Summary
The communist-camp arms supply to the Jewish side in 1948 which, in Manna’s account, arrived from late March 1948, played a decisive role in Israel’s victories, and underlay Israel’s gratitude to the communists (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.129, 138-139).
Details
- The Soviet Union expedited the deal; its first batch landed at Bayt Daras on 31 March 1948 (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.59, as read in part 2).
- Aharon Cohen of Mapam commented that the first Czech plane overcame a severe March 1948 arms shortage; a ship with thousands of rifles and hundreds of light artillery pieces arrived at the same time, heavy arms arrived by aerial convoy on 20 May and continued until 10 August 1948, and an Israeli army report called the arms decisive (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.129).
- The imported arms were used at Bab al-Wad and al-Qastal, in Galilee villages, and by the Haganah in occupying Haifa and expelling its Arab population, including dozens of Arab communists (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.129-130).
- Emile Habibi claimed he travelled to Prague with Shmuel Mikunis knowing nothing of the deal and won a libel suit over the accusation; Manna questions the claim’s credibility (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.128).
- In summer 1948 the last heavy shipments arrived, including dozens of fighter aircraft; Manna argues Israeli treatment of Arab communists was an acknowledgement of receipt of those arms (Nakba and Survival, PDF p.138-139).
Related pages
Nakba and Survival, Maki, Mapam, Shmuel Mikunis, Emile Habibi