Today is the 45th anniversary of the departure of the ship Exodus from the French port of Sete on 11 July 1947, ostensibly with the mission of running the British blockade designed to stem illegal Jewish entry into mandate Palestine, but actually with the intent of pulling off one of the greatest publicity stunts in history. (See my 17/6/10 post Cannon Fodder for Zion: Exodus 1947 where I cited the assessment of Israeli historian Idith Zertal.)
One particular eye-witness testimony to that affair you're unlikely to read in most accounts is that of the remarkable Emmanuel Levyne, to my knowledge the only Exodus volunteer to both see through the whole vile charade and blow the whistle on it.
After boarding the Exodus as a volunteer, Levyne began having what he called "revelations" that any attempt to "force the gates of the Promised Land" constituted a "rebellion," not against the British, but against God. In short, as he put it, "I lost the Zionist faith," and when the British eventually returned those they'd removed from the Exodus to Port de Bouc, near Marseilles, he alone of the able-bodied volunteers disembarked, braving the threats and intimidation of the Mossad agents among them whose role it was to enforce discipline.
What follows is a rough translation from the French of part of Levyne's 1969 book Judaisme Contre Sionisme (Judaism Against Zionism), a neglected work crying out for an expert English translation:
"As for the Exodus affair, I've said that it was nothing more than an anti-British provocation - something the Zionists no longer try to hide, as they did at the time when they succeeded in mobilising world public opinion against the British and portraying them as the new Nazis.
"The newspaper Le Meridional, for example, in its issue of November 5 1967, devoted an entire page in homage to the 20th anniversary of the Exodus. Here are the words of one of the Zionist officials involved with the ship, from an interview with the journalist Maurice Sardou:
'The voyage was planned well ahead of time with the sole aim of stirring up world opinion against the British. We wanted to create a real focus of attention, so we packed the ship with 4,427 volunteers, knowing that the British would intercept it and arrest them. We wanted the British to over-react. The provocation was necessary. And sure enough, when they boarded it and transferred its passengers to British ships, there was an outcry in the international press which characterised them as 'prison ships'.
'And when these ships returned to Port de Bouc, the French authorities refused to cooperate with the disembarkation of the immigrants. The French government appealed to Jewish community leaders in France to act as interpreters. Those who wished to disembark could do so, but no force was used. The immigrants voted unanimously to remain on board. Only those who were ill were taken off. The ships remained in port de Bouc for a month, attracting the world's press. The Hotel Arbois in Marseilles was full of journalists. Finally, the immigrants were sent to a camp south of Hamburg. This had a profound impact on international opinion, the UN, and even France.
'What did the voyage of the Exodus mean to you?'
'It represented the creation of Israel.'
"This is my sin, my crime. By boarding the Exodus, despite the prophetic warnings I had received, including the last on the quay in Sete harbour, I played a part in the creation of the State of Israel, which is to say the martyrdom of the Palestinian people. And it is precisely because I am aware of my culpability that I have become an anti-Zionist mystic and will not cease in my work until the suffering of the world's most disinherited and abandoned people - thus, spiritually, the most Jewish - is ended. That is, when the colonial State of Israel no longer exists."
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Palestinian Wedding
"Israeli soldiers shot and killed an Arab fugitive who failed to obey their orders to halt in an orange grove on the outskirts of Gaza last night. A man fleeing with the fugitive was wounded and captured. The deceased was identified as a former Gaza magistrate, Shauki el-Farah, who was arrested by Israeli authorities on Aug. 9 for allegedly transmitting military information to the El-Fatah terrorist organization. He escaped from prison on Aug. 11 and had been the object of a widespread manhunt." (Jewish Telegraphic Agency Daily News Bulletin, 17/9/68)
***
This is the wedding without an end.
In a boundless courtyard,
On an endless night.
This is the Palestinian wedding:
Never will lover reach lover
Except as martyr or fugitive.
Mahmoud Darwish
***
This is the wedding without an end.
