Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., December 25, 2008 Kislev 28, 5769 | | Israel Time: 13:34 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 05:54 24/12/2008
Bush pardons man who gave Israel arms in 1948 war
By News Agencies
Tags: Jewish World, Israel News 

In a gesture of forgiveness for an American considered a hero in Israel, President George W. Bush on Tuesday granted a pardon posthumously to a man who broke the law to supply aircraft to Jews fighting in Israel's 1948 War of Independence.

Charles Winters was listed in a batch of 19 pardons and one commutation that Bush issued before leaving for Camp David to spend the holidays. No high-profile lawbreakers were on the list.

In the summer of 1948, Winters, a non-Jewish Miami businessman who exported produce, worked with others to transfer two converted B-17 "Flying Fortresses" to Israel's defense forces. He personally flew one of the aircraft from Miami to Czechoslovakia, where that plane and a third B-17 were retrofitted for use as bombers.
Advertisement
The three B-17s were the only heavy bombers in the Israeli Air Force. It is reported that counterattacks with the bombers helped turn the war in Israel's favor. In March 1961, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir issued a letter of commendation to Winters to recognize his contributions to Israel's survival as an independent state.

Over the years, Winters, a Protestant from Boston who settled in the Miami area, told his family little of his conviction in 1949 for violating the Neutrality Act for conspiring to export aircraft to a foreign country. He was fined $5,000 and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Two others, Herman Greenspun and Al Schwimmer, also were convicted of violating the act, but they did not serve time. President Kennedy pardoned Greenspun in 1961. President Clinton pardoned Schwimmer in 2000.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Knesset express
Rightist party offers Jonathan Pollard top spot on Knesset list.
Mahmoud's Gospel
Ahmadinejad: If Jesus were alive, he would stand in opposition to U.S.
  1.   Heroes 07:15  |  Jane 24/12/08
  2.   What a wonderful story 07:35  |  usha Jeerh 24/12/08
  3.   What About Pollard? 07:47  |  David 24/12/08
  4.   1948 war 08:33  |  Mark Bernadiner 24/12/08
  5.   Partners in the crime 08:54  |  Sam (UK) 24/12/08
  6.   Now it`s time for Pollard 09:22  |  Meir 24/12/08
  7.   if the somebody were to give arms to Lebanon/Syria to use against 10:32  |  ramin 24/12/08
  8.   Pollard is an enemy of USA 10:45  |  Oriv 24/12/08
  9.   Reminds me of Karin-A incident 10:59  |  Orren Merton 24/12/08
  10.   Winters - selfless hero 13:27  |  Tony 24/12/08
  11.   Ramin it was given to Israel to SURVIVE - not to use `against` 14:11  |  x-ray 24/12/08
  12.   Thank you Mr. Winters! 14:40  |  an Israeli 24/12/08
  13.   may God bless them 15:03  |  Ase 24/12/08
  14.   who was first?? 15:51  |  tjm308 24/12/08
  15.   Jonathan Pollard 15:58  |  Angel 24/12/08
  16.   Bushwacked 16:09  |  Cool B 24/12/08
  17.   He worked with Irvn Schindler 16:24  |  Mark Lincoln 24/12/08
  18.   where is Mr.Pollard`s release?the coward would`nt give him his 17:02  |  glenna 24/12/08
  19.   Heroes Like Him We Need More Of 17:37  |  Baruch Gold 24/12/08
  20.   More from another article 19:18  |  Gina 24/12/08
  21.   Pollard was no hero 19:44  |  An American Jew 24/12/08
  22.   What About Pollard? 20:02  |  Jay Chamblin 24/12/08
  23.   Jonathi Pollard 00:33  |  Moses 25/12/08
  24.   Pollard 13:11  |  DavidW 25/12/08
 Read & React
IDF assault on Hamas approved after massive Gaza rocket barrage
Responses: 60
ANALYSIS / Hamas seems to believe Jews 'understand only force'
Responses: 25
Jewish parents deny Arab girl place in Jezreel Valley daycare
Responses: 61
Israel Harel: IDF should deliver Hamas mortal blow for every rocket fired
Responses: 5


More Headlines
13:16 Olmert urges Gazans to reject their Hamas rulers
13:19 Livni tells Mubarak: We'll act to halt Gaza rocket fire
08:32 ANALYSIS / Hamas seems to believe Jews 'understand only force'
13:15 Tourists flock to Bethlehem as city basks in Christmas spotlight
05:36 Terrorists go digital, using iPhones, Google to coordinate attacks
13:23 Three Qassams hit Negev as IDF prepares to strike Hamas
08:17 Jewish parents deny Arab girl place in Jezreel Valley daycare
10:53 Leftist Meretz issues rare call for military action against Hamas
05:15 Bones found at rabbi's tomb on Mount Meron ignite uproar
08:07 Report: Egypt won't object to short IDF offensive in Gaza
09:57 After 4,300 years, pharonic tombs unearthed in Egypt
09:41 Support for Likud falling among right-wing voters, survey finds
09:43 Poll: No wide-spread support for IDF Gaza invasion
08:10 'Because we're in the periphery, we need to die?'
02:48 Amira Hass / The sewage is about to hit the fan in Gaza
03:48 Voice of religious Zionism to stop the presses after 71 years
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Summer in Israel
Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
SURF RAMBAM
Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
Summer Camp in Israel
The best place for your children this summer
Academic Studies in Israel
All the Q & A at the IDC HERZLIYA Open House, January 9,2009
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Car rental in Israel
Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved