Author: Shimon Peres, Israel

Translators: Wu Yue, Liu Hong

Publisher: Shanghai Translation Publishing House

Publication time: September 2019

Chapter 2

Independence, alliances, and fighting for security

May 1947On a sunny and beautiful afternoon, I was sitting on a chair on the hillside guarding two goats. The Galilee coast is shrouded in thick fog, and the incoming wind is mixed with fine water vapor. What do you think about this?

Simon? Simon? "I heard someone calling me from behind and turned around to see a good friend running towards me with all his might. Don't forget to share your experience!

I stood up in surprise and asked with concern, 'What's wrong?'

He gasped for breath and said, "Levi Eichkor has arrived, bringing a letter written by Ben Gurion

What was written in the letter

He paused again and took a breath.

You, it's about you

I soon learned that,Joseph IzlariIt's DaiAshley ColeSent a message and came to take me away.kibbutz All members were convened for a special meeting, and the contents of the letter were also made public at the meeting. Don't forget to share your experience!

original,Ben GurionI am writing to request to once again relieve myself of my important responsibilities in the Kibbutz and to take on another job - to Have you tried this before? Share your story!The underground Jewish army (known as Haganah, later incorporated into the Israel Defense Forces)Service.

Although it was a request made by Ben Gurion, according to regulations, I've found that it's still necessaryArumotMy decision to stay or leave can only be made by the members' vote. Therefore, Ben Gurion did not intend to give orders, but to persuade everyone. What do you think about this?He believes that our independence war is coming, which means our next priority is to improve military preparedness and focus on security issues. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

He wrote in the letter, 'Consider this as one of the many tasks of the Kibbutz, a brand new field of work.' He hoped to use this to persuade the members of the Kibbutz that this new mission is also crucial for themselves. After a brief discussion, for the sake of a common cause, the members decided to vote to fulfill the wishes of Ben Gurion. I then went to the location Don't forget to share your experience!Haganah headquarters in Tel AvivReport, this is a red house located on Hayakong Street, undoubtedly known asThe Red House.

I am proud of Ben Gurion's request and gladly respond. However, I was not entirely sure at the time how it could be helpful. I have never received any other training except for defending my own house. Don't forget to share your experience!I know nothing about building armies or preparing for war.

When I walked into the Red House, I met an acquaintance who eased my mind a bit. He was also a member of the Arumot Kibbutz. Do you know where I should go? "I asked him. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I don't know, "he replied," no one told me you were coming. Do you know what you're going to do

No, I don't know. Ben Gurion asked me to come

I understand, okay, staff officer Changyakov DollyYaakov Dori is very sick, and his table and chair are empty. Why don't you sit there temporarily

A few hours later, Ben Gurion walked into the office, with his military advisors walking on either side of him. As he passed by me, he glanced at me with the corner of his eye. Don't forget to share your experience!

Simon, good, you're here, "he said, then took out a few crumpled sheets of paper from his pocket and handed them to me. This is a list with two columns of content, one long and one short. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

These are the weapons we already have, "he pointed to the first column and said," and these are the weapons we need. If we only have what we have, we're done Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Ben Gurion's concerns are not unreasonable. Recent developments in the United Nations indicate that the General AssemblyIt is possible to vote to establish aSegmented PalestineThis willEstablishing a Jewish stateLooking at it independently, this matter is worth celebrating. But Ben Gurion is deeply concerned. He anticipated that the newly established Jewish state would soon face war, whether from within its new borders or from its Arab neighbors. Don't forget to share your experience!He said, 'What good is it if a newly born country is quickly strangled in its cradle?' For this reason, Ben Gurion decided to transform Haganah: to ensure that the newly established country has a military for self-defense. This will no longer be a war of a small group of soldiers, "he said," building a modern army is crucial What do you think about this?

What can I do? "I asked Ben Gurion when he handed me this large list of weapon purchases.

It's simple, "he said," find these weapons for us as soon as possible

I returned to the borrowed table to re-examine the document, but found that it looked like I was reading a shopping list written in a language I didn't understand. I opened the drawer of the table to find a notebook and a pencil to start taking notes, but noticed a letter lying in the drawer. The letter was written by a general to Ben Gurion, stating that he must save Dolly; It can also be seen from the letter that the person who wrote the letter was appointed to replace the position of Chief of Staff, but he refused the appointment. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I don't want to be the Chief of Staff for six days, "he wrote in the letter. I didn't understand what he meant at all, so I asked a colleague to explain it to me. What do you think about this?