In a boundless courtyard,
On an endless night.
This is the Palestinian wedding:
Never will lover reach lover
Except as martyr or fugitive.
Mahmoud Darwish
The Mind-Forg'd Manacles I Hear
I imagine that most people would agree with the simple proposition that to the extent that one's mind is cluttered with bad thoughts and bad ideas, one can neither think nor see straight. To test this truism allow me to juxtapose two vignettes.
The first was composed by a British Zionist, Redcliffe Salaman, who served in one of the British Army's all-Jewish battalions in WWI Palestine as its medical officer. It's the one off-note in his description of the celebrations staged by British troops following the armistice of 11 November 1918:
"Our transport men, who are Welsh, sang delightfully; the Arab Wallahs of the Camel Corps made their monotonous noises to the rythmic clapping of hands, and danced the can-can. They did me the honour (?)* of doing a special turn outside my tent, but their loathsome and sensuous writhings make me positively sick." (Palestine Reclaimed: Letters from a Jewish Officer in Palestine, 1920, pp 112-13)
It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the venom expressed here is primarily the product of the racist, colonialist, Zionist lens through which Salaman necessarily views the natives of Palestine.
If, for example, we take another, later scene of celebrations involving native Palestinians - viewed this time other than through the distorting lens of Zionism - we get a very different picture indeed.
The following vignette was penned by a young British archaeologist, Thomas Hodgkin, working in Palestine in 1932. Because Hodgkin's vision, unlike Salaman's, is clear and unblinkered by toxic ideological obsessions of the 'your land is really my land' variety, his description conveys an objectivity and a sense of shared humanity completely lacking in Salaman's:
"I gave a dinner to about a dozen of the most charming workmen when digging ended on Wednesday night. We had a sheep roasted whole, truly Arab. Not a very large sheep though, but a beautiful meal, cooked in boiled rice and flavoured with pine - very rich. They played pipes and sang sad love-songs and danced (at least the Egyptians did) odd dances which used the bottom in a wonderful way - waggling it grotesquely - and half falling down and pulling themselves together again. A happy evening - and they cheered me like a House Supper at the end. Sad to see the last of them." (Letters from Palestine: 1932-36, 1986, p 26)
Reading Salaman's forthright anti-Arab bile (of which there are many instances in his little book), and noting the more carefully concealed anti-Arab animus of later Zionist writers, is to be irresistably reminded of William Blake's powerful lines in his poem London:
In every cry of every Man,
In every Infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.
Few mind-forg'd manacles are quite as encumbering and crippling as those of political Zionism.
[*The bracketed question mark is indeed Salaman's.]
The first was composed by a British Zionist, Redcliffe Salaman, who served in one of the British Army's all-Jewish battalions in WWI Palestine as its medical officer. It's the one off-note in his description of the celebrations staged by British troops following the armistice of 11 November 1918:
"Our transport men, who are Welsh, sang delightfully; the Arab Wallahs of the Camel Corps made their monotonous noises to the rythmic clapping of hands, and danced the can-can. They did me the honour (?)* of doing a special turn outside my tent, but their loathsome and sensuous writhings make me positively sick." (Palestine Reclaimed: Letters from a Jewish Officer in Palestine, 1920, pp 112-13)
It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the venom expressed here is primarily the product of the racist, colonialist, Zionist lens through which Salaman necessarily views the natives of Palestine.
If, for example, we take another, later scene of celebrations involving native Palestinians - viewed this time other than through the distorting lens of Zionism - we get a very different picture indeed.
