UN Palestine Commission – Killing of Jewish Defense personnel – Communication from the Jewish Agency for Palestine

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UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Letter of 2 March to the Chairman from the
Jewish Agency Concerning the Disarming and
Subsequent Killing of Arabs for Jewish Defense
Personnel

The following communication has been received by the Chairman from the Jewish Agency for Palestine.

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March 2, 1948

Hon. Karel Lisicky

Chairman, United Nation Palestine Commission
United Nations

Lake Success, New York

Dear Mr. Lisicky:

I beg to draw the Commission’s attention to the following cabled report just received from the Executive of the Jewish Agency in Palestine, dated. March 1st:

“Yesterday at 4 P.M. a party of 20 British soldiers accompanied by a British constable and three Arab constables in uniform entered a Haganah position at Hayotzek Factory opposite Holon (a Jewish suburb south of Jaffa). They confiscated all arms and left. Whilst they were leaving the place was already surrounded by armed Arabs who immediately opened fire. Some Haganah men escaped but eight were hit and subsequently butchered.”

The report speaks for itself. I should like to add that throughout the present emergency the line of the Haganah has been to avoid any armed clash with the British forces and therefore not to resist by force arrests and confiscation of arms. An exception to this rule was decided upon recently only with regard to Jerusalem after four Haganah men were disarmed by a British patrol and subsequently delivered into the hands of Arabs by whom they were killed. Refusal to give up arms, backed, if necessary, by force may now be expected to become the rule of Haganah conduct throughout Palestine.

I am taking the liberty of sending copies of this letter to all members of the Security Council.

Respectfully yours,

Moshe Shertok