaining – Iraq, Transjordan, and Syria – that can still fight, but it has to consider whether it can trust England. England also has to consider its future policy, and there is a need for a new orientation in the new East.
Samir Hafsur [sp.] Pasha (who used to be Abdallah’s prime minister) was received yesterday by [President] Truman.
Yigael thinks that England will not intervene militarily, but instead will rely on the Conciliation Commission to curtail Israel’s borders, and in this sense it has an influence on the Arab states.
– Before Yigael left Rhodes, Bunche asked him to tell me that he’s optimistic. The Egyptians also told him that their impression from us and from him [Bunche] is that we’ll achieve peace.
– Podhotzur from Safed – wants to set up an immigrant camp in Safed. The [Jewish] Agency agreed to place 1,000 immigrants in the initial phase. This requires a particular bloc of homes, and the Agency selected a bloc held by the army. I called Shaul – he’s well-informed and already looked into it. He sees problems in carrying out the evacuation, because it’s necessary to have a military camp in Safed.
I asked Shaul [Avigur] about the ‘aliya [immigration] projections. He replied: in January, February, March between 65,000 and 75,000. This month 22,000 will arrive. They’ll come from Romania, Bulgaria, France (refugees and North Africans [refugees from Europe and North Africa], Italy ([from] camps).
– Avraham Ofer (Hirsch), a lieutenant colonel in the Navy – gave me explanations about manpower. Not only is there no surplus, but according to him there’s a shortage of forces. In a fleet it’s customary to have 4 [hours] at work, 8 on leave, again 4 – and the next day – off, so that in practice they’re only working 4 hours per day. With us, they’re engaged for 8 straight hours. The personnel’s family status: 2,234 unmarried, 388 married, 318 with one child, 145 with two children, 10 with 3. Education: elementary 1,230, high school or vocational 1,615, higher [education] 255. The spiritual [social/political?] profile: some are from moshavim [cooperative settlements] [and] these won’t stay (250 approximately), close to 900 are native born – a large portion from Mizrahi [Eastern] communities; there are ETZEL members, also in command [positions]. Mapam members established a party circle, also tried to refuse orders, one was removed. Most of them come from Palyam [the Palmach’s marines?], from the merchant fleets, and MAHAL [volunteers from abroad]. There is also a group of 6 brothel owners who worked for the British fleet and wanted to transfer to the Mossad; they were dispersed. There are two courses for officers, each with 50 men, seven months long. One of the instructors is Hellenberg [sp.], [was] a lieutenant commander on a British destroyer ship. [He] gives classes on managing a warship. The course is in ‘Atlit. Ofer requests 161 men for each new frigate (3 officers, 51 deck, 27 signal, 37 engineering, 9 logistics, 2 medical, 17 artillery, 5 torpedo.[)] They’ll constitute frigates. [He] wants to transfer soldiers who had military experience (there are 180 such in the army, 66 of whom the Personnel Department has already agreed to transfer, but the commanders object) and people from the Mossad (60-70 people). And port workers. He requests that the Personnel Department allow conscripts who want to go to the fleet – to do so. He suggests that a man be allowed to sign a contract for 5 years of service in the fleet.
– Eliahu Sachar came again on the matter of a facility for shells and $1 million to purchase the machines; they require $200,000 immediately, and Slavin is prepared to leave for America. A shell for a 6” mortar was tested. The range – 4.5 km, at an angle of 45°. The shell weighs 25 kg and has 1 kg of ballistite. [Heavy] machine gun[s] – there are already 400 out of a series of 500. By the end of February they’ll have assembled 50 120 mm mortars (this is the first trial series) [and] are producing 30-40 shells for them per day. The aim is to reach a production capacity of 200 shells per day.
– Zabar [Zabrasky] and Peri – there was a budget committee [meeting]; in Kaplan’s opinion the only financial possibility is an agreement with the KKL [Keren Kayement LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund]. Granovski is prepared to go to America to fund the plan. A second person is needed to accompany Granovski – David Hacohen or Eshkol.