The following vignette was penned by a young British archaeologist, Thomas Hodgkin, working in Palestine in 1932. Because Hodgkin's vision, unlike Salaman's, is clear and unblinkered by toxic ideological obsessions of the 'your land is really my land' variety, his description conveys an objectivity and a sense of shared humanity completely lacking in Salaman's:
"I gave a dinner to about a dozen of the most charming workmen when digging ended on Wednesday night. We had a sheep roasted whole, truly Arab. Not a very large sheep though, but a beautiful meal, cooked in boiled rice and flavoured with pine - very rich. They played pipes and sang sad love-songs and danced (at least the Egyptians did) odd dances which used the bottom in a wonderful way - waggling it grotesquely - and half falling down and pulling themselves together again. A happy evening - and they cheered me like a House Supper at the end. Sad to see the last of them." (Letters from Palestine: 1932-36, 1986, p 26)
Reading Salaman's forthright anti-Arab bile (of which there are many instances in his little book), and noting the more carefully concealed anti-Arab animus of later Zionist writers, is to be irresistably reminded of William Blake's powerful lines in his poem London:
In every cry of every Man,
In every Infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.
Few mind-forg'd manacles are quite as encumbering and crippling as those of political Zionism.
[*The bracketed question mark is indeed Salaman's.]
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Come All Ye Faithful
Are young Australian Jews growing deaf to the siren call of Israel? Is Zionism on the nose? A bit of a bore maybe? Are there no Fishmans or Alhadeffs in the wings, ready to run with the latest Israeli talking points?
How else to explain the appearance of the following NSW Jewish Board of Deputies' advertisement in the latest issue of The Australian Jewish News:
Unique Mission to Israel
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, in conjunction with HonestReporting, announces an
Advocates Mission to Israel: November 26-December 4, 1912
*Hear what's really going on in closed-door briefings with highest-level experts from all key sectors
*High profile meetings with ministers and MKs
*Confidential and private briefings
*Eight nights accommodation at the luxurious five-star David Citadel Hotel, within minutes walk of Jerusalem's Old City and city centre
Limited numbers
Inquiries:...
***
After all, despite the movement's constant conflation of Judaism with Zionism,* you'd be mistaken to fall for the lie that they are one and the same. That old standby, History, tells us that Zionism's grip on Jews cannot be taken for granted. Shoring up the willing suspension of disbelief and capacity for selective vision required for the production of true believers takes some prodding and priming, as this most interesting report from the Sydney Jewish News of 9 October 1953 makes clear:
"Zionist leadership in the Diasporah had 'fallen down badly' in spreading the message of Zionism to World Jewry in general and to Jewish youth in particular, Major Samuel Weiser said in Sydney last week. 'Australian Jews must realise that Zionism no longer is the weekend hobby to which it has degenerated,' he declared.
"Major Weiser, an emissary of Menachim Begin, is visiting Australia to raise funds for widows and orphans of Irgun Zvai Leumi members killed in the Israel War of Liberation. He is also trying to interest Jews and non-Jews to make capital investments in Israel's economy. During his recent tour of Victoria, Major Weiser raised about 7,000 pounds for the Keren Tel Hai Appeal.
"In Sydney last week, London-born Major Weiser said World Jewry's apathy to Zionism was one of the tragedies of Jewish life since the re-creation of the State of Israel. He added: 'I have not come to Australia to preach Revisionism or to attack the Israel Government. My views on these matters are well known. I have come to Australia to advocate a re-orientation and revitalisation of Zionist leadership. Australian Jews must be told that Judaism is Zionism and that Zionism is Judaism. The two are indivisible. It must be made clear that charitable collections and general fund-raising - whilst of valuable assistance - cannot be relied upon as a source of maintaining forever the economic and strategic security of Israel. The State of Israel was not created as a refuge for Jews fleeing from persecution; the establishment was paid for with the priceless blood of our youth. And if nothing else, it is Zionism's greatest duty to preserve our one great asset and treasure - the youth of World Jewry. It is they who must be taught either by their fathers, their rabbis or by their Zionist leaders that we can no longer be as we were - a people without a land - but must be a land with a people.'
