Subjects: Greater Land of Israel

The Truth About the Altalena

By

This article is a verbatim report of the address given by Menachem Begin over the broadcasting station, “The Voice of Freedom,” on Tuesday, June 22nd. He speaks about the details of the “Altalena,” the ship which was organized to bring an abundance of military supply to Israel. He takes his listeners on a journey of “Altalena” from describing the dedication and passion these young men and women invested into this project, to the difficulties it confronted by the government, to the tragic burning of the ship.

Jerusalem Our Capital

By

An article by Begin about Jerusalem during the summer of the War of Independence. Begin begins by waxing poetic about Jerusalem and the sacrifices that were necessary to defend and secure the city. By not falling, Jerusalem kept the rest of Israel from falling as well and gave hope to the Jewish fighters. The UN will meet to discuss giving Jerusalem to Transjordan or to make it an international city, neither of which must be allowed to occur. Jerusalem belongs to the Jews. The fight for Jerusalem and the survival of the state still rages both on the battlefield and in the political arena. The greatest victory was driving the British from the land, but they continue to be an obstacle by being largely responsible for the Bernadotte plan, which is very similar to the rejected Peel plan of 1937. Despite these obstacles, Israel will be victorious and claim its entire historic homeland. Then a free, equal, and just society will live in Israel.

Meet the Press Interview with Menachem Begin 1948

By

An interview Begin gave on Meet the Press in New York in 1948. Begin apologizes for his poor English. He is in America on a goodwill mission on behalf of those who fought for liberation against the British and will be returning to Israel before the elections for the constituent assembly, in which he is running on the Herut list. Etzel turned its guns over to the Israeli government when told to and will not raise any arms against a Jewish government. Begin did not meet Col. David Marcus, but he considers him to be a hero and a great commander. Herut has members from Israel’s non-Jewish minorities and does not have a policy of racial exclusion. The UN has utterly failed to live up to its vision, but Begin prays it will become the organization it was meant to be. Herut does not object to the Histadrut or any other labor unions existing, but it does object to the Histadrut also employing the workers in addition to being a union.

Israel Has Risen

By

A call to all Israelis, especially the Israeli youth, at the occasion of the founding of the State. The rule of the British in Palestine is over and the State of Israel has risen in its place. It could not come about without trials of blood, sweat, and tears. Even before the institutions for the State have been set up it has come under attack. To fight this threat Israel needs weapons, spirit, and brains. Israel will need to pursue a foreign policy of reciprocity and friendship with all nations that recognize it. Inside Israel all must enjoy freedom and security, even non-Jews. Now that there is a Jewish State there is no need for an underground any longer. However, if the government becomes tyrannical a new underground may arise. The Hebrew youth have fought heroically with the spirit of the ancient and modern Jewish heroes like the Maccabees and Joseph Trumpeldor. They will go forth to victory, ensuring that the entire Jewish homeland is free.

An Appeal to Our Arab Neighbors

By

A flyer published in Arabic during the Arab riots of December 1947. The Etzel warned the Arabs that if their attacks on Jewish civilians continued it would take vengeance. Now it has, with an offensive against rioters in several different cities that showed the Arabs the strength of the Jewish soldier. Now the Etzel once again calls on the Arab rioters to stop attacking Jews. Neither side is served by the violence; only the British oppressors stand to gain. The Arabs should reject the British and their anti-Jewish incitement and resume neighborly relations with the Jews. If the attacks do not stop, the Etzel will strengthen its counteroffensive. So for their own sakes as well as the sake of the Jews, the attacks must stop.