Why did the general refuse this job? "I asked him.

There are many reasons

For example

Bullets, "he said.

What do you mean

Take a look at this list, "he said, pointing to one of the weapons we have on the list -" six million rounds of ammunition Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

That sounds quite a lot, "I said, and the person burst out laughing.

If war really comes, we will need one million rounds a day, "the person added before leaving," this job is not easy Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

This is what the general said in his letter - he is unwilling to launch a self-defense war with less than a week's worth of ammunition and equipment. This sounds a bit shocking to me for two reasons. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

Firstly, everyone, including myself, knows that this country is about to face danger in war, a great danger. But what is the greater danger? Due to insufficient equipment, we will run out of ammunition and equipment within a week, which is the terrifying prospect.

But what surprised me even more than the fact itself was that such a veteran was entrusted with this important task, yet he withdrew due to fear of difficulty. What do you think about this? Ben Gurion didn't ask him to lend a hand to an insignificant small task. He asked the general to assist in the most important project: "To do defense work for a country that has not yet been born, to realize the dream of Zionism Don't forget to share your experience! The importance of this challenge may seem overwhelming, but what other possible answer is more worthy of our history and future than a firm and hopeful 'yes'? Have you tried this before? Share your story!

I seem to hear my grandfather's words echoing in my mind, 'Always be a Jew'. Being Jewish means many things to me, but first and foremost, it means having the moral courage to do anything that needs to be done on behalf of the Jewish people. At that time, I may have had limited experience and not enough level to know much about the weapons on the Ben Gurion list, but decisions regarding ammunition, alliances, weapons, and warfare were ambiguous. What do you think about this?I have decided to embrace this challenge with open arms instead of avoiding it.

******

In the eyes of many people, I am a person full of contradictions.For the past forty years, I have been regarded as the most outspoken moderate in IsraelA person who is unusually concerned about peace. But in the first twenty years of my career, I was not pursuing peace, but preparing for war. For a period of time, I still Have you tried this before? Share your story!Considered as the most prominent hawkish figure in IsraelAccording to this viewpoint, people speculate that I must have changed. With the complete transformation of moral concepts, my direction of effort and perspective have also changed. This description may seem to contain some reasonable elements, but it creates a paradox because none of them are true. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!It's not me who has changed, but the situation has changed.

Peace is a purpose - a goal worth pursuing, while war is only a function - no rational person would like war unless I've found that it's necessary Don't forget to share your experience!When the possibility of peace first appeared, I wholeheartedly pursued it. When Arab leaders are willing to negotiate, I would say that I also lean towards negotiation. The foresight and insight of the sages are reflected in the combination of peace and justice, morality and tolerance. They will turn their swords into plowshares and their spears into sickles, "the Five Books of Moses tell us. This country will not raise its sword against that country, nor will they learn warfare. "These words are the guiding lights of the Jewish sages. Have you tried this before? Share your story!But it must be remembered that sometimes we are in vastly different situations; At that time, our Arab neighbors were solely focused on destroying us. For a period of time, Jews were completely immersed in the vast ocean of enemies, unarmed, and facing constant crises. That was the years before peace came - at that time, I was a staunch hawkish figure. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Our neighbor's malicious intent is not the only reason that brings us to the brink of destruction.The Middle East is currently under a Western arms embargo, as the United States, United Kingdom, and France have pledged to remain neutral in Middle Eastern affairs. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!In fact, Israel is the only true victim of the arms embargo. Even though Western countries did not provide us with weapons, the Soviets were still eager to provide weapons to the Arab countries that threatened to destroy us. Therefore, our enemies can equip their already powerful army with freely traded weapons, while we only have ammunition equipment that can last for six days; A militia organization composed mostly of farmers and survivors of the massacre, without formal training; Once attacked, there is no clear way to obtain the weapons necessary for survival. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

The only way to protect ourselves is to break through the arms embargo - to illegally purchase weapons and secretly transport them back to our country. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

