Four Israeli Steps in the Early Stages

The Irgun, officially known as the “National Military Organization,” was established in 1931 and emerged as one of the most significant Zionist paramilitary and terrorist groups during Israel’s early attacks to establish the state. Its operations intensified in the late 1930s, particularly in response to British policies and local Arab resistance. A turning point for Irgun was in 1946 when they bombed the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, the administrative headquarters of the British in Palestine, killing 91 people, including British personnel and Arabs. The tactics used by Irgun, which often relied on excessive violence to exert pressure for political change, have been widely criticized. Critics have condemned their actions as indiscriminate violence that endangered many civilian lives.

The Lehi, also known as the Stern Gang, was another paramilitary group that split from Irgun and aimed to take immediate action against British authorities in Palestine after World War II. Founded in 1940 by Avraham Stern, Lehi adopted a more radical and ideological approach, frequently carrying out overt violent actions against various targets, including British military personnel. One of their most infamous operations was the assassination of Lord Moyne, Britain’s Minister of State for the Middle East, in 1944. This assassination was part of a broader campaign to undermine British authority in Palestine, which included attacks on British soldiers and facilities. As tensions escalated in the period leading up to Israel’s establishment, Lehi temporarily allied with Irgun to orchestrate coordinated attacks against the British, peaking in 1948 amid intense Palestinian resistance and broader regional conflicts, culminating in the formation of a new Jewish state. Both Irgun and Lehi played significant roles not only in shaping the military tactics used by the Yishuv (Zionist settlers) but also in influencing the international community’s perception of the political realities in Palestine post-war. They used force and terror to convey their demands, even to the British and international forces.

Palmach, another key paramilitary group in the Zionist movement, played a critical role in the events leading to the Palestinian “Nakba” and the 1948 events, which resulted in the widespread ethnic cleansing of local Arabs. Initially formed to assist the British during World War II, Palmach shifted its focus to Palestinians after the war, engaging in systematic violence against them. During the critical period following the UN Partition Plan in late 1947, Palmach units conducted numerous military operations aimed at displacing Palestinian communities. Historical reports detail how they brutally attacked villages and residential areas, killed residents, and instilled fear through their violent tactics, ultimately facilitating the territorial expansion of the newly formed Israeli state. Palmach’s actions included not only direct and overt confrontations with locals but also covert operations in rural areas, leading to the uprooting and displacement of thousands of Palestinians and the destruction of their villages, permanently altering the region’s demographic landscape.

Palmach’s terrorist operations exemplify the broader Zionist leadership strategy of ethnically cleansing Palestine’s residents. Their actions often included brutal attacks, such as the Deir Yassin massacre, where over 100 Palestinians were killed, creating terror that led to the flight of most residents from surrounding areas. Many Palestinians fled their homes before attacks, fearing for their lives, as these Israeli forces instilled terror to ensure they achieved their expansionist goals. The tactics employed by Palmach were not unrelated to Israel’s broader military strategy at the time, as they were not merely about seizing land but also about eradicating the indigenous Palestinian population. The legacy of their brutal actions is deeply etched in Palestinian memory, serving as a reminder of the loss and displacement brought by the establishment of Israel.

Haganah, one of the early paramilitary organizations of Jewish communities in Palestine during the British Mandate, conducted numerous operations against the indigenous Palestinian population, particularly after the UN Partition Plan in 1947. These operations were characterized by significant violence aimed at intimidating and forcibly expelling Palestinians from their homes. Reports indicate that Haganah’s escalation of tensions led to a series of organized military actions, including psychological warfare to instill fear among Palestinian communities. Haganah’s operations were not limited to military actions. They also involved systematic approaches, such as the destruction of Palestinian villages, expulsion orders, and violent terrorist attacks aimed at facilitating Jewish settlement and control over occupied territories. Historical analyses highlight cases like the siege of Arab neighborhoods in Haifa, where Zionist forces used artillery and other tools to shell Arab areas, causing panic and mass migration among Palestinian residents. Their tactics combined direct assaults with deceptive methods, during which Haganah forces disguised themselves as Palestinians to carry out covert violent terrorist operations, increasing distrust, instability, and fear within Arab communities.