AMERICAN VETERANS of ISRAEL VOLUNTEERS in ISRAEL’S WAR of INDEPENDENCE UNITED STATES & CANADA VOLUNTEERS 136 East 39Th Street, New York, NY 10016

Home , Avi Cohen, A Flag is Born, Ezer Weizman, Paul Shulman

spring 2005 AMERICAN VETERANS OF ISRAEL VOLUNTEERS IN ISRAEL’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE UNITED STATES & CANADA VOLUNTEERS 136 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016

THE MIGHTY MA’OZ Sharon Recalls Machal before American Part I From Pleasure Ship to Flagship. Jewish Leaders in New York, May 22

By J. Wandres Following is an excerpt from Sharon’s address:

By October 1948, the Israeli i am honored to stand here and feel the strong bond between Israel Defence Force had pushed back Arab and the rest of the Jewish world. We share a history, and we share a future as forces to the north and east. Egyptian well. forces had been halted in the Negev. in 1948, the new State of Israel was forced to stand its ground against Only Israel’s Mediterranean coastline the armies of the combined Arab world. The survival of Israel was not at all remained vulnerable. An Egyptian certain. We had no choice but to fight for our lives. It seemed as if we stood squadron, chased from Tel Aviv, was alone. about to be dealt with at Gaza. Kvar- But we were not all alone. I had the merit to participate in the War of nit (Commander) Paul Shulman, on the Independence, and I still remember how I felt when I learned that volunteers bridge of the 690-ton, 210-foot-long K- from Jewish communities around the world were coming to help us. They 24 Ma’oz that day in mid-October, was risked, and sometimes lost, their lives in our War of Independence. Then no stranger to her decks. Two years ear- these volunteers were known as Machal. lier she had been acquired for Aliyah They were few, but their solidarity made a great moral contribution. Bet le Mossad. Shulman, then a 24-year They reassured us that our fight was the fight of Jews everywhere. That we old ex-U.S. navy officer working with were fighting for our sisters and brothers across the sea, as much as for our the Haganah in the U.S., had checked long-gone grandparents, and our grandchildren yet to be born. They reas- her out in Brooklyn, New York. Then sured us that the entire Jewish world was an interconnected whole. called Abril, she had a colorful history. Launched in March 1931 by of Israel - was sworn into office on May Krupp’s Germania-Werft at Kiel, her Ezer Weizman: 13, 1993. owner, American industrialist Charles Pilot, Commander Ezer Weizman was born in A. Stone, christened her Argosy. Her 1924-2005 Tel Aviv in 1924, and raised in Haifa. twin, 1,000-hp diesel engines could Ezer Weizman - air force gen- He began his long military career as a make 16 knots. She carried the latest eral and politician, nephew of Israel’s fighter pilot during World War II, join- radio and navigational equipment. A first President Professor Chaim -Weiz ing the Royal Air Force in 1942 at age crew of 12 took care of 15 richly ap- man, and former President of the State 18. Returning to Mandatory Palestine pointed suites. Two years later, in 1934 after the war, Weizman was one of a Stone sold Argosy to T.O.M. (Thomas handful of pilots who founded the “Air Octave Murdoch) Sopwith, who re- Service” of the Haganah. He served as christened her Vita. Sopwith, the Brit- a fighter pilot during the War of Inde- ish aviation pioneer whose famous Sop- pendence, commanded a squadron, and with “Camel” bi-plane ran roughshod later (1958-66) was O.C. of the Israel over the Luftwaffe, was an experienced Air Force, in which capacity he intro- sea-going yachtsman. In 1938 Sopwith Air Force Pilot Ezer Weizman in duced the use of electronic warfare sys- sold Vita to Marino Gamboa, a wealthy, 1949. © GPO tems in aircraft.