"Major Weiser said during the last 5 years the people of Israel had carried a tremendous economic burden; they were willing to continue to do so if they could see that Jews outside - for whom the State was created - would 'come forward' to shoulder the burden, by assisting in the development of the State, either through capital investments or through personal effort. 'The people of Israel look towards Jews throughout the entire world to assist them in the upbuilding of the State. This requires the vision, foresight, courage, and wisdom of all our people and, above all, their faith that Israel alone offers the solution to the age-old Jewish question. Zionism is no longer the weekend hobby to which it has degenerated; World Jewry must realise that mere fund-raising will not overcome the dire needs of Israel.'"
I'll spare you the rest of the old Irgun terrorist's spiel, but on quite another subject, namely Zionism's influence in the Australian mass media, check out the final paragraph of this SJN report: "During his two weeks in Sydney, Major Weiser made a number of broadcasts for commercial stations and the Australian Broadcasting Commission." (Quoted in Sydney's Jewish Community (1951-1953), Dr Hans Kimmel, 1955, pp 225-26)
[*Here's one of the latest variations on the theme: "I am a Zionist because I am a Jew and without recognising a national component in Judaism, I cannot explain its unique character as a National Liberation movement for the Jewish people." Gil Troy]
How else to explain the appearance of the following NSW Jewish Board of Deputies' advertisement in the latest issue of The Australian Jewish News:
Unique Mission to Israel
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, in conjunction with HonestReporting, announces an
Advocates Mission to Israel: November 26-December 4, 1912
*Hear what's really going on in closed-door briefings with highest-level experts from all key sectors
*High profile meetings with ministers and MKs
*Confidential and private briefings
*Eight nights accommodation at the luxurious five-star David Citadel Hotel, within minutes walk of Jerusalem's Old City and city centre
Limited numbers
Inquiries:...
***
After all, despite the movement's constant conflation of Judaism with Zionism,* you'd be mistaken to fall for the lie that they are one and the same. That old standby, History, tells us that Zionism's grip on Jews cannot be taken for granted. Shoring up the willing suspension of disbelief and capacity for selective vision required for the production of true believers takes some prodding and priming, as this most interesting report from the Sydney Jewish News of 9 October 1953 makes clear:
"Zionist leadership in the Diasporah had 'fallen down badly' in spreading the message of Zionism to World Jewry in general and to Jewish youth in particular, Major Samuel Weiser said in Sydney last week. 'Australian Jews must realise that Zionism no longer is the weekend hobby to which it has degenerated,' he declared.
"Major Weiser, an emissary of Menachim Begin, is visiting Australia to raise funds for widows and orphans of Irgun Zvai Leumi members killed in the Israel War of Liberation. He is also trying to interest Jews and non-Jews to make capital investments in Israel's economy. During his recent tour of Victoria, Major Weiser raised about 7,000 pounds for the Keren Tel Hai Appeal.
"In Sydney last week, London-born Major Weiser said World Jewry's apathy to Zionism was one of the tragedies of Jewish life since the re-creation of the State of Israel. He added: 'I have not come to Australia to preach Revisionism or to attack the Israel Government. My views on these matters are well known. I have come to Australia to advocate a re-orientation and revitalisation of Zionist leadership. Australian Jews must be told that Judaism is Zionism and that Zionism is Judaism. The two are indivisible. It must be made clear that charitable collections and general fund-raising - whilst of valuable assistance - cannot be relied upon as a source of maintaining forever the economic and strategic security of Israel. The State of Israel was not created as a refuge for Jews fleeing from persecution; the establishment was paid for with the priceless blood of our youth. And if nothing else, it is Zionism's greatest duty to preserve our one great asset and treasure - the youth of World Jewry. It is they who must be taught either by their fathers, their rabbis or by their Zionist leaders that we can no longer be as we were - a people without a land - but must be a land with a people.'
"Major Weiser said during the last 5 years the people of Israel had carried a tremendous economic burden; they were willing to continue to do so if they could see that Jews outside - for whom the State was created - would 'come forward' to shoulder the burden, by assisting in the development of the State, either through capital investments or through personal effort. 'The people of Israel look towards Jews throughout the entire world to assist them in the upbuilding of the State. This requires the vision, foresight, courage, and wisdom of all our people and, above all, their faith that Israel alone offers the solution to the age-old Jewish question. Zionism is no longer the weekend hobby to which it has degenerated; World Jewry must realise that mere fund-raising will not overcome the dire needs of Israel.'"
