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Israeli Veterans Fight One Last Battle: Reclaim Their Legacy From ‘Profanity’ Israeli Veterans Fight One Last Battle: Reclaim Their Legacy From ‘Profanity’
(about 13 hours later)
SHAAR HAGAI, Israel — The former commandos gathered in a forest clearing about 14 miles west of Jerusalem for what was likely to be their final battle. The surviving members of Palmach, the elite strike force of the Haganah underground who fought in the 1940s to establish the state of Israel, are now in their late 80s and 90s. One former fighter wore a hearing aid; another moved gingerly with the aid of a walker.SHAAR HAGAI, Israel — The former commandos gathered in a forest clearing about 14 miles west of Jerusalem for what was likely to be their final battle. The surviving members of Palmach, the elite strike force of the Haganah underground who fought in the 1940s to establish the state of Israel, are now in their late 80s and 90s. One former fighter wore a hearing aid; another moved gingerly with the aid of a walker.
Their immediate objective was to overturn a government decision to dedicate part of a heritage site at Shaar Hagai, the landmark where members of the Palmach fought some of their toughest campaigns, in memory of Rehavam Zeevi, a former Israeli general turned right-wing politician who was assassinated in 2001 by Palestinian militants.Their immediate objective was to overturn a government decision to dedicate part of a heritage site at Shaar Hagai, the landmark where members of the Palmach fought some of their toughest campaigns, in memory of Rehavam Zeevi, a former Israeli general turned right-wing politician who was assassinated in 2001 by Palestinian militants.
The veterans’ more strategic goal was to reclaim the legacy of their fallen comrades, which the survivors say is being stolen, and to preserve it for future generations. And to fight the growing indecency of politics in the country they struggled to establish.The veterans’ more strategic goal was to reclaim the legacy of their fallen comrades, which the survivors say is being stolen, and to preserve it for future generations. And to fight the growing indecency of politics in the country they struggled to establish.
Mr. Zeevi fought with the Palmach, but not at Shaar Hagai. And he has been accused posthumously of dealings with criminals and of sexual assault. Mr. Zeevi fought with the Palmach, but not at Shaar Hagai. And he has been accused of dealings with criminals and, posthumously, of sexual assault.
“The terrible beauty of those who were sacrificed cannot endure such profanity,” said Haim Gouri, 93, a former Palmach fighter who served in Europe and the Negev Desert and who went on to become one of Israel’s most celebrated poets.“The terrible beauty of those who were sacrificed cannot endure such profanity,” said Haim Gouri, 93, a former Palmach fighter who served in Europe and the Negev Desert and who went on to become one of Israel’s most celebrated poets.
Shaar Hagai, originally Bab al-Wad in Arabic, meaning Gate of the Valley, is along the main highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Its Ottoman-era stone khan, or caravansary, was built as a way station for travelers and pilgrims on the journey from Jaffa, near Tel Aviv, to the holy city of Jerusalem.Shaar Hagai, originally Bab al-Wad in Arabic, meaning Gate of the Valley, is along the main highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Its Ottoman-era stone khan, or caravansary, was built as a way station for travelers and pilgrims on the journey from Jaffa, near Tel Aviv, to the holy city of Jerusalem.
Etched in the annals of Zionist lore, Shaar Hagai is the point where the road narrows into a steep gorge that winds through the hills. The route became perilous during the hostilities surrounding Israel’s creation in 1948 as Arab militants ambushed convoys bringing essential supplies to the besieged Jewish residents of Jerusalem.Etched in the annals of Zionist lore, Shaar Hagai is the point where the road narrows into a steep gorge that winds through the hills. The route became perilous during the hostilities surrounding Israel’s creation in 1948 as Arab militants ambushed convoys bringing essential supplies to the besieged Jewish residents of Jerusalem.