THE MIGHTY MA’OZ continued on pg. 4 EZER WEIZMAN continued on pg. 6

American Veterans of Israel AVI EVENTS 136 E. 39 Street New York, NY 10016-0914 AVI Gathering in Gainesville Officers and Executive Board Scheduled for Nov. 19-20 President Ira Feinberg AVI has scheduled a gathering for veterans and families for the 201 886 1188 weekend of Nov. 19-20 to unveil the permanent Aliyah Bet and Machal Dis- play in the new $8.5 million Hillel building in Gainesville, Florida. Vice President A block of rooms has been reserved at the Paramount Plaza Hotel Bill Gelberg Suites and Conference Center in Gainesville. Main events will be a dinner Saturday night, Nov. 19, and a brunch Sunday morning, Nov. 20, both in the Executive Director Hillel building. Simon Spiegelman 212 685 8548 AVI will be sending out more information about reservations and [email protected] costs in the coming summer months. Ralph Lowenstein, who is making ar- rangements, said the room rate would be $69 per night, plus tax. Veterans Treasurer will be able to reserve rooms for any or all of the following nights: Friday David Gerard night, Nov. 18, Saturday night, Nov. 19, or Sunday night, Nov. 20. The seven permanent cabinets on Aliyah Bet and Machal will be Vice Presidents Canada: Jerry Rosenberg completed by late summer, Ralph said. This will be the only place in the world, including Israel, with a permanent display devoted to Aliyah Bet and Israel Liaison: David Baum Machal. The Gainesville Hillel display focuses on the role of North Ameri- [email protected] can volunteers. AVI members who plan to attend should mark their calendars for USA Regions this important weekend. Northeast: Paul Kaye Southeast: Irving Meltzer West: Bailey Nieder COMMEMORATIVE AVI in Philadelphia Midwest: Ben Hagai Steuerman PLAQUE WILL MARK Celebrates Yom Directors THE INAUGURATION OF Newsletter, Internet and Ha’atsmaut Trustees Committee: THE MACHAL MUSEUM. Samuel Z. Klausner Uriel Palti, Consul General of 215 473 6034 An attractive magnetic Machal Israel in Philadelphia, invited Machal plaque, designed by Machalnik Eric [email protected] veterans, their widows and families to Ray, will soon be mailed to all AVI participate in celebrating Israel’s 57th Archives and Museum members. The plaque was produced by Ralph Lowenstein Laurie Associates as a gift from Louis anniversary. The celebration was held [email protected] and Rose Laurie from Toronto, Canada. in the new Constitution Center in Inde- (Lou served with the 72nd Battalion). pendence Park on May 12. The Consul, Speakers Bureau: The plaque will not be for sale, but re- in addressing the assembled celebrants, Naomi Kantey cipients will be given an opportunity to drew particular attention to the Ameri- 201 489 3809 make voluntary contributions towards can Veterans of Israel in their midst. the Machal Museum. Thanks to a Activities and Membership in attendance were Sam and number of generous donors, we have Layla Back, Don Agriss, son of Leon David Hanovice (USA) come very far and the displays will and Rose Agriss, z”l, Samuel Klausner Joe Warner (Canada) open to the public on November 20th, Art Bernstein (Museum) 2005. Still there is a shortfall for impor- and Roberta Sands, Max and Jacque- Representative to World Machal tant ancillary projects such as setting line Kahn, Philip and Rose Marmel- Zippy Porath stein and Augustine Labeczewski. [email protected] up audio-visual kiosks, incorporating the exhibit on the Internet and in trans- Websites ferring replicas of the displays to ven- http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~sklausne/avi- ues outside of Gainesville. We all have web.html a stake in this landmark work and will http://www.israelvets.com be given an opportunity to share in its creation. Si Spiegelman see Plaque on p. 14 a monument to their memory in the David Shachar Dedicates Monument to Israeli sanctorum, which is the Mili- Jews Who Fell in the Polish Armies in tary Cemetery on Mount Herzl, in Je- rusalem. And thus to close the circle WWII: Victory Day at Mt Herzl of the educational foundation which I acquired in the framework of the Pol- ish Army and the realization of these (Prior to observances of Yom of September (1944) to appear before values which are common to the large HaZikharon and Israel Independence him. He commanded me to stand at at- Jewish population of Poland and the Day in Israel, a ceremony was con- tention and take notice that on this day Polish people among whom they lived ducted commemorating Jewish soldiers the Jewish New Year begins, and those for 800 years. who fell fighting in allied and partisan 10 days after it Yom Kippur, the holy After strenuous work, and with forces during World War II. David day for the Jews. After finishing he the support of the Israel Ministry of Schachar, who served in the Polish commanded me to stand at rest “Return Defence and of the Embassy and Pol- Army and later came as a foreign vol- to exercises”. I was very excited and ish attaches, and private donors, we unteer in Israel’s War of Independence overwhelmed. I remembered it to this were able to attain our dream. In 1998 gave the following Speech.) day. I understood that maintaining the the covering was removed from the Mr. Ambassador of the Re- traditional beliefs of the soldiers adds monument with the hope that message public of Poland-Wojciech Piekarski; to their honor and does not detract. it sends will pass on to the coming gen- Mr. Consul, Deputy; Military Attaché, At that time I absorbed values of love erations. Chairman of Yad Vashem- Prof. She- of the Homeland and the necessity of Today, the date is May 8, 2005. vach Weiss; Friends, Honored and sacrifice in order to protect it. In 1948, Five days ago on the 3rd of May was Dear Guests while I was studying in Paris, the In- the Polish Constitution Day and in an- After living under the Nazi- dependence War in Israel broke out. I other 4 days on May 12 our own In- German occupation, during which my left all plans for rehabilitation and per- dependence Day will begin. This sym- father (Blessed be His Memory) was sonal advancement and volunteered bolic date of the celebration of freedom murdered and after exile in the Soviet for the Machal. I arrived in Israel and for both peoples, and on this occasion far North, in 1944 at the age of 14, I after a certain amount of time of inten- we will wish freedom, stability, and the volunteered for the division named sive training, I joined the Palmach and flowering of mutual friendship to both after Tadeusz Kosciusko and was bil- fought with the Negev Brigade for the the Polish people and to the people of leted to the Orleta Unit in Riazan (in entire Independence War. Israel. the Soviet Union). I underwent training in 1994, I decided to become in various military matters. One of the active in memorializing my comrades, events, which I remember today, was the Jewish officers and men of the Pol- David Shachar when the Major, a difficult commander, ish Armies, who fell on all fronts of called me at the beginning of the month the Second World War. And establish