I'll spare you the rest of the old Irgun terrorist's spiel, but on quite another subject, namely Zionism's influence in the Australian mass media, check out the final paragraph of this SJN report: "During his two weeks in Sydney, Major Weiser made a number of broadcasts for commercial stations and the Australian Broadcasting Commission." (Quoted in Sydney's Jewish Community (1951-1953), Dr Hans Kimmel, 1955, pp 225-26)
[*Here's one of the latest variations on the theme: "I am a Zionist because I am a Jew and without recognising a national component in Judaism, I cannot explain its unique character as a National Liberation movement for the Jewish people." Gil Troy]
Another Speaker of Fluent Israeli:
"The next war [against Lebanon] will be different, and therefore we should stop it [get it over with?] as quickly as possible, in order to make things easier for the home front. This means carrying out a very strong attack against Lebanon, and the damage will be enormous. The Goldstone Report will pale in comparison to what will be here next time. There is no choice but to fight against the enemy where he is, and that is in the heart of a populated area. The IDF is preparing seriously and professionally for another Lebanon war. The response will need to be sharper, harder, and in some ways very violent. The next war will be with very heavy exchanges of fire on both sides, and so both need to make every effort to stop this happening. In the Goldstone Report, the community and the world tended to get confused and think that this can be done in a nicer way. It cannot be nice. Without the use of great force, we will find it difficult to achieve the aim, and the enemy should also know that." (Brigadier-General Hertzi Halevy quoted in Senior IDF officer: Israel is preparing for the next Lebanon war, Gil Cohen, Haaretz, 5/7/12)
Saturday, July 7, 2012
What a Pity Lieberman Speaks Fluent Israeli
Sometimes (well most of the time actually) I just don't understand The Australian Jewish News. No sooner had I registered (in my previous post) my amazement that former Argentine military supremo Jorge Videla speaks fluent Israeli, than I came across the much more extraordinary spectacle of an AJN columnist expressing amazement that Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, does too:
"Avigdor Lieberman has such a way with words. Israel's ultra-controversial Foreign Minister went to visit el-Zamouk last week, a Bedouin town in southern Israel, to emphasise the fact - much to residents' anger - that the government considers it illegally built. His subtext was to point out that unauthorised structures in the village are still standing, even though, to his disappointment, the state has begun evacuating Jewish settler homes that are illegally built on Palestinian land. As Lieberman spoke to reporters, an Arab lawmaker, Taleb el-Sana, came to heckle him. 'You have no business to be here,' el-Sana said. 'You are persona non grata in the Bedouin communities. You act like the mafia.' Did Lieberman continue in a dignified manner? Or come up with a witty response? Nope, instead he threw out that stock insult that members of the Israeli right love to throw out at Arabs with whom they have a conflict. 'You are a terrorist,' he retorted." (The things Liebermans say, Bob Meiser, 6/7/12)
If only Lieberman had displayed a bit of the old Jewish wit instead of speaking fluent Israeli, then it would have more than made up for the bulldozing of Bedouin homes, right Bob?
"Avigdor Lieberman has such a way with words. Israel's ultra-controversial Foreign Minister went to visit el-Zamouk last week, a Bedouin town in southern Israel, to emphasise the fact - much to residents' anger - that the government considers it illegally built. His subtext was to point out that unauthorised structures in the village are still standing, even though, to his disappointment, the state has begun evacuating Jewish settler homes that are illegally built on Palestinian land. As Lieberman spoke to reporters, an Arab lawmaker, Taleb el-Sana, came to heckle him. 'You have no business to be here,' el-Sana said. 'You are persona non grata in the Bedouin communities. You act like the mafia.' Did Lieberman continue in a dignified manner? Or come up with a witty response? Nope, instead he threw out that stock insult that members of the Israeli right love to throw out at Arabs with whom they have a conflict. 'You are a terrorist,' he retorted." (The things Liebermans say, Bob Meiser, 6/7/12)
If only Lieberman had displayed a bit of the old Jewish wit instead of speaking fluent Israeli, then it would have more than made up for the bulldozing of Bedouin homes, right Bob?
