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Arthur Holzman: They stole my car
C BS radio network correspondent in the new state, Arthur Holzman, was
Jewish, and his wife and daughter lived in Tel Aviv.
"The rumors were bad: the Arab leaders and the Arab broadcasting stations were promising
rivers of blood in Tel Aviv and in the other Jewish towns. I was concerned. I don't know
what others were thinking, but I wasn't certain that the Jews would hold out against the
Arab armies after taking a step like that and proclaiming their state.
A fellow journalist, an AP correspondent, had visited Tel Aviv at the beginning of the
week and had suggested that I move my family to Cyprus. This journalist had previously
been in Egypt and in Transjordan, at Qawukji's headquarters, and he claimed that there
was almost no doubt that the Arabs would conquer Tel Aviv within a few days.
I hesitated. I knew that the risks were great, but on the other hand there was the historic
event, and the media scoop. I remained in the country with my family. At a quarter to four
I left my red car far from the crowded Rothschild Boulevard, and walked to the museum.
When the museum emptied out, after the ceremony was over, I hurried back to where I
had parked the car. I had to prepare the report and send it to the US. The car wasn't there.
The owner of a nearby restaurant told me that some boys in uniform had taken it. He said
that they were probably from the Hagana, or the Etzel or Lehi. I decided that this would
be a good time to visit my friend Yehezkel Saharov (Sahar), who had already held the
position of Police Superintendent for some 30 or 40 minutes. Mr. Sahar promised me that
they would find it quickly, but it took a few days."
Mr. Holzman's account was recorded in Washington in 1973. By this stage, 25 years after the
establishment of the state, he was serving as deputy legal advisor to NASA.
Rita Persitz: A Meeting with Mother
Rita Persitz's voice was a familiar one in Eretz Yisrael. Since the
establishment of Kol Yerushalayim (the Voice of Jerusalem), in 1936, she
had been one of the station's most prominent anchors.
"I was an anchor for the Mandatory radio, and afterwards I broadcast on "Telem
Shamir Boaz", the Hagana broadcasting station, until its last day. At 3:30pm I paid a quick
visit home. At the time I was living with my mother, Shoshana Persitz – a prominent
figure in the Yishuv and one of the leaders of the General Zionists Party – because I had
130 The Friday That Changed Destiny
C BS radio network correspondent in the new state, Arthur Holzman, was
Jewish, and his wife and daughter lived in Tel Aviv.
"The rumors were bad: the Arab leaders and the Arab broadcasting stations were promising
rivers of blood in Tel Aviv and in the other Jewish towns. I was concerned. I don't know
what others were thinking, but I wasn't certain that the Jews would hold out against the
Arab armies after taking a step like that and proclaiming their state.
A fellow journalist, an AP correspondent, had visited Tel Aviv at the beginning of the
week and had suggested that I move my family to Cyprus. This journalist had previously
been in Egypt and in Transjordan, at Qawukji's headquarters, and he claimed that there
was almost no doubt that the Arabs would conquer Tel Aviv within a few days.
I hesitated. I knew that the risks were great, but on the other hand there was the historic
event, and the media scoop. I remained in the country with my family. At a quarter to four
I left my red car far from the crowded Rothschild Boulevard, and walked to the museum.
When the museum emptied out, after the ceremony was over, I hurried back to where I
had parked the car. I had to prepare the report and send it to the US. The car wasn't there.
The owner of a nearby restaurant told me that some boys in uniform had taken it. He said
that they were probably from the Hagana, or the Etzel or Lehi. I decided that this would
be a good time to visit my friend Yehezkel Saharov (Sahar), who had already held the
position of Police Superintendent for some 30 or 40 minutes. Mr. Sahar promised me that
they would find it quickly, but it took a few days."
Mr. Holzman's account was recorded in Washington in 1973. By this stage, 25 years after the
establishment of the state, he was serving as deputy legal advisor to NASA.
Rita Persitz: A Meeting with Mother
Rita Persitz's voice was a familiar one in Eretz Yisrael. Since the
establishment of Kol Yerushalayim (the Voice of Jerusalem), in 1936, she
had been one of the station's most prominent anchors.
"I was an anchor for the Mandatory radio, and afterwards I broadcast on "Telem
Shamir Boaz", the Hagana broadcasting station, until its last day. At 3:30pm I paid a quick
visit home. At the time I was living with my mother, Shoshana Persitz – a prominent
figure in the Yishuv and one of the leaders of the General Zionists Party – because I had
130 The Friday That Changed Destiny