American Veterans the business world, but Marcus had as West Point holds of Israel who passed much significance internationally. annual Mickey away in the last Marcus served during World Marcus ceremony year and other Jew- War II and parachuted into Normandy ish-Americans who on D-Day as a member of the 101st Story and photos by Eric S. Bartel fought bravely for Airborne Division. He was eventually Senior Staff Writer freedom. responsible for clearing out the Nazi The 39th an- death camps. West Point’s Jewish chaplain, nual service dedi- Marcus would then use his Maj. Carlos Huerta, who also served cated to Marcus, experience as a federal attorney in the with the 101st Airborne Division dur- USMA Class of 1930’s to plan the legal and security ing wartime like Col. Marcus, speaks 1924, gives tribute procedures for the Nuremberg trials. at the graveside ceremony Sunday. to the Brooklyn, N.Y., native’s virtue of Once he returned to civilian life Nearly two hundred people attended a courage that helped provide Israel with for the second time, he was called by memorial service Sunday at the Jewish its independence in 1948. David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Chapel and a graveside ceremony at West Point graduates have Minister, to serve as a military the West Point cemetery to pay hom- marked the history of the United States age to Col. David “Mickey” Marcus, with their roles in wars, politics and WEST POINT ANNUAL continued on pg. 8 THE MIGHTY London-based sugar merchant of Phil- off Argosy’s raked clipper bow, paint- Bergson”) established the American ippine origin. An American citizen who ed her haze gray, converted the state- League for a Free Palestine, with Sen. preferred to speak Spanish, rooms into compartments for a crew of Guy Gillette as president. Bergson Gamboa put Vita at the service 60, then put her into service as PY-31, asked Hecht to write a play for Broad- of Spanish Republican loyalists fight- Cythera II. From 1944 until 1945 she way, and the ALFP was blunt about ing the takeover of Spain by “national- patrolled the Atlantic seaboard, running its purpose: “[A Flag is Born] was not aground at least once. She was a sorry- written to amuse or beguile. It was looking rust-bucket when declared sur- written to make money…to provide plus in April 1946, but she would go on ships to get Hebrews to Palestine... to serve yet another master. and to arouse American public opinion to support the fight for freedom and Part II Its Mission, and Misery in the independence…[for Jews].” Ben Hecht Being Approached by a Med. “A Flag Is Born,” with Paul British Destroyer Muni and a young Marlon Brando, By spring 1946 Lieutenant opened in September 1946 and went on ists” under General Francisco Franco. (junior grade) Paul Shulman, (U.S. Na- to earn over $1 million on Broadway By spring 1939, the Spanish Civil War val Academy ’44) wrote a letter stating and in touring productions. An ALFP was over and its desperate leaders fled his intention to resign his commission, front corporation, Tyre Shipping, pur- to Republican-sympathetic Mexico, then permissible for regular officers chased the ex-Cythera II for $50,600, expecting to set up a Spanish govern- who “served at the pleasure of the and named her in honor of Ben Hecht. ment-in-exile. President.” In November the destroyer It was one of the few instances where Vita’s arrival in Tampico on March USS Massey, in which he was assis- Haganah leaders publicly applauded 28, 1939 caused quite a stir. Flying an tant engineering officer, returned from the play and purchase of the vessel. American flag, the vessel had no land- a good will cruise to Chile. Shulman’s The vessel was legally chartered as ing papers and carried a Basque-speak- resignation was approved and he went Abril under a Honduran flag, and sailed ing crew of 29 described by a New York ashore at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, not from New York on December 26, 1946. Times correspondent as “well-dressed far from the oily, trash-filled Gowanus Former AVI member, the late Hyman and educated….One had the manner canal, where the ex-Cythera II lay tied ”Bob” Levitan was First Mate and later and bearing of being trained in a naval up. No longer forgotten, the former Ar- became Abril’s Captain. Former AVI or military school.” It was later revealed gosy – Vita was being readied for a new vice president, the late David Kaplan that the “crew” included Juan Negrin, mission. was radio officer. After a rough Atlantic former Republican prime minister. In New York in 1946 and 1947 crossing Abril reached Port du Bouc, a There was only a cursory inspection two competing organizations had the shipyard near Marseilles, France. The of its cargo manifest. Each of the 160 same goal: both the Ben-Gurion-led engines were repaired and Aliyah Bet packing crates was so heavy that it took Haganah and the Menachem Beigin- carpenters ripped out the crew quarters five stevedores to lift them onto the pier led Irgun were gathering American vol- to install sleeping shelves for up to 600 and, watched by armed soldiers, into an unteers and money with which to sup- refugees who hoped to reach Eretz Is- armored baggage rail car, where a loco- ply Jewish fighters that would oust the rael. and freedom. motive spirited it away. Likewise, the British mandatory government control- “crew” disappeared into the streets of ling Palestine and defend the new na- Part III Piracy On the High Seas; Preci- the sleepy Mexican port. U.S officials tion against an expected Arab invasion. sion at Gaza. Part III later revealed that the “cargo” was gold The Haganah had the secretive “Son- bullion and jewels confiscated by the neborn Institute,” a group of wealthy Port du Bouc, then and now, is Republicans, and was valued between and influential Jewish business leaders notoriously difficult to navigate. On or $47- and 50-million dollars! who solicited donations and materiel about March 1, 1947, with 660 refugees Amid factional squabbling the from sources all over the U.S. on board, Abril got underway at night Republicans’ dreams of a new Spanish The Irgun had Ben Hecht. The without a pilot (they were on strike), Order faded; likewise, much of the loot flamboyant, Academy award-winning and almost immediately ran aground. disappeared into private, numbered Hollywood screenwriter was an ardent Tugs pulled her free. For the next week bank accounts. Vita’s master, a Spanish supporter of a Jewish Homeland in Abril hugged the Italian coastline. A Jew named Jose Ordica y Ana, put the Eretz Israel and a follower of the po- diesel engine acted up. Foul weather vessel on the block. litically-right and militant policies of made many on board seasick. The U. S. Navy bought the ves- Beigin and the Irgun. Another Beigin While crossing the Med’s open sel in July 1942 for $150,531, lopped supporter, Hillel Kook (a.k.a. “Peter waters she was spotted by a British pa-