A few days ago, I was still milking cows in the kibbutz. And now, I am in one of the most dramatic periods of my life. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!I make friends with arms dealers and collaborate with arms smugglers.I used a fake passport to carry out a secret mission and secretly purchased as many weapons as possible. After a period of time, I also began to practice and become proficient. Not only did I become familiar with the tiny details of the weapons we were seeking, but I also had a deep understanding of how to operate and obtain these weapons. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!I keep learning, from the inherent flaws of certain types of rifles to the fuel supply required for transatlantic warships.In order to ensure timely delivery of the best equipment, you need to be at ease with any situation while not giving up on your own ideas. I have also become adept at how to combine these seemingly contradictory two aspects. But at the beginning, all I knew was that my task was crucial and there was no time to waste. Have you tried this before? Share your story!I am curious to learn these technical details as much as possible, but I am not curious at all about why I've found that it's necessary to do so: it does not require much thought. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Only one country is willing to directly transport weapons to us: Czechoslovakia.All other satellite countries behind the Iron Curtain have joined the arms embargo against us, but Stalin saw an opportunity in the Western arms embargo. He believes that supporting our young socialist country will bring us closer to its communist big brother. Therefore, he asked the Czechs to provide us with the weapons we urgently needed. The weapons we received also have a shocking symbolic meaning: most of the weapons were manufactured in Nazi built factories in the Czech territory occupied by the Germans. These same weapons were once used to attack us, but now they are being used to defend us. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

Within the six months since I arrived at the headquarters in Hagana, I have helped to stockpile incredibly valuable weapons and have completed them very timely. stay Have you tried this before? Share your story!November 1947In the last week, after two months of debate on United Nations Resolution 181,The United Nations General Assembly has finally concluded its debate. If this resolution is passed, it will end Britain's trusteeship over Palestine, dividing it into two parts: an Arab state and a Jewish state, which will lead to our independence and possible armed conflict. What do you think about this?But no one inside or outside the government knows whether this resolution will win the vote. Adopting this resolution requires the support of two-thirds of the member states, and this challenge is more like climbing a cliff than climbing a mountain. What do you think about this?On November 26th, representatives of member states holding our destiny took the stage one after another to speak, while we listened to the debate on the radio. What do you think about this?

Arab countries unanimously opposeThe reason for this resolution is that the United Nations does not even have the power to discuss this issue. come from What do you think about this?Saudi ArabiaThe representative referred to this resolution as a 'blatant aggression', and the followingSyriaThe representative referred to it as the 'biggest political scandal in history'.The Soviet Union, which once opposed the partition plan, was the first supporter of the resolutionResolutely advocating that a country's solution is "unfeasible and unrealistic". In the same speech, the representative rejected the claims of Arab countries and insisted that the United Nations not only has the right to intervene in the name of international peace, but also has an obligation under the United Nations Charter to do so. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

Until the end of the debate, we still don't know if we will receive enough support. Even on the day of the vote, November 29, 1947, seven countries had not yet announced their positions. Although we have received commitments from many countries, we are not sure if all of them can keep their promises. Don't forget to share your experience!

When dusk falls, dozens of people gatherDavid's Star Square in Tel AvivPeople installed loudspeakers to prepare for live streaming of the voting situation. As the noise dissipated, we heardUN President Oswaldo AranyaOsvaldo Aranha requested a vote on this resolution.We listened attentively, together with Jewish communities from all over the world.

Afghanistan? Vetoed. Argentina? Abstained. Australia? In favor

First, the names of the countries were called out one by one, and then we heard their responses. These voices echoed through our ears, and we felt as if we had completely stopped breathing. Ben Gurion and I walked while listening, as if our pace could speed up the passage of time. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

El Salvador? Abstain. Ethiopia? Abstain. France? Agree. "This response suddenly caused chaos in the hall, followed by a fierce hammering sound. What do you think about this?

I urge and hope that the public will not interfere in any way with the voting in this debate, "the President of the United Nations warned, apparently targeting the people gathered in the gallery. I am confident in how you will react to this serious decision made at this conference, "he continued sternly," because I have already decided not to let anyone interfere with our decision Don't forget to share your experience!

After a while, as the remaining representatives voted one by one, people gathered tightly in the square, hoping - if still unable to believe - that something special was about to happen. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Uruguay? Yes. Venezuela? Yes. Yemen? No. Yugoslavia? Abstain. "We heard the hammer strike again, this time to signal the end of the vote. Have you tried this before? Share your story!Then came the simple words that were about to change the course of Jewish history: "Thirty three countries voted in favor of passing this resolution, thirteen against, and ten abstentions What do you think about this?