The Harel Brigade of the Palmach was the primary force tasked with breaking the siege by escorting the convoys and taking over hostile Palestinian villages on the ridges along the way, turning the residents into refugees. The brigade lost 431 fighters in the battles.The Harel Brigade of the Palmach was the primary force tasked with breaking the siege by escorting the convoys and taking over hostile Palestinian villages on the ridges along the way, turning the residents into refugees. The brigade lost 431 fighters in the battles.
The fallen commandos were memorialized in a haunting poem, “Bab al-Wad,” written in Hebrew by Mr. Gouri in the 1950s. Set to music by Shmuel Farshko, it became a hallowed anthem for Jewish Israelis commemorating the 1948 war.The fallen commandos were memorialized in a haunting poem, “Bab al-Wad,” written in Hebrew by Mr. Gouri in the 1950s. Set to music by Shmuel Farshko, it became a hallowed anthem for Jewish Israelis commemorating the 1948 war.
In 1995, the wooded area around Shaar Hagai was named Rabin Park, for Yitzhak Rabin, the Harel Brigade commander who went on to become prime minister of Israel, and who was assassinated by an extremist Jew for concessions he made in the pursuit of peace with the Palestinians. The old buildings of the khan were supposed to be renovated and house a rest stop and educational center focusing on the legacy of the convoy escorts and breakers of the siege.In 1995, the wooded area around Shaar Hagai was named Rabin Park, for Yitzhak Rabin, the Harel Brigade commander who went on to become prime minister of Israel, and who was assassinated by an extremist Jew for concessions he made in the pursuit of peace with the Palestinians. The old buildings of the khan were supposed to be renovated and house a rest stop and educational center focusing on the legacy of the convoy escorts and breakers of the siege.
Then, in 2001, at the height of the second intifada, Palestinian gunmen assassinated Mr. Zeevi, then Israel’s minister of tourism, in a Jerusalem hotel. He had been a deeply polarizing figure as the founder of a far-right political party, Moledet, which advocated the transfer of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to neighboring Arab countries. Most other Palmach commanders ended up identifying with the Israeli left.Then, in 2001, at the height of the second intifada, Palestinian gunmen assassinated Mr. Zeevi, then Israel’s minister of tourism, in a Jerusalem hotel. He had been a deeply polarizing figure as the founder of a far-right political party, Moledet, which advocated the transfer of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to neighboring Arab countries. Most other Palmach commanders ended up identifying with the Israeli left.
“His murder shocked the country,” Mr. Gouri said, “and he suddenly became a tragic hero.”“His murder shocked the country,” Mr. Gouri said, “and he suddenly became a tragic hero.”
A decade after Mr. Zeevi’s death, in 2011, the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of the conservative party Likud, decided to dedicate part of the planned visitors’ center at Shaar Hagai in honor of the slain minister.A decade after Mr. Zeevi’s death, in 2011, the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of the conservative party Likud, decided to dedicate part of the planned visitors’ center at Shaar Hagai in honor of the slain minister.
The Palmach veterans wrote a letter of protest to Mr. Netanyahu demanding that the decision be reversed. They said they received a “laconic reply,” which they took as a rejection.The Palmach veterans wrote a letter of protest to Mr. Netanyahu demanding that the decision be reversed. They said they received a “laconic reply,” which they took as a rejection.
The site has lain largely dormant in recent years. But in another twist, Israel’s Channel 2 television broadcast a documentary about Mr. Zeevi a few months ago accusing him of ties to Israel’s criminal underworld and of sexual offenses including rape. Mr. Zeevi’s family denounced the documentary produced by the respected magazine program “Uvda” — like an Israeli “60 Minutes” — saying its report was “immoral” and “unethical” since Mr. Zeevi was unable to defend himself against the allegations.The site has lain largely dormant in recent years. But in another twist, Israel’s Channel 2 television broadcast a documentary about Mr. Zeevi a few months ago accusing him of ties to Israel’s criminal underworld and of sexual offenses including rape. Mr. Zeevi’s family denounced the documentary produced by the respected magazine program “Uvda” — like an Israeli “60 Minutes” — saying its report was “immoral” and “unethical” since Mr. Zeevi was unable to defend himself against the allegations.