Shulman had been assisting the Haga- what was to become a modern, effec- nah in the U.S. by inspecting ships to tive naval force.” be acquired for Aliyah Bet. Then (ac- Perhaps feeling he needed to fur- companied by his wife, Rose) he was ther prove his worth, Shulman as I.N.S. directed to assist with Aliya Bet opera- Commander-in-chief led the naval actions in Italy. Now, in May 1948 he was tion against Egyptian warships cruising Israeli Naval Patrol Vessel Ma’oz summoned to Israel and, at the direc- within Israeli territorial waters, appar- trol bomber, then intercepted by Brit- tion of David Ben-Gurion, established ently looking for invasion sites. Now, ish warships. Alan Tyler, an officer a naval academy to train officers for the on October 22 1948, with Shulman on on the destroyer Chevron, wrote (In a new Israeli Naval Service. He took the the Ma’oz bridge, and underwater de- 1997 article reprinted in the AVI news- rank of Kvarnit, or Commander. Shul- molition commandos from Yochai Bin- letter) “We intercepted another ‘ille- man brought on board six instructors. Nun’s Shayetet 13 on K-26 Nogah, the gal’…Abril, with an American crew The four Americans had served in the Israeli ships followed the Egyptians to that proved cooperative. I addressed U.S. Navy; two were former Royal Gaza. Another U.N. truce had been bro- them by loud hailer in English and Ger- Navy officers. kered, effective 1200 GMT (2pm in Is- man….saying that they should not re- The “cadets” were veterans of rael), but the Egyptians were suspected sist as force would be met with force. It the Pal’yam, the sea service branch of of ignoring it. Thus, Shulman radioed was unfortunate to use the language of for permission to attack. After dark he the hated Nazis….Our boarding party got the go-ahead from Ben-Gurion. met with no resistance and…[we] were The Egyptian corvette Emir Farouk offered tomato soup….” was believed to have embarked up to David Kaplan’s recollection is not 500 soldiers to reinforce Egyptian so charitable. “[Abril was] surrounded ground forces. The commandos’ explo- by three destroyers and boarded 10.7 sive-laden motorboats were launched. nautical miles off the coast of Pales- Two struck the cruiser, causing it to tine -- an act of piracy on the high seas sink. Another attack sunk the Egyptian ….beyond the three-mile territorial Abril as Santa Maria del Mare 1991 flagship’s escort. Sometime after mid- limits of Palestine.”* Abril was towed night Ma’oz sailed away to victory and into Haifa harbor. The refugees were the Pal’mach strike forces. To them into history. transferred to a prison ship and sent the new Israeli Naval Service was Was that the end of Ma’oz? There to an internment camp on Cyprus. The known as Cheyl Haambatya, the “bath- are reports that the vessel served the American crew was jailed at Akko but, tub navy.” Battle-tested from actions Israeli navy until the mid-1950s, and after negotiations with the American against the Germans and Italians dur- was then sold. By 1968 it had been Consul-general, released and sent back ing World War II and British forces converted into as a ferry in the Naples to the United States. occupying Palestine, these veterans Bay area under the name of “Santa Ma- Israel declared independence chafed at the formal, structured classes ria del Mare.” It was believed still in on May 15, 1948, but the Royal Navy they had to take. Instruction was often service as late as 1998. reportedly did not hand over the port difficult because Shulman and some *Doubtful. Palestine was under the of Haifa until June 30. Still tied up at instructors spoke little or no Hebrew British mandate, which was not recog- pier side was Abril. A minor problem and, for many of the multi-national nized as a sovereign state. now faced the new government of Is- Pal’yamniks Hebrew was a second or rael. Abril was not “abandoned;” it was third language. Shulman, the Machal- Copyright ©2005 by J. Wandres. All still owned by Tyre Shipping, and the nik – the volunteer from abroad – was Rights Reserved. Ben-Gurion government was obliged critcised for having no combat-related J. Wandres is writing a book about to buy it from ALFP. With the money- sea duty and quitting the U.S. navy af- Paul Shulman and other Americans changing completed, the now ex-Argo- ter only 24 months. who served in the early years of the Is- sy-Vita-Cythera II-“Ben Hecht”-Abril “Despite his youth and inexpe- raeli navy. He welcomes questions and joined the Israeli navy as K-24 Ma’oz. rience,” says one long-time supporter, comments at [email protected] Up to the summer of 1947 Paul “he did an outstanding job in convert- ing a rag-tag bunch into the nucleus of (See NYT articles on p. 13) EZER WEIZMAN continued from pg. 1