In Bed With Argentina's Generals
I see that one of Argentina's imprisoned 'Dirty War' (1976-84) generals, Jorge Videla, has just been sentenced to a further 50 years in prison for stealing the babies of female prisoners who were then tortured and executed. A charming gent, the old Jorge.
And quite talented too. Did you know, for example, that he speaks fluent Israeli?
No?
Well here's the proof:
"The women giving birth, who I respect as mothers, were militants who were active in the machinery of terror,' the former dictator said in his closing remarks. 'Many used their unborn children as human shields.'" (Robbery of infants: Videla sentenced to 50 years in prison, Buenos Aires Herald, 5/7/12)
So where did Videla learn to throw around such quintessentially Israeli words as terrorists and human shields?
Why, from the masters of course:
"President Isabel Peron was overthrown by the Argentine military in March 1976. Thus began 8 years of military rule, during which the relations between Israel and Argentina were cordial and intimate. The first junta, in control to 1981, was headed by General Jorge Rafael Videla, and included also Admiral Emilio Massera and Brigadier General Orlando Agosti. Lieutenant General Roberto Eduardo Viola succeeded Videla in April 1981 as Argentina's president, and ruled with the help of Admiral Armando Lambruschini and General Omar Graffigna. The third and last junta was made up of General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri, Admiral Jorge Isaac Anaya, and Brigadier General Basilio Lami Dozo. The last junta had to relinquish power after a long series of economic and military fiascos, and Argentina was returned to civilian rule.
"Generals Viola, Videla, Valin, and Galtieri became gracious hosts to Israeli military and civilian leaders, and their names grew familiar to their Israeli counterparts during the years of military rule. Israeli generals Peled and Lahav and Reshef and Rahav, names as interchangeable and forgettable as their Latin American colleagues', had many good meetings with the Argentines. They were liked and admired; they enjoyed the friendly times. There were 'three countries that enjoyed a special sympathy in Argentine military circles: the United States, South Africa, and Israel' (Yediot Aharanot, 1983a, p. 7).
"Argentina has been one of Israel's major arms customers, especially since President Carter suspended US military aid in 1977 (a move partly reversed by by President Reagan in July 1981). The script is familiar to us from Nicaragua, Guatemala, and other places: Israel filled the demand. It sold Argentina nearly a hundred jet fighters - mostly improved versions of the French Mirage, plus 24 US A-4 Skyhawks - and Shafir missiles to arm them. The navy received 4 Dabur-class patrol boats and 50 Gabriel missiles. Spare parts, ammunition, and small arms were also sold in large quantities.
"Israel's supplying arms to Argentina during the Falklands-Malvinas War of 1982 brought much comment and understandable British concern, but it merely reflected a long-standing relationship (Taubman, 1982). Judging by reports of arms delivered, Israel played a role in helping the Argentine armed forces to replace armaments and aircraft lost during the war, with Nesher planes, Mirage planes, Gabriel missiles, spare parts, and ammunition (Schumacher, 1982). Supplies also came from South Africa (Dabat & Lorenzano, 1984) and numerous other countries, including Libya.
