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there will be many troubles and we will have to deal with them. Clearly, there will be those
in Washington who will say, 'We warned you!' The next-to-last words that I heard from
‘His Highness’ [Marshall] – not from the 'Holy Cow' [Truman] – were: 'Right now you're
strong, but beware of relying on early victories. I myself am a military man. I warn you
against placing too much reliance on the advice of your military commanders. Weigh it up
carefully. Your justifications are very well thought-out, I understand you well, what you're
concerned about and why you're not inclined to accept the path that we're proposing, but
you're taking upon yourselves a very serious responsibility. Your war has only just begun;
who knows how it will end? Weigh the matter up carefully.' This suggests, 'If there are
problems, don't come and ask us for help, because we warned you.' It doesn't necessarily
suggest that if not, then we'll oppress you, we'll fight, we'll exact revenge. Not necessarily.
It's also a possibility. But to balance that there's public opinion; to balance that there is
election year [for the American presidency].
On the other hand, there is the casting of this group in a negative light. The same group
that had already dealt America a moral blow at the Assembly over not having accepted
the matter of loyalty, could also bring about a second blow, if we stick to our guns and not
take fright.
Thus, the situation that faces us is a very severe one, very serious, but it seems that we have
no choice; we must move forward."
Speech at the Mapai Central Committee, May 11, 1948; from Davar Davur – speeches on domestic
and foreign fronts (1948), published by the Moshe Sharett Heritage Society, Tel Aviv 2013, pp. 9-12
A visit to Tel Aviv and Jaffa
during the last week of foreign rule
I.F. Stone, journalist of PM, published in New York
Isidor Feinstein (I.F.) Stone was a Jewish American journalist with progressive –
even radical – views. In the 1940s he was a reporter in the New York newspaper
PM. At the time he was considered pro-Zionist, and in 1946 he joined a ship of
illegal Jewish immigrants on their way to Palestine. He visited the country again
a few days prior to the establishment of the state. His impressions from this visit
appeared in his New York newspaper, and in Hebrew translation in Al HaMishmar.
The text below is from PM, but with omissions and headlines reflecting the version
that appeared in Al HaMishmar.
To one just arrived from America, the amazing and sensational fact about Tel Aviv –
supposedly the embattled capital of the new Jewish State – is its complete and startling
normality.
154 The Friday That Changed Destiny
in Washington who will say, 'We warned you!' The next-to-last words that I heard from
‘His Highness’ [Marshall] – not from the 'Holy Cow' [Truman] – were: 'Right now you're
strong, but beware of relying on early victories. I myself am a military man. I warn you
against placing too much reliance on the advice of your military commanders. Weigh it up
carefully. Your justifications are very well thought-out, I understand you well, what you're
concerned about and why you're not inclined to accept the path that we're proposing, but
you're taking upon yourselves a very serious responsibility. Your war has only just begun;
who knows how it will end? Weigh the matter up carefully.' This suggests, 'If there are
problems, don't come and ask us for help, because we warned you.' It doesn't necessarily
suggest that if not, then we'll oppress you, we'll fight, we'll exact revenge. Not necessarily.
It's also a possibility. But to balance that there's public opinion; to balance that there is
election year [for the American presidency].
On the other hand, there is the casting of this group in a negative light. The same group
that had already dealt America a moral blow at the Assembly over not having accepted
the matter of loyalty, could also bring about a second blow, if we stick to our guns and not
take fright.
Thus, the situation that faces us is a very severe one, very serious, but it seems that we have
no choice; we must move forward."
Speech at the Mapai Central Committee, May 11, 1948; from Davar Davur – speeches on domestic
and foreign fronts (1948), published by the Moshe Sharett Heritage Society, Tel Aviv 2013, pp. 9-12
A visit to Tel Aviv and Jaffa
during the last week of foreign rule
I.F. Stone, journalist of PM, published in New York
Isidor Feinstein (I.F.) Stone was a Jewish American journalist with progressive –
even radical – views. In the 1940s he was a reporter in the New York newspaper
PM. At the time he was considered pro-Zionist, and in 1946 he joined a ship of
illegal Jewish immigrants on their way to Palestine. He visited the country again
a few days prior to the establishment of the state. His impressions from this visit
appeared in his New York newspaper, and in Hebrew translation in Al HaMishmar.
The text below is from PM, but with omissions and headlines reflecting the version
that appeared in Al HaMishmar.
To one just arrived from America, the amazing and sensational fact about Tel Aviv –
supposedly the embattled capital of the new Jewish State – is its complete and startling
normality.
154 The Friday That Changed Destiny