unceremonious, candid and spontane- 25th April, 2005 Obituaries ous. Mrs. Reuma Weizman While President Weizman Rehov HaDekel During the Six-Day War he conducted state visits to Great Britain, Caesarea 38900 was Chief of Operations of the General India, South Africa and Turkey, meet- Staff, and later Deputy Chief of Staff. ing national and Jewish leaders in his Dear Reuma, He retired in 1969 with the rank of ma- travels, he focused more on Israel itself On behalf of Myra and myself, jor-general, and turned to politics. and its citizens - Jews, Arabs and Druze as well as on behalf of World Machal, I An outspoken individual with - and on Israel’s immediate neighbors. wish to express our most sincere sym- strong political views and a vivid per- In addition to planned visits to various pathy and condolences to all the mem- sonality, Ezer Weizman maintained a communities and participation in ma- bers of your family. high and at times highly-provocative jor public events, Weizman adopted a The Machalniks deeply appreci- public profile, even while in the army. Presidential schedule that included un- ated the ongoing friendly relations be- In the two and a half decades follow- planned and spontaneous visits closely tween Ezer and his Machal comrades, ing his retirement from the military, tied to unfolding events, many of them especially with the Machal personnel Weizman served in many key political tragic. Thus, during the July 1993 “Ac- who served in 101 Squadron. During posts. He ran the election campaign countability” campaign against Hizbal- Ezer’s service in the Army, or in his that brought Likud leader Menachem lah terrorism, the President demonstrat- political life, or as the State President, Begin to power in 1977, after nearly ed his solidarity with Israeli citizens he always had an open door and a wel- thirty years in opposition; served as living on the northern border by visiting coming smile for Machalniks. Minister of Defense; and was a mem- them while their towns were still under His close friendship with Syd Co- ber of the Israeli negotiating team to shell-fire, staying the night with the in- hen is particularly noteworthy. I will the talks that culminated in the Camp habitants and even sleeping in a bunker always remember the incident which David Accords. In 1980, Weizman, with IDF soldiers. President Weizman took place in March 1949 concerning who had gradually moderated his also visited the wounded in hospitals President Chaim Weitzman and Syd. views, retired from politics to pursue and the families of the fallen and of The President was about to embark on a business career. Returning to public terror victims in their homes. Weizman his first formal visit to the USA. This life four years later, he formed a small applied the one real power of the Presi- was an auspicious occasion. The Sky- independent party and served as a gov- dency - the right to grant Presidential master aircraft was spruced-up for the ernment minister for the next six years pardons - in his own way, by refusing flight, and the crew members were fit- - first as Minister for Arab Affairs, then to sign some pardons recommended by ted out with new uniforms, etc. Ezer as Minister of Science and Technology. the Ministry of Justice. had very recently taken over command In 1992 he retired from active politics Ezer Weizman took a more ac- of 101 Squadron, and I suggested to and a year later, he was elected as the tive role in political developments than him that we should honour the Presi- seventh President of the State of Israel. his predecessors, and his actions were a dent by giving him a fighter escort on Almost without actual powers, the source of public controversy. Political his flight out of Israel. Ezer ‘s response Presidency is an institution that re- figures involved in the peace process was that although it was a nice idea, lies heavily on style. Ezer Weizman’s have met with Weizman, even though he had so many practical problems in strong personality and unique man- this was not part of diplomatic protocol. the squadron that didn’t enable him to ner, which pervaded every task he un- Moreover, the President openly criti- implement my suggestion - the aircraft dertook - from air force commander cized the government’s performance had serious maintenance problems; the to government minister - also colored and attempted to prevent the derailing squadron was short of engine hours; his Presidency. Weizman’s down-to- of the peace process. His unique brand his pilot-training program was running earth manner was quite different from of personal diplomacy, his charm and late, etc., and so the idea was dropped. the statesmanlike image and “elevated his personal ties opened communica- Two days later, Syd left Israel to resume status” that characterized most of his tion lines between Israel and the Pales- his medical studies in South Africa, and predecessors. His unique character en- tinian Authority and with Egypt. lo and behold, two Spitfires escorted dowed the Presidency with an infor- Ezer Weizman was re-elected the chartered DC3 aircraft in which mality and lack of reserve that reflected to a second term in May 1998, and Syd was flying to South Africa. When the warm, dynamic and unstructured resigned from the Presidency in July I asked Ezer to explain this asymmetry nature of Israel’s society. Thus, the of- 2000. in the honours accorded to the Presi- fice had in many ways come to mirror Condolence letter from Smokey dent of the State and to Syd, he replied the typical Israeli - direct, familial and Simon, World Machal by saying, “Could anyone believe that Syd Cohen would leave Israel without he learned Hebrew. During World military information. a fighter escort?” It would therefore War II he volunteered for the Cana- On December 7, Eddy tried to con- appear that Ezer’s friendship with Syd dian Air Force, where he learned to vince the squadron commander, Ralph was even thicker than blood! fly and passed an advanced course in Moster, also a Canadian volunteer, not May you and all the members navigation. After the war, as part of to fly to Lake Kinneret on a test flight of your family be blessed with abun- the Aliyah Bet clandestine immigra- of a Vision seaplane, but instead to join dant good health, and may Ezer rest in tion operations, he navigated an illegal him for a flyover of the Hulda grove in peace. Myra and I will visit you to pay immigrants’ ship to Palestine, but was honor of the opening of the road to Je- our respects. arrested by the British. When he was rusalem. Moster refused, but Eddy did released from prison in Cyprus, he ar- manage to convince another passenger Warmest regards. rived in Israel with Machal (a Hebrew waiting for the Vision’s takeoff, Hugo acronym for “volunteer from abroad”) Steiner, to join him. Hugo’s brother, Sincerely, on June 22, 1948. Here, he became one Ludwig, who worked at the base of- Smokey Simon of the first members of the 301 trans- ficers club, took off with Moster. On port and bombing squadron, stationed their return from Hulda, Eddy found Condolence Letter from Ira Feinberg at Ramat David. out that the Vision had crashed into the Kinneret. He took off immediately on Our heartfelt condolences a search, but to no avail. The debris of to the family of Ezer Weizman, who the plane and the bodies were found passed away on April 24, 2005. Ezer only a week later. Weizman rose to lead the Israel Air A short time after that, Eddy was Force, and served as IDF Operations transferred to Wing 53, which had the Chief, Defense Minister and President task of maintaining communications of the State of Israel. To many of our with besieged Sodom in Norseman fraternity he remained Ezer, the fight- aircraft. When the unit got a Harvard er pilot and comrade in arms during plane, he took off in it to take part in Israel’s War of Independence. They Operation Horev against the Egyptian were Americans, Canadians, Britons army, attacking Khan Yunis and Dir and South Africans who together with al-Balah. In January 1949, after the young Israelis flew the war surplus downing of five British airplanes by Eddy at Haifa Military Cemetery, 1933 Messerschmits and Spitfires in 101 the Israel Air Force, the Machal sol- squadron and helped turn the tide of Conditions at the base were hard, and diers celebrated victory. As Eddy later the 1948 war. Ezer Weizman will be faulty aircraft maintenance (“neglect, described it, someone took out a gun remembered as a steadfast and revered intrigues” as one of the reports stated) and shot the lock off the liquor cabi- friend who did not forget the contribu- almost cost Eddy his life. On July 21, net, took out a bottle, and left an I.O.U. tions of the volunteers in the formation during a bombing run over Mishmar Another happy pilot, he said, shot two of the IDF and on the battlefield. Hayarden, which had been attacked by bullets through a tin roof in the exact the Syrians, a bomb dropped from the cadence of the music that was playing. Ira Feinberg, President AVI plane hit its tail and caused it to go into The last chapter of Eddy’s War a spin. The captain ordered the crew to of Independence career took place on A first-class air force bail out, but in the ensuing panic, Ed- March 17, when he took off as co-pi- character dy’s parachute opened inside the plane. lot in a Commando aircraft from Sde By Uri Dromi The co-pilot finally managed to take Avraham in the Negev, to take part in Ha’aretz, English Edition, April 28, control of the Dakota, landing it on its Operation Uvda for the capture of Ei- 2005 belly at Ramat David. lat. Because of a motor malfunction on In September Eddy was trans- takeoff, the crew attempted to reland Yedidia Ka- ferred to Squadron A (light aircraft) the plane, crashing in the dunes. Mirac- plansky, whom where he carried out a top secret mis- ulously, no one was injured, but a few everybody called sion, dubbed Operation Taskit (“radio minutes after the crew was evacuated Eddy, was born skit”) in a Dragon Rapid aircraft. His to safety, the bombs the plane was car- in Montreal. He job was to fly over Samaria every night, rying exploded, destroying it. studied at an Or- with his navigator dropping firecrack- Eddy married Leah Gellman, and thodox Jewish ers that caused the Arab forces to op- had three children - Dafna, Daniel, and erate their radios, revealing important Eddy Kaplansky school, where KAPLANSKY continued on pg. 9 WEST POINT ANNUAL continued from pg. 3 adviser. He then commanded the Israeli became the first general of the Jewish statues adorn the likeness of armed forces -- the Machal or over- Army in nearly two thousand years in Eisenhower, MacArthur and Thayer seas volunteers -- against Arab fighters 1948. “The road that he built largely around West Point; however, Moosey along the Jewish Front. He also ordered with refugees and Holocaust survivors is intrigued by Marcus’ likeness at a the construction of a with their bare hands is impressive.” place he visits regularly. road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem “In the firstie club, there’s a to bring more men and equipment to picture of (Marcus) boxing and there break the Arab siege, a road that still are several small things like that,” exists today. Moosey said. “There are pictures of him in a prison commissioner uniform; there are pictures of him on a tank, mundane things that have gone largely unnoticed.” serving the country of his ancient birthright was not a mundane task Cadet 1st Class Ramona Fas- for a man born in the United States, tow places a rock on top of Col. David but his Jewish heritage was sown deep “Mickey” Marcus’ grave following a enough that he was compelled to do his ceremony honoring his accomplish- part as much so as he did with the 101st ments. on D-Day which is part inspiration for Cadet 1st Class Ramona Fas- Chaplain (Maj.) Carlos Huerta. (L-R) Cadets 1st Class David Rokhlin, tow was excited to be a part of the “Col. Marcus was a Soldier, I Vinay Mahadevan and Matthew Moosey wreath laying ceremony and placed a served with the 101st in Operation Iraqi light memorial candles for those who stone on Marcus’ headstone. Freedom and he jumped with the 101st died in the name of freedom. during D-Day, so there’s that connec- Called “A Soldier for All Hu- “It was an honor (to help with plac- tion from Soldier to Soldier,” Huerta manity,” his bravery and willingness to ing the wreath), but more so it was a said. “We have hundreds and hundreds return to duty after leaving the military great learning experience because I’m of graduates who did great things and on two separate occasions is not lost on Jewish and I’ve been to Israel twice,” Marcus is one that people may not today’s cadets. Fastow said. “But I’m slowly learning know as much about, but he’s a hero, “He represents a visible exam- about the connections the Israeli mili- not only an American hero but an inter- ple that anybody, regardless if they’re tary have with the American military -- national hero.” Jewish or not, can follow,” said Cadet it’s cool to know I’m a part of it.” After 9-11, Moosey’s con- 1st Class Matthew Moosey, member Although Marcus never reaped victions about Israel were deepened of the West Point Hillel, a 60-member the benefits of his work because of his of their history of terrorism that has Jewish cadet organization. “The Army death six hours after the called cease- plagued the Jewish state since its inde- values are universal to all Soldiers of fire, the ancient Jewish custom of plac- pendence and sees the correlation be- any race and religion, and Col. Marcus ing a rock on the headstone is a remind- tween the two countries. embodied and reflected those in his life er and a symbol of the great work he “Now it’s important to every- and that’s why he’s important for any did. body (to be aware of terrorism), so we cadet to recognize.” “It’s a way to tactfully and can all share in those concerns that Moosey has been to Israel physically connect with the deceased strengthen us as nations,” Moosey said. twice and has taken the 40-minute drive by placing something more permanent “(Israel) is a democracy, it’s united in between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on the than something temporary like flow- the war on terror and I think our desti- road that Marcus helped build. ers,” Moosey said. “His headstone is nies as nations are intertwined.” “It’s nothing short of miracu- absolutely covered with rocks, I think lous of some of the things he did,” more so than any other headstone at the Moosey describes of Marcus, who cemetery.”