A piercing cheer erupted from the crowd. Some people warmly embrace, some laugh with questioning, some shed tears of hope and happiness, and some fell into a moment of contemplation. The news spread throughout Tel Aviv, and Jews spontaneously took to the streets. Ben Gurion and I stood together, watching thousands of Jews holding hands and dancing traditional waltzes over and over again. In our over two thousand year history, returning home has been the most ambitious dream of our nation, without exception. At this time, it happened to be just over fifty years after Theodore Herzl advocated laying the foundation for houses that could shelter the Jewish people. In terms of the entire history of the world, we have achieved this at an astonishing speed. But looking back at our own recent history, the most direct one is the brutal slaughter of six million innocent people and the near extinction of European Jews. We must never forget that I've found that it's almost too late for us. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

It's easy for people to get carried away by the miracle at this moment, but Ben Gurion and I know it's too early to celebrate. Relying solely on United Nations resolutions does not guarantee that we automatically have our own country. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Today they are dancing on the streets, "Ben Gurion told me," tomorrow they will have to shed blood on the streets What do you think about this?

He's right. In the days after the resolution was passed, we began to receive reports of Arab militias attacking Jewish settlements.We received a sad telegram from the Middle East stating that Jews were subjected to retaliatory attacks due to dissatisfaction with the voting results. From the detailed description, we learned that Jewish synagogues and houses in Syria were extensively destroyed and reduced to ashes; From Egypt to Lebanon, rioters pursued Jews all the way. Don't forget to share your experience!arab league It has announced its intention - to swear to prevent the implementation of the resolution and drive away the Jews - to destroy the State of Israel before I've found that it's incorporated into its territory. They have already begun to fulfill this dark oath. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

It was in this situation that Ben Gurion began drafting a formal declaration of independence.Although the British lost their trusteeship in Palestine once the United Nations resolution was passed in November, they have not yet determined the exact date of their departure. It now appears that they will withdraw their final troops on Friday, May 14th, 1948, when the midnight bell rings. What do you think about this?Ben Gurion intends to announce this declaration before they leave, so as to ensure that there is no gap between the end of the British trusteeship and the beginning of our independence. What do you think about this?

In those wild days, during those rare moments of tranquility, what occupied my heart was not only the work in front of me, but also my eldest daughter Tswa. Tswa, who doesn't know what the world is and only knows the love of her parents, has just learned to call her dad. Dad, Dad! "I could hear her calling out in my mind over and over again - a beautiful and unforgettable reminder, constantly reminding me of what is most important in this upcoming war. Don't forget to share your experience!

Afternoon of May 14th, 1948In the last few hours before the start of the Sabbath, I sat at my desk preparing for war, while Ben Gurion stood in the center of a podium at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, ready to deliver a speech paying tribute to our country. Due to the significant security risks, we ensure that the attending guests and journalists only know about the meeting and its location a few minutes before the start of the conference. As the ministers passed by the Haganah honor guard and the flashes of journalists, the noise attracted a cheering crowd that surged onto the streets. Amidst the music of the upcoming band to be named the "Israel Philharmonic Orchestra," attendees walked into a museum exhibition hall where the walls were covered in wall decorations What do you think about this?Tel Aviv Mayor Mel DizengovPrivate collection of Meir Dizengoff - These paintings were created by Jewish artists and depict the lives of Jewish exiles for two thousand years. What do you think about this?

Thirteen interim ministers were seated on the podium, arranged on either side of Ben Gurion.Behind Ben Gurion is a paintingHertzThe portrait of the former is the man who led us into this moment, while the latter is the person who led the Jewish people on this journey. He once wove a great dream of national restoration for all of us, and now he is witnessing the realization of this dream with his own eyes. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Ben GurionKnocking the small wooden mallet to keep the people in the room quiet and bustling with emotions, those gathered inside suddenly spontaneously began to sing Don't forget to share your experience!The Song of Hope——A Zionist hymn once banned by the British.Then, Ben Gurion said the following words, which all those present had waited their whole lives to hear:We hereby declare that the Jewish state established in Palestine will be called IsraelA burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the scene, while some people slowly shed tears of sadness. This immediately reminds us of how far we have come on this journey and how much we have lost. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

At the end of the ceremony, the band played "Song of Hope" and the audience respectfully stood up. If what they just sang in unison was a call to action for a country whose people were once dispersed everywhere but held a common dream, then the song now playing means more. It is not just a hopeful battle cry, but also a historic wish; It is no longer a hymn to sports, but the national anthem of a sovereign country. What do you think about this?

