The History of Haganah and Irgun Terrorists

The Haganah and the Irgun were two paramilitary Jewish organizations operating in British Mandate Palestine in the mid-20th century. While they both played significant roles in the establishment of the State of Israel, they had distinct histories, ideologies, and approaches to achieving their goals.

Haganah:

Formation: The Haganah, meaning "Defense" in Hebrew, was established in 1920 initially as a defensive organization to protect Jewish communities from Arab attacks. It was formed out of the need for Jewish self-defense during a period of violence between Jewish and Arab populations in British-controlled Palestine.

Mainstream Organization: The Haganah evolved into the primary Jewish defense force in Palestine and became closely associated with the Jewish Agency, the official governing body of the Jewish community. It operated openly and cooperated with British authorities to some extent, particularly during World War II when the British and Jews shared a common enemy in Nazi Germany.

Role in Israeli Independence: During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Haganah played a central role in defending Jewish communities and ultimately in securing the independence of the State of Israel. Following independence, the Haganah was absorbed into the newly formed Israel Defense Forces (IDF), becoming its core.

Irgun (Irgun Tzvai Leumi):

Formation: The Irgun, also known as Etzel, was founded in 1931 by dissidents who broke away from the Haganah due to ideological differences. Led by Menachem Begin, the Irgun initially focused on more aggressive tactics against both British authorities and Arab forces.

Revisionist Ideology: The Irgun was associated with the Revisionist Zionist movement, which advocated for a more militant approach to achieving Jewish statehood and rejected the mainstream Zionist leadership's cooperation with British authorities.

Terrorist Activities: The Irgun carried out a series of bombings, assassinations, and other attacks against British military and administrative targets, as well as Arab civilians, during the period of British rule in Palestine. Notable incidents include the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946, which resulted in numerous casualties.

Legacy: Despite its controversial tactics, the Irgun played a role in pressuring the British to withdraw from Palestine and contributed to the establishment of the State of Israel. After independence, Menachem Begin went on to become Prime Minister of Israel, and the Irgun was integrated into the IDF.

While both the Haganah and the Irgun shared the goal of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine, they differed in their methods and relationships with British authorities. The Haganah operated as a more conventional defense force with official ties to the Jewish Agency, while the Irgun pursued a more militant and often controversial approach to achieving Zionist objectives.