KAPLANSKY continued from pg. 7

Gilad. He returned to Canada, but in Eulogies at the graveside were rope’s Jews to the haven of what was 1971 he came back to Israel and settled spoken by Smokey Simon and in He- then Palestine. Coincidently, unknown in Haifa, devoting himself to research brew by Yuske Almog who command- to us both, I, ‘though still serving in and commemoration of the contribu- ed the Medinat Ha Yehudim (Jewish the RAF in Germany, was part of the tion of Machal volunteers to the air State) Aliya Bet ship on which Eddy team sending the occupants of the D.P. force in its early days. Major Avi Co- served. They maintained a close rela- camps to the ports to meet the ships of hen, of the Israel Air Force history de- tionship over the years. Aliya Beth. Sailing as navigator on the partment, says Kaplansky’s book, “The World Mahal members also ‘Jewish State’ with 2,700 refugees in First Fliers” is an important foundation present included Joe Woolf, David a dilapidated vessel designed for less of Cohen’s own major research project Shachar, Mira Simon, David Teperson, than a quarter of that number, intercep- on the history of the air force in the War Sol Jacobs. Sidney Cohen, commander tion by the Royal Navy had passengers of Independence. of Fighter Squadron 101 and a Rav and crew interned in Cyprus. He man- Seren of the Air Force Archive. aged to get back to Montreal only to volunteer again - this time to fly when Dave Baum a war of purported annihilation, on four fronts, descended upon Israel. Words from a Friend Eddy’s attributes were many; he, with Tel Aviv born wife Leah World Machal, his wife and whom he had met and married in Isra- family and a vast number of friends and el, returned for good in 1971. During a Eddy assisted the Israel Air Force colleagues sustained a heavy loss when nostalgic visit to the Air Force History Museum at Hazor in interviewing Yedidia (Eddy) Kaplansky, 79, died branch, he happened upon a sheet of Machal veterans, and Rama Flint, for- with tragic suddenness March 6. He paper listing the known aircrew partici- mer deputy head of the Defense Min- had returned from an extended skiing pants in the War of Independence near- istry’s department of commemoration, holiday a few days earlier and seemed ly all of whom were Machal volunteers. says somewhere near Vancouver Eddy in great physical condition. According This revelatory information triggered had managed to locate the daughter of to what had become after many years the dormant, but none-the-less com- Len Fitchitt, a Machal volunteer who a virtual tradition I should have been pulsive researcher in Eddy Kaplansky. crashed during the attack on the Iraq- skiing with him, but had cancelled out His interest was translated into a long, Suidan police station east of Ashkelon, due a painful lumba r region. We had arduous but all-consuming research and to invite her for a moving visit to had daily ‘phone consultation since he leading to ‘The First Fliers’ written Israel. Eddy’s Machal comrades, David returned home. by Eddy and edited by myself. It is a Teperson and Sol Jacobs laud his con- Eddy went back to Montreal definitive presentation in Hebrew and tribution to the world Machal organi- when the War of Independence ended. English of every known aircrew mem- zation and Harold (“Smokey”) Simon, A WW2 pilot in the Royal Canadian Air ber, his origin, the bases at which he chairman of the organization, calls him Force, he had volunteered and served served during the W of I ...and a com- a “first class air force character.” with distinction in the embryo Israel prehensive foreword and introduction. Air Force which he, together with other It is an official publication of the I.D.F. The Funeral Machal volunteers, transformed into an complementing as it does, official his- effective, modern weapon, staffed by tory. Eddy had started a second edition On Thursday March 10, a WW2 veteran aircrew including ‘ace’ constituting a major revision with new chilly partly cloudy day, Eddie Kaplan- pilots. Quickly wresting air dominance facts and personalities previously omit- sky’s funeral took place. There were from the countries invading the Jew- ted, on the strength of information with about 75 people attending. Eddie’s ish state, the Air Force made survival greater accuracy, which has surfaced wife Leah, daughter Dafne, and sons, - even victory - seem feasible, raising since the book’s publication, and it ap- Dan and Gidon, were there. incalculably, the morale of the fighters pears I could now be made responsible and citizens of the infant state. for its completion. AVI members present were But Eddy’s Zionist devotion in common with those of us Lee Silverman, Avi Livney and Batshe- had earlier found expression among the who remained in Israel, Eddy found that va, Yehuda Witnoff and Nachum Ziv gallant few of Aliya Beth who left the the contribution of Machal to the suc- both of whom were friends of Eddy’s security and comforts of their homes cess of Israel’s defense against ostensi- from childhood in Montreal and Dave to confront the hazards of transporting bly overwhelming odds was not taught Baum. by sea the desperate remnants of Eu- in schools; was virtually forgotten and fast ceasing to be a part of the history be with us; his contributions not forgot- of Israel’s renascence. This was par- ten. Harold Greene, Air ticularly but not exclusively so in the i wish Leah and his family Force Director of case of the IAF. This outraged Eddy, long, healthy lives and the strength and Training: An Histori- relatively fresh from the diaspora and endurance to carry the oppressive bur- cal Obituary brimming with vigor. Devoting himself den of their loss. to remedial action he was inspirational Harold Greene a WWII flight in provoking some of those ex-Machal Yihyeh Zichroh Baruch instructor at Eglin Field in Florida in Israel to emerge from lethargy and volunteered for the fledgling Israel Air join him in battle. As to the success of Sol Jacobs Force in 1948 where he became a di- our years of effort the jury is still out, rector of training. Harold died in 1975 but we have managed to conscript al- He took a load off my shoulders but was never memorialized in this lies notably in the History branch of the Newsletter. An article was published IAF, including major (retd.) Avi Cohen in early summer of 1947 the about his service in Israel the year he who has written a history in Hebrew Mossad assigned me to the Northland died. The following are excerpts from - awaiting an English translation - of to reposition her in the Mediterranean that article. The article is unattributed the IAF in three volumes. An excerpt from southern France to near the Ibe- but it is suspected that it was written by ! from the first book declares, “Special rian Peninsula. And then to Bayonne, Jonathan Shimshone who is currently thanks are due to Eddy Kaplansky who, France in the Bay of Biscay. on the faculty of Princeton University. during the last 10 years followed this Favorable currents to speed the i don’t remember ever get- work and then volunteered to commu- passage run close offshore but you have ting a letter from Pappy. Every few nicate with people of that period who to stay alert to keep from drifting onto years, wherever we happened to be, I sent him material and pictures which the beach. My only experienced watch would come home late one evening to were part of the basis of this book. He officer was an Italian former submarine find him sitting in the living room. He did research on 103 Squadron and 35 commander and he couldn’t navigate a would drop in, unheralded at Herzlyia, Flight and very important research per- toothpick in a washbasin. Fortunately, Cambridge, Massachusetts or Palo taining to aircrew in the War of Libera- we had a fairly trained young Canadian Alto from his lonely wanderings alone tion published by the Historic branch fellow aboard who appeared to under- around the world. It was characteristic adding an excellent collection of pic- stand navigation and he took a load off that when we learned of his death by tures. Co-operation with him was of a my shoulders. That quiet, unassuming phone from America, we were not told very high order. We were made privy lad was, unbeknown to me, an experi- where he was when he died…. to as-yet unpublished books to whose enced fighter pilot, Eddy Kaplansky. His