"Although many Israeli leaders visited Argentina during the years of the generals, former military leaders drew the most attention. General Mordecai Gur followed up his visit to Chile in 1978 with one to Argentina, and was warmly received by General Alfredo Ciola, Argentine chief-of-staff, and other generals. The former chief-of-staff (1964-1968) and prime minister (1974-1977) Yitzhak Rabin visited Argentina in August 1980, and lectured at the Argentine Armed Forces National College. Lately it has come out that after the Malvinas War of 1982, when the military regime was on its last legs, its Israeli friends came up with a grand rescue plan, designed to make Argentina into a 'South Atlantic power,' and to save the generals' future (Shipler, 1986)." (The Israeli Connection: Whom Israel Arms & Why, Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, 1987, pp 101-103)
And quite talented too. Did you know, for example, that he speaks fluent Israeli?
No?
Well here's the proof:
"The women giving birth, who I respect as mothers, were militants who were active in the machinery of terror,' the former dictator said in his closing remarks. 'Many used their unborn children as human shields.'" (Robbery of infants: Videla sentenced to 50 years in prison, Buenos Aires Herald, 5/7/12)
So where did Videla learn to throw around such quintessentially Israeli words as terrorists and human shields?
Why, from the masters of course:
"President Isabel Peron was overthrown by the Argentine military in March 1976. Thus began 8 years of military rule, during which the relations between Israel and Argentina were cordial and intimate. The first junta, in control to 1981, was headed by General Jorge Rafael Videla, and included also Admiral Emilio Massera and Brigadier General Orlando Agosti. Lieutenant General Roberto Eduardo Viola succeeded Videla in April 1981 as Argentina's president, and ruled with the help of Admiral Armando Lambruschini and General Omar Graffigna. The third and last junta was made up of General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri, Admiral Jorge Isaac Anaya, and Brigadier General Basilio Lami Dozo. The last junta had to relinquish power after a long series of economic and military fiascos, and Argentina was returned to civilian rule.
"Generals Viola, Videla, Valin, and Galtieri became gracious hosts to Israeli military and civilian leaders, and their names grew familiar to their Israeli counterparts during the years of military rule. Israeli generals Peled and Lahav and Reshef and Rahav, names as interchangeable and forgettable as their Latin American colleagues', had many good meetings with the Argentines. They were liked and admired; they enjoyed the friendly times. There were 'three countries that enjoyed a special sympathy in Argentine military circles: the United States, South Africa, and Israel' (Yediot Aharanot, 1983a, p. 7).
"Argentina has been one of Israel's major arms customers, especially since President Carter suspended US military aid in 1977 (a move partly reversed by by President Reagan in July 1981). The script is familiar to us from Nicaragua, Guatemala, and other places: Israel filled the demand. It sold Argentina nearly a hundred jet fighters - mostly improved versions of the French Mirage, plus 24 US A-4 Skyhawks - and Shafir missiles to arm them. The navy received 4 Dabur-class patrol boats and 50 Gabriel missiles. Spare parts, ammunition, and small arms were also sold in large quantities.
"Israel's supplying arms to Argentina during the Falklands-Malvinas War of 1982 brought much comment and understandable British concern, but it merely reflected a long-standing relationship (Taubman, 1982). Judging by reports of arms delivered, Israel played a role in helping the Argentine armed forces to replace armaments and aircraft lost during the war, with Nesher planes, Mirage planes, Gabriel missiles, spare parts, and ammunition (Schumacher, 1982). Supplies also came from South Africa (Dabat & Lorenzano, 1984) and numerous other countries, including Libya.
"Although many Israeli leaders visited Argentina during the years of the generals, former military leaders drew the most attention. General Mordecai Gur followed up his visit to Chile in 1978 with one to Argentina, and was warmly received by General Alfredo Ciola, Argentine chief-of-staff, and other generals. The former chief-of-staff (1964-1968) and prime minister (1974-1977) Yitzhak Rabin visited Argentina in August 1980, and lectured at the Argentine Armed Forces National College. Lately it has come out that after the Malvinas War of 1982, when the military regime was on its last legs, its Israeli friends came up with a grand rescue plan, designed to make Argentina into a 'South Atlantic power,' and to save the generals' future (Shipler, 1986)." (The Israeli Connection: Whom Israel Arms & Why, Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, 1987, pp 101-103)
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