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sible on the basis of this ceasefire, I said, 'It's not in our interests to be the first to refuse
this proposal; rather, we should say, 'We agree to look into it'.'
More simply, the proposal was that we should agree to a ten-day truce. To this there
was an answer: We certainly agree. Negotiations over ten days as to the possibility of a
cease-fire – certainly. I start off on a positive note, but to fly in the presidential plane, the
'Holy Cow', together with the Arabs – no, that's a silly idea; it's hollow theatrics. If you
want to help any of us to fly to Palestine, go ahead. If you want to fly some Americans over
there for negotiations – that's your business. An extension of the Mandate by another ten
days – absolutely not! Not even for a single day; not a single hour!
This means that if we embark on this business [the truce] on the 1st,2nd, 3rd of May,
and it is to last ten days, then if by the 12th, 13th, 14th, or 15th of May it turns out that
nothing has come of it, then on May 15 we act, with no delay. Do you agree to this? No?
Then - no! Concerning this matter there is no compromise whatsoever! There is nothing
holding back our acting according to plan on May 15 unless we of our own volition agree
to something, but in this matter we are free agents. We're not going to agree in advance
that if nothing comes of it, we'll agree to a postponement. There will be no postponement.
This view was accepted, such that de facto the [American] proposal in its entirety
received a negative response. Now, this doesn't affect the situation one way or the other,
because that question is no longer on the agenda; the [ten] days have already gone by,
and we're now faced with a proposal on the issue itself: to postpone or not to postpone
[the proclamation of the state] – and it is concerning this question that the People's
Administration is meeting, and it will undoubtedly decide the question tonight or
tomorrow morning, and I have no doubt that the decision will be a positive one. I cannot
say exactly what form it will take.
I wish to add that there is tremendous tension around the world surrounding this issue.
First of all, there is unimaginable tension in the Jewish world, in the US, in Latin America,
in all the stations that I passed through, in France, in Italy, in Greece – a small, forsaken
community now – everywhere. There is also tension in the non-Jewish world – in the
press, at any rate – concerning this date.
The [UN General] Assembly, or its political committee, is meanwhile doing nothing;
treading water. I have the clear impression that many members of the Assembly are
inclined to drag the matter out until May 15 and to see what happens here, to look at that
[reality]. I am certain, on the other hand, that the State Department group won't lay down
its weapons; who knows what surprises they may spring at the last minute; they might try
to present us with a fait accompli. I say this in order that we will not be taken by surprise
by trouble that may beset us. I have almost no certainty here, because time is limited. [The
UN General Assembly] is such a clumsy beast. All in all, this international forum has the
appearance of anarchy. There is no limitation on the right to speak; any amendment to the
agenda can take hours. The slowness, the clumsiness – it's terrible, and right now it works
to our benefit.
What will happen the day after the declaration? Who can prophesize and say? Clearly,
Before the Declaration 153
this proposal; rather, we should say, 'We agree to look into it'.'
More simply, the proposal was that we should agree to a ten-day truce. To this there
was an answer: We certainly agree. Negotiations over ten days as to the possibility of a
cease-fire – certainly. I start off on a positive note, but to fly in the presidential plane, the
'Holy Cow', together with the Arabs – no, that's a silly idea; it's hollow theatrics. If you
want to help any of us to fly to Palestine, go ahead. If you want to fly some Americans over
there for negotiations – that's your business. An extension of the Mandate by another ten
days – absolutely not! Not even for a single day; not a single hour!
This means that if we embark on this business [the truce] on the 1st,2nd, 3rd of May,
and it is to last ten days, then if by the 12th, 13th, 14th, or 15th of May it turns out that
nothing has come of it, then on May 15 we act, with no delay. Do you agree to this? No?
Then - no! Concerning this matter there is no compromise whatsoever! There is nothing
holding back our acting according to plan on May 15 unless we of our own volition agree
to something, but in this matter we are free agents. We're not going to agree in advance
that if nothing comes of it, we'll agree to a postponement. There will be no postponement.
This view was accepted, such that de facto the [American] proposal in its entirety
received a negative response. Now, this doesn't affect the situation one way or the other,
because that question is no longer on the agenda; the [ten] days have already gone by,
and we're now faced with a proposal on the issue itself: to postpone or not to postpone
[the proclamation of the state] – and it is concerning this question that the People's
Administration is meeting, and it will undoubtedly decide the question tonight or
tomorrow morning, and I have no doubt that the decision will be a positive one. I cannot
say exactly what form it will take.
I wish to add that there is tremendous tension around the world surrounding this issue.
First of all, there is unimaginable tension in the Jewish world, in the US, in Latin America,
in all the stations that I passed through, in France, in Italy, in Greece – a small, forsaken
community now – everywhere. There is also tension in the non-Jewish world – in the
press, at any rate – concerning this date.
The [UN General] Assembly, or its political committee, is meanwhile doing nothing;
treading water. I have the clear impression that many members of the Assembly are
inclined to drag the matter out until May 15 and to see what happens here, to look at that
[reality]. I am certain, on the other hand, that the State Department group won't lay down
its weapons; who knows what surprises they may spring at the last minute; they might try
to present us with a fait accompli. I say this in order that we will not be taken by surprise
by trouble that may beset us. I have almost no certainty here, because time is limited. [The
UN General Assembly] is such a clumsy beast. All in all, this international forum has the
appearance of anarchy. There is no limitation on the right to speak; any amendment to the
agenda can take hours. The slowness, the clumsiness – it's terrible, and right now it works
to our benefit.
What will happen the day after the declaration? Who can prophesize and say? Clearly,
Before the Declaration 153