manner and language were authors Eddy’s consultations were in- In later years we became firm stark and bright against the mumblings valuable”. friends. A lot of people were lucky to and gray landscape. I remember a meet- Until the day he so unexpect- have Ed to “take a load off their shoul- ing with Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv towards edly and tragically left us, Eddy’s huge ders” in the IDF Air Force. He never the end of the 1948 War of Liberation. energy, intelligence and resourceful- stopped contributing. Right down to Many of the top air force and ground of- ness were always directed at the cause the very end he was getting history cor- ficers had been called to discuss a proof ensuring Machal’s part in determin- rect. posal, which, in essence, would lead to ing the outcome of Israel’s War of Inde- the absorption of the fledgling air force, pendence and that it would not be lost to Arthur Bernstein by the ground forces. B-G finally came the annals of our long history. He was to Pappy. He switched to English (and generous with his time and rare quali- Condolences to said, we felt, with somewhat more re- ties and made them easily available to Leah Kaplansky spect than we youngsters were getting World Machal, its individual members 58 Hillel St. Apt. 83 at that point): “Well Colonel Greene, and those who gave us their support. Haifa 33728 what do you think?” “I’ll tell you,” said Our exchanges and consulta- Pappy, “The whole idea stinks.” tions were often daily, his friendship Pappy was one of the first heads warm and infinitely gratifying. His of training—in the lean year of 1948 in knowledge of Machal and our War of the Israel Air Force. When you think Liberation encyclopaedic - I cannot yet back on how the Israeli pilots came to conceive of the void confronting me be some of the best in history, the story and us all, left by his departure. His is seen to be the work of many. But, memory is treasured and will always Pappy was the first who knew the busi- 10 ness who could make it clear from real survivors of Nazi concentration camps knowledge and experience that there is Businessman Louis toward what they hoped would be a no much room for compromise in pilot ‘Shorty’ Levin; Sold new home in Palestine. training… Ship That Became Shortly before it was to enter The truce in July 1948 gave the ‘Exodus’ the port of Haifa, British navy vessels air force a breathing space and there By Matt Schudel rammed the Exodus at sea. During the was some reorganization. It was decid- (From the Washington Post) resulting shipboard riot, in which pas- ed to start training in Israel and Pappy sengers and crew defended themselves came to headquarters as Director of Louis S. “Shorty” Levin, 90, a with cans of soup and potatoes, British Training, which also made him a mem- Washington businessman who had an sailors killed two passengers and an ber of the top air staff. Here he became, unexpected brush with history in the American crew member. in a way, a rallying point for dissenting, 1940s, when a ship he once owned be- When the Exodus finally docked plain speakers, and those who had ex- came a symbol of the movement to cre- in Haifa, the Jewish refugees were de- perience; a conscience, direct and to the ate an independent Jewish state, died nied entry by British authorities. essence of the matter. His blunt speech Feb. 10 of an intestinal disorder at a The lone American journal- and manner could not hide the real hospital in Aventura, Fla. His primary ist to board the Exodus, Ruth Gruber, knowledge, the shrewdness in judging residence was in Bethesda, and he had described it as “a black, shabby, bro- character or professional capability. a winter home in Aventura. ken steamer . . . The ship looked like Mr. Levin, whose name was ac- a matchbox that had been splintered by cented on the second syllable, was a a nutcracker. In the torn square hole . Washington native who embarked on . . we could see a muddle of beding, several failed business ventures before possessions, plumbing, broken pipes, he launched the Potomac Shipwrecking overflowing toilets, half-naked men, Co. with his brother in the 1940s. They women looking for children.” bought aging, out-of-service ships, dis- The refugees were placed on mantled them at a shipyard in Pope’s three squalid transport ships that took Creek, near Waldorf, and sold the scrap them back to France. After three weeks, metal. when they refused to disembark, they Harold Greene In the fall of 1946, Mr. Levin was were sent to detention camps in Ger- put in touch with the Chinese-Ameri- many -- an act of such symbolic cruelty in Pappy’s day there were few can Industrial Co., a New York consor- that it provoked international outrage. resources to spare for training or for tium seeking to rebuild one of his ships The Exodus was still in the Haifa har- other than the most needed guns and for cargo transport in Asia. He sold the bor on Nov. 28, 1947, when the United ammunition. When he visited cadets firm a rusting excursion boat called the Nations voted to establish an indepen- at the old St. John airport near Acre, President Warfield, which had plied the dent Jewish state. he found them wearing tatters; and waters between Baltimore and Norfolk, Many survivors escaped the Ger- flying hours for training were nearly for $10,000. man camps and eventually made their as scarce as decent uniforms. Still he Mr. Levin didn’t see the Presi- way to Israel or the United States. Their put across the idea that you can’t fool dent Warfield again until the following plight was described in Leon Uris’s yourself about flying achievement, summer, when it appeared in the news novel “Exodus” and in a 1960 film and pushed his programs as long as he under a different name, trying to break directed by Otto Preminger. The Exo- could, against odds. He did not stay on the British blockade of Palestine, then dus became known as the “Mayflower until the resources were there and we under British jurisdiction. The Chi- of the Middle East” and “the ship that could start training in earnest, but the nese-American organization turned out launched a nation.” conscience somehow remained. to be a front for the Haganah, an un- Mr. Levin, who grew up on 4 So it is not just as a personal derground Jewish paramilitary group 1/2 St. SW, was called Shorty by every- friend that so many will always remem- fighting for the creation of Israel. one, including his mother. His middle ber him so fondly. Israel has not had a The 320-foot President Warfield, initial, like Harry Truman’s, stood for better friend, or one more frank. Pappy launched in 1928, was secretly outfitted nothing. won’t be showing up any more; but I with hundreds of bunks and supplies in “If it’s good enough for Harry,” he will remember him whenever a discus- Baltimore and sailed from Marseille, said, “it’s good enough for me.” sion is wooly, the thinking is wishful, France, on July 11, 1947. Originally He graduated from Central High and the grey consensus is beginning to designed to hold 400 passengers, the School and, despite being only 5 feet compromise on quality. renamed Exodus carried 4,554 Jewish 7 1/2 inches tall, played center on 11 semiprofessional basketball teams. He buildings in Maryland, Virginia, the sisters, Dora Fox of Kansas City, Kan., served in the Navy during World War District and elsewhere. He retired in Zelda Gallun of Silver Spring and Leah II. 1995. McNair of Woodland Hills, Calif.; a After he left the shipwrecking His pastimes included tennis brother, Dr. Sidney Levin of Jackson- business in the mid-1950s, Mr. Levin and fishing. Mr. Levin supported Jew- ville, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and a owned Pleasant Liquors in Seat Pleas- ish causes and visited Israel but never great-grandson. ant until 1979. He was a founder of the met anyone who had been a passenger Prince George’s Liquor Association. aboard the Exodus. Condolences to Since the 1950s, he was also Survivors include his wife of 63 Evelyn Levin involved in real estate, eventually be- years, Eveyln Levin of Bethesda and 5401 Westbard Ave. coming vice president of Westwood Aventura; two children, Monica Pol- Bethesda, MD 20846 Management Corp. in Bethesda. His lans of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Dr. company constructed and managed Jon Levin of Port Charlotte, Fla.; three