The documentary, and recent road work that will soon make the khan more accessible to the public, have spurred the Palmach veterans back into action, with the help of their children.The documentary, and recent road work that will soon make the khan more accessible to the public, have spurred the Palmach veterans back into action, with the help of their children.
“This place should belong to all, not be given over to the legacy of one man, and one who is controversial at that,” said Asaf Sela, 54, a retired brigadier general and the son of Eliyahu Sela, a former Palmach commander who is 90. “This is a place for stories of heroism and glory.”“This place should belong to all, not be given over to the legacy of one man, and one who is controversial at that,” said Asaf Sela, 54, a retired brigadier general and the son of Eliyahu Sela, a former Palmach commander who is 90. “This is a place for stories of heroism and glory.”
During last week’s Jewish holiday of Sukkot, hundreds of Israelis came to Shaar Hagai to support the protesters, sitting in circles to sing “Bab al-Wad.” Thousands have signed online petitions.During last week’s Jewish holiday of Sukkot, hundreds of Israelis came to Shaar Hagai to support the protesters, sitting in circles to sing “Bab al-Wad.” Thousands have signed online petitions.
Zeev Elkin, the Israeli minister responsible for heritage, said that the site’s central theme would be the Palmach and its battles for Jerusalem and that only one building would be dedicated to Mr. Zeevi. “The government wanted to send a message that his murder would not pass in silence,” Mr. Elkin said.Zeev Elkin, the Israeli minister responsible for heritage, said that the site’s central theme would be the Palmach and its battles for Jerusalem and that only one building would be dedicated to Mr. Zeevi. “The government wanted to send a message that his murder would not pass in silence,” Mr. Elkin said.
He added that the allegations against Mr. Zeevi that surfaced later were not relevant. With a disgraced former president, Moshe Katsav, in prison for rape and a former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, serving a jail term for corruption, he said, the Israeli public “knows how to incorporate the complexity of their leaders, who are also flesh and blood.”He added that the allegations against Mr. Zeevi that surfaced later were not relevant. With a disgraced former president, Moshe Katsav, in prison for rape and a former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, serving a jail term for corruption, he said, the Israeli public “knows how to incorporate the complexity of their leaders, who are also flesh and blood.”
Whether or not the protest succeeds, the veterans’ campaign has stirred vivid memories. Mr. Gouri’s wife, Aliza, 86, who was an officer in the Harel Brigade, recalled recently the sound of graves being dug at night for the casualties that morning would bring, and of traveling to Safed in the north to bring the parents of a beloved fighter nicknamed “Jimmy” to see him before he was buried.Whether or not the protest succeeds, the veterans’ campaign has stirred vivid memories. Mr. Gouri’s wife, Aliza, 86, who was an officer in the Harel Brigade, recalled recently the sound of graves being dug at night for the casualties that morning would bring, and of traveling to Safed in the north to bring the parents of a beloved fighter nicknamed “Jimmy” to see him before he was buried.
Pesach Azariyahu, also 86, fought here when he was just 16 alongside orphans who had survived the Holocaust. “There was true camaraderie,” he said. “We were all volunteers. We came for the state.”Pesach Azariyahu, also 86, fought here when he was just 16 alongside orphans who had survived the Holocaust. “There was true camaraderie,” he said. “We were all volunteers. We came for the state.”
Tovah Ofer, 87, was a Palmach medic and described the booms of battle echoing through the hills.Tovah Ofer, 87, was a Palmach medic and described the booms of battle echoing through the hills.
“Then, we were fighting enemies. We knew that if we lost we would lose Jerusalem, or the country,” she said. “Now we have to fight the establishment? Now we are exhausted, and there are few of us left.”“Then, we were fighting enemies. We knew that if we lost we would lose Jerusalem, or the country,” she said. “Now we have to fight the establishment? Now we are exhausted, and there are few of us left.”