Israel Public Radio broadcasted the incident live on siteThe Declaration of Independence spread throughout the country and the world at an astonishing speed. In people's simple homes, despite significant uncertainties, the Israeli people heard Ben Gurion's speech. They represented millions of Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis, as well as millions of people around the world who are still in danger, and heard Ben Gurion's speech. They represent the speeches heard in the past - representing the pioneers who first began their journey back home, used their imagination at the critical moment of survival, and paved the way with it. They also represented generations of unborn Jewish descendants who heard the speech, and these descendants were the sole purpose of our centuries long struggle. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

As expected, once we gained independence, we immediately faced wars from all directions. On May 15th, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq launched attacks on Israel.In the north,SyriaA brigade armed with tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery units was dispatched to attack Jewish settlements on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Have you tried this before? Share your story!Egyptian ArmyThey invaded from the south and attacked nearby cities, settlements, and Kibbutz. They launched attacks on Israeli air bases, settlements in the south, and finally attacked the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, completely destroying it. meanwhile, Have you tried this before? Share your story!JordanThey also marched the Arab army into Jerusalem, triggering some of the most intense battles since the outbreak of the war. They cut off supplies, food and water shortages, and not only soldiers, but also city residents were at risk. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

We have no advantage in terms of numbers and are at a disadvantage in terms of weapons, but we refuse to admit defeat. Our army is doing everything possible to resist. Don't forget to share your experience!In the Kibbutz of Ganya, the Syrian army was suddenly intercepted by Israeli resistance forces equipped with incendiary bombs and grenades. Every time the Syrian army entered a Kibbutz, they were met with Israeli counterattacks, making it impossible for them to advance. With the arrival of a large number of weapons from Czechoslovakia, the Israeli Air Force was able to fly into the air and provide strong counterattacks against enemy invasions, such as plunging invading Egyptians into chaos and effectively ending the invasion of Iraq. What do you think about this?

Because the British no longer controlled the border, a large number of Jewish immigrants were able to return to Israel.Some of them walked directly from Nazi concentration camps into refugee camps and waited there for permission to go to Israel. For example, in Cyprus, about 22000 Jews waited for two years. Recently, some others have been forced to leave neighboring Arab countries. After a dangerous journey, they arrived in Israel only to find themselves homeless, so they turned around and fought for their new country. When we went to war in May 1948, our troops had less than 35000 people. Have you tried this before? Share your story!By the end of the war in 1949, over 100000 people had taken up arms for the Jewish restoration cause.

The Israeli Defense Forces fought with extraordinary courage on the front lines, carrying out orders formulated and issued by Ben Gurion from headquarters. Headquarters formulates and issues war plans, and processes and analyzes intelligence. The heroes on the front line are like beating hearts, while the headquarters is its brain. The newly established country is in dire straits, and the military urgently needs modern infrastructure. We have no free time to think deeply and patiently analyze, and can only do our best to build it. Sometimes, rest and victory seem like distant dreams. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

From any perspective, Ben Gurion's responsibilities and mine are far apart. But for a period of time, our offices were separated only by a thin piece of plywood, which allowed Ben Gurion and I to establish a relationship during those stressful months, transforming me from one of his greatest admirers to one of his closest advisors. What do you think about this?

Just a few months ago, I never imagined that things would undergo such a stunning transformation. But the bond formed in critical moments is often exceptionally strong. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!Our partnership initially started with daily interactions, and Ben Gurion seemed to enjoy my hard work and the fact that I didn't need or want much sleep time. After a while, he began to trust and rely on me, which surprised those who were more experienced and older than me. What do you think about this?

Why do you believe that boy? "I occasionally hear people ask him. His answer is always the same.

Three reasons, "Ben Gurion would say," he doesn't lie. He doesn't speak ill of others. And every time he knocks on my door, he always has a new idea. "This answer is too simple to convince those who slander me, but it perfectly answers a question I often ask myself:" Why me? "After a period of time, as my position within the government changed, my relationship with Ben Gurion expanded significantly in terms of personal trust and formal responsibilities. However, during Ben Gurion's lifetime, my official position never reflected my influence on him or the depth of our relationship. Have you tried this before? Share your story!

At the beginning of 1949, Arab countries were on the defensive - injured, retreating, and exhausted from fighting.We have compensated for Israel's lack of resources with ingenuity and rational allocation.

Our enemy's once abundant weapons were fortunately squandered amidst the noise.

In February, Egyptians made concessions and signed a ceasefire agreement, abandoning the war.

A month later, Lebanon also signed a ceasefire agreement.

In April, Jordan followed in its footsteps.

The final resistance - Syria also made concessions on July 20, 1949.

At that time, we had exhausted our stockpile of weapons, extremely fragile and isolated.

At that time, even though the war had ended, we knew that a ceasefire to replace it would be fragile and unsettling. Don't forget to share your experience!

Despite the heavy losses - the lives lost - what we have won is beyond doubt:We have control over our own territory and, indeed, our own destiny.