Did foreign volunteers help Arab fighters in ‘48?

Jerusalem Post | 5-17-05 | ARIEH way from New York to France and the the Palmah’s Negev Brigade. “We nev- O’SULLIVAN Middle East. He was part of a dozen er captured any foreigners. We only sel- volunteers headed for Palestine where dom captured their officers. They’d run (The AVI Newsletter ran an article, he would eventually joined the ranks of like hell. Hearsay goes a long way.” translated by the editor from Al- the Palmah. The IDF Unit for Missing Sol- Jazeera, entitled Arab “Machal.” That According to Feinberg, two diers said they had no record of these article was more informative than Americans named Tony Ferrento and two Americans. is O’Sullivan about volunteers from Al McDonald were also aboard and on But historian Meir Pa’il said several Arab states who served in the a very similar mission. there definitely were a handful of for- armies invading the new State of Israel. “Only they were going to fight eigners who joined the Arab side. O’Sullivan, however, speculates about for the other side, the Arab side,” Fein- “There were a few fascists and western volunteers in Arab service. It berg said. “We were told to stay away even Germans we knew of,” Pa’il said. attests to the continued lack of good in- from them, but they ended up playing Pa’il said he fought on the Jerusalem formation on the topic.) craps and gambling with us. We parted front and does not recall any Europeans While most people know of the for- ways in Paris,” Feinberg said. among the Arab forces. eign “Mahal” volunteers who came to Ferrento and McDonald were “It doesn’t mean there were none. But help Israel fight for independence in in their late 20s and veterans of World if there were, then they didn’t have 1948, far fewer are aware there were War II. A few months later while re- any significant impact on the battles, non-Muslim foreigners who joined the grouping following battles, he got a certainly not like the foreign volun- Arab side too. Some were British, oth- report that the American pair had been teers who joined the Jewish side,” Pa’il ers Bosnian. Some Jewish Mahal vet- fighting as artillery officers in the Egyp- said. erans and historians claim there were tian Army, and were killed in combat some 3,500 foreign volunteers, even Americans, Polish and according during a battle in the Negev, apparently Jews and non-Jews from 43 countries, to rumor, ex-Nazi officers helping the near Faluja. came to Israel to help fight for the fledg- Arabs. Could this have happened? ling state. Some British soldiers de- The volunteers, or mercenar- Could Americans and other non-Mus- serted to join the ranks of the Hagana, ies apparently, were not driven by the lims actually have been out here volun- some bringing their tanks with them. compelling spirit of ideology and love teering to fight against the Jewish state? Historian Benny Morris said there were for the Arabs, or a commitment of the Most Mahal veterans interviewed don’t definitely foreign volunteers from Eu- heart. Rather, theirs was a motivation believe it. rope who joined the Arab side. He said of greed and hatred, and possibly ad- Mahal veteran Col. David Te- there was documented proof that one to venture. person said there was a lot of hearsay two dozen British Army deserters had At a recent gathering of Mahal about foreigners in the ranks of the joined the forces of Arab leader Abdel veterans, New Yorker Ira Feinberg re- Arab armies, but he isn’t aware of any Khader Husseini. called a story of two Americans who verified account. “Their motivation was anti-Se- were on a ship named Marine Tiger “I took quite a lot of prisoners mitic or for money. Don’t forget the pe- with him back in April 1948 on their of war,” said Teperson, who fought in riod. This was when the IZL and Lehi

12 underground had been killing British of light-skinned soldiers. Algeria all sent thousands to Egypt to troops and they were perhaps seeking “He called out to them in Eng- join forces with the Muslim Brother- revenge,” Morris said. lish ‘Hey fellas,’ thinking they were hood to fight. But the Egyptians in- He said that ex-British troops had a British deserters with his militiamen. terned most of them after rioting broke hand in the car bombing of Jerusalem’s They were actually Israeli sentries out and they never participated in the Rehov Ben-Yehuda in 1948 that killed who mortally wounded Husseini, thus war. 50 people. depriving the Arabs of a charismatic The Jordanian Arab Legion “The deserters also helped leader. was led by British officers seconded blow up the Palestine Post building,” Historian Morris said that there by the British Army. There were about Morris said. were a few dozen Bosnian Muslims, 75 British officers and professional sol- Using stolen British Army vehicles, veterans of the Second World War, who diers with the Legion, serving as artil- they were able to rig the bombs in them volunteered to fight against the Jews. lery operators, mechanics and in com- at Husseini’s headquarters in Ramallah Two of these volunteers were killed in munications, Morris said. and drove them through roadblocks to a battle where present-day Mevaseret There were rumors that the their targets. Zion lies. Their papers identified them Egyptians had hired ex-German offi- “Their names were known and as Yugoslavian volunteers. cers to help train their people, particu- published,” Morris said. Morris said a “handful” of Pol- larly in tank warfare, Morris said. ironically, the presence of Brit- ish volunteers aided the Arabs. The The Syrians had French trainers. The ish Army deserters on the side of the most dramatic rumor is that former British advised the Egyptians and Iraq- Arabs may have played a part in the Nazi officers had come out to Palestine is until early 1948. Some of these ad- death of the Arab commander. Accord- to help the Arab militias and armies visers may have been involved in the ing to Pa’il, Husseini had gone to the fight the Jews. But so far there isno battles, Morris said. summit of the Castel after bitter fight- proof of this. There were none reported cap- ing. He had been under the impression There were, of course, thou- tured or killed. Morris suspects if they that his forces had already captured the sands of Arabs who volunteered to fight had been captured, the Israeli forces strategic heights and then he saw a pair the Jewish state. Morocco, Tunisia and most likely killed them on the spot.

THE MIGHTY MA’OZ continued from pg.5

NYT Jan. 18, 1947 NYT Mar. 11, 1947

13 MACHAL

BY ZACH BEN AMOTS (2004)

As if proud birds All flying together in formation Flapping of wings ringing in the air Carrying the hopes of the innocent Renewed hope flashing in their eyes Some fragile, some mighty But all selfless. Visions of peace and victory lit up their minds. Only a few emerge (Zach is the son, age 11, of Ofer They fly in as hawks and come out as doves. and Laura Ben Amots of Colorado * * * Springs. The work was encouraged Dignity and bravery versus hatred and aggression by the Center for Jewish Culture and Came crushing upon each other. Creativity in Los Angeles. Ofer tells me that Zach read whatever he could Two thousand years of terror and trials had been their share, get his hands on about Machal in Two thousand years of hopes and prayers. preparation writing the poem.) Too long had it been, Too long with no home or independence.

And now a declaration was made, And nothing would stop it.

Without warning a war begins.

They fight for their freedom, They fight for their lives. * * * Outnumbered and weak, all confidence almost lost. When out from the sky, across oceans, across lands, Like angels, They came.

Not drafted, not asked for, but freely came forward.

They arose To fight for Freedom To fight for Independence.

All hope that had been lost, Was renewed. * * * Machal, Mitnadvai Chutz La’Aretz Volunteers From Abroad Machal Plaque