Zabary [sp.] [Zabrasky?] is leaving for America to examine the finances and apparatus in America[.] He’ll be away from the country for no more than a month.
I composed a letter of appointment for Luboshitz [sp.] – economic [finances and logistics] auditor in the Defense Ministry.
– Kaplan telephoned [to say] that he has a cable from Teddy [saying] that the UJA conference did not conclude in a good mood; the Executive in N.Y. (5 in favor, 2 against) decided to recall Morgenthau and Montor, after which the ZOA people decided against this.
– [Eliahu] Elath cables that [Henry] Morgenthau will accept the presidency [of the UJA] if the arrangement in America follows the decision of the Executive (that [Henry] Montor also returns). And this will be arranged by February 1, otherwise the damage done by then will be too great and he won’t accept responsibility.
– A cable arrived from [Walter] Eytan [saying] that they started discussing Faluja. He agreed to immediately evacuate the wounded and the ill and is prepared to agree to evacuate half of the forces immediately. We consulted with Moshe [Sharett] and Yigael [Yadin] and decided to object to the second item. Only once the front lines are determined will we agree to further evacuation.
– Elath cables (January 14, 1949) that England’s ambassador, Franks, stressed the damage to US and English interests in the world and in the Middle East if the current rift grows. He added that British imperial interests and England’s prestige in the world are in danger if it does not succeed in curtailing the “political and military aggression of Israel,” which is “aligned with Soviet interests.[”] He further emphasized that Arab countries should be managed by England and the United States in peace talks with Israel. Otherwise there won’t be a stable solution.
Truman is taking a firm stance, criticizing England’s actions in the planes incident [the British planes downed by Israel’s Air Force on January 7] and their refusal to heed the American warning about sending forces to ‘Aqaba and overall handling of the situation. The president raised the points noted in Weizmann’s cable, that Israel had demonstrated moderation in withdrawing from Egypt. [He] expressed his conviction that Israel wants peace. Agreed to consultations with England on the condition that England [“]considers properly U.S.A. advice.[”]
[He] insisted that England support Jewish-Arab negotiations, even in the absence of external guidance.
[Joseph] Linton also cables [from London] that America advised England: 1) to conclude the issue of the planes, 2) to refrain from disrupting the negotiations with the Egyptians, 3) to use affirmative means to do away with the hostility in the Near East. A decision was taken not to bring the matter of the planes before the Security Council because Bevin was told that he would be alone in the Council. There’s a rumor that a British naval force will land in Gaza if the Egyptians consent, in order to carry out a “fork” [pincer action] against the Negev.
– Gruenbaum submitted a report on ID cards: by midnight 310,000 ID cards will be distributed. Tomorrow there will remain 89,000 (399,000 including Arabs); tomorrow another approximately 60,000 will be distributed. There are 15,000 whose address is not known. Mainly immigrants. There will be announcements for them to come pick up their cards at designated stations. That’s it for civilians. In the army 76,000 cards were delivered. On December 30 there were 97,757 in service (this does not include a total of 4,124 who are ill). The army believes that by the 22nd of this month every soldier will have a card. Some do not have a photograph; they’re being photographed now.
The agreement with KKL was brought to the government by Kaplan: a million dunams at P£ 15,485,000: in the Negev 450,000 dunams = P£ 2,520,000, in the south 100,000 d. = P£ 2,280,000, in the Jerusalem corridor 180,000 d. = P£ 2,420,000, the Sharon 60,000 d. [=] P£ 4 million; in the Jezreel Valley 75,000 d. [=] P£ 1,780,000, in the Galilee 135,000 d. [=] P£ 2,480,000.
On this territory 190 settlements will be founded (including 42 in the Negev). KKL will pay the government P£ 11 million over the course of the year after signing the agreement. KKL will also invest in establishing the settlements. P£ 7.25 million. The difference between the amount that KKL will give the government (11 million) and the price of the land 15,485,000 – that is, P£ 4,485,000 – will be invested in settlement and housing.
