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'Punish those responsible' By Ehud Ein-Gil Tags: Israel News On May 28, 1939, 25 Etzel fighters led by Moshe Moldovsky attacked the village of Bir Adas in the coastal plain, on the grounds that its residents were harboring "gangs." In his book, "The Birth of an Underground Organization," Prof. Yehuda Lapidot wrote that the attackers had received instructions not to harm women, children and the elderly, but out of the five people killed in the village, four were women. Ze'ev Jabotinsky read about the operation in the London newspaper The Times and sent off a sharp letter, written in Hebrew in Latin letters and addressed to the command of the Etzel - the prestate militant underground also known as the Irgun (Irgun Zvai Leumi). He signed it with the code name "Mendelssohn." Jabotinsky wrote the following in the letter dated June 24, 1939. "An order: The Times reports that at Bir Adas four women were killed with the use of a revolver, and those who shot were found not outside the house but inside. That means that they intended to target the women. If this is a lie, you must immediately deny it. If it is true, you must punish those responsible and inform me what the punishment was. Advertisement "A general instruction: Public opinion, that of both the Jews and gentiles, is in favor of responses as long as the impression is not given that women are also being intentionally hurt. When defending oneself, it is not possible to distinguish between the sexes, but in a response, one must refrain from any step likely to create an impression of this kind. "This is the rule for responses: Shooting - it is better not to shoot at all than to endanger a woman. A mass action - one must avoid, when possible, [hitting] places where women habitually gather. A warning to the public must be broadcast and printed in Arabic because these days it is not fitting for a man to send his wife to the market or a similar spot; he will go alone. "N.B.: The rule for small children and the elderly is the same as for women." Jabotinsky's letter was kept with other Etzel documents in a jar hidden in a private home near Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square. It was uncovered 50 years ago. And how did the Etzel react to its leader's order? Did it punish those responsible for the murder? Lapidot, who published the letter in full in his book, says no one was punished. Bookmark to del.icio.us   From the bunker Hamas says Gaza won't break, victory over Israel is near. Banned Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections.

Read & React Bradley Burston / Gaza War Diary IV - Can people die of ambivalence? Responses: 49 Amos Harel with IDF in Gaza / 'Let's finish what we started' Responses: 82 Ari Shavit: World cannot, must not condemn our war on Hamas Responses: 122 U