– In the evening Ziama came to see me. He’s concerned about Herut. They’re engaging in diabolical incitement, especially among Mizrahi [Eastern] communities and immigrants. Worrying reports seem to be coming from Jaffa and from immigrants generally. From the army there are actually encouraging reports. In Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Galilee – not bad; only in the Negev does there seem to be aggravation. Ziama estimates that Herut will receive 55,000. In Mapam, according to him, inwardly they’re depressed, although outwardly there’s a lot of chutzpah. There are members who are leaving their own party and coming to us – such as: Zvi Ayalon and Zvi Herman, [who] are seeking a way to the party. Mapam itself might receive about 55,000. The farming [sector] (that is – the citrus [growers]) supports Herut, a small portion of it [supports] the religious bloc. This bloc could, according to Ziama, receive 50,000. All the other groups as well – the General [Zionists], Progressives, Sephardim, WIZO [Women’s International Zionist Organization], and others – about 50,000. Thus approximately – 220,000. He assumes that the party will receive between 35% and 40%. There’s no possibility of a majority or even half. In the last elections the party received about 70,000. If it doubles this number – that’s a major victory in his opinion.
Some young soldiers have turned out to be very devoted to the party.
– At 10 p.m. Yigael [Yadin] telephoned. Moshe [Dayan] returned from his talk with the king, will come here tomorrow at 11. The “old man” [Abdallah] is lamenting that he’s enslaved to the English, requests that we not, heaven forbid, allow the Egyptians to remain in Gaza. It would be better to turn it over to the devil [or] take it for ourselves, but not Egypt. As to Eilat – he’s unable, because fear of the English has taken ahold of him.
– I told Ziama that if Mapam receives a serious blow in the elections – including the Histadrut – I’ll make another effort (perhaps the last) at unification. The damage that a rift in the halutzi movement could do to our capacity to create, now that we have a state, it is inestimable. I don’t know whether there’s even a one-in-a-thousand possibility – but I’ll try with all my might.
– The Personnel Department conducted a survey in the army (a Gallup poll) on how elections should be conducted in the army. About 700 soldiers from various army units and services were questioned. 63% of the soldiers object to army personnel participating in election propaganda and to their release for this purpose. 48% support having written propaganda within the camps. Young soldiers up to age 20 tend to accept election propaganda in higher percentages: up to age 20 only 49% are against propaganda, 51% are in favor; above age 20, 66% against, 34% in favor. By occupation: kibbutz members 64% favor, 36% oppose. Students 52% favor, 48% oppose. Unskilled workers 39% favor, 61% oppose. Skilled workers 30% favor, 70% oppose; administrative workers – same as skilled workers. Others 23% favor, 77% oppose.
In this regard there’s a difference among arrivals from different countries. Among arrivals from Bulgaria 59% favor, 41% oppose. Arrivals from Lithuania 57% favor, 43% oppose, natives of the country 24% favor, 76% oppose; Germans 22% favor, 70% oppose.
And as to propaganda within the camp: 48% favor, 52% oppose. And again among 20-year-olds – 63% favor, and above this age only 43%.
A study [psychological survey] (September) was also conducted within the WC [Women’s Corps]. The responses:
93% of the women soldiers are proud to be in the WC.
73% are satisfied with their commanders.
72% have good relations with their fellow [soldiers].
42% are satisfied with their position in the army.
60% are satisfied with the arrangements for provisions in their battalion.
74% are in a good personal state of mind.
28% know how to differentiate between confidential information and non-confidential information[;] long-timers are more satisfied than new recruits.
The study was conducted among WC Battalion 205.
– In the evening [I] was awakened and was brought two telegrams from the delegation in Rhodes. They’re demanding that the forces in Faluja be freed before the agreement is reached. I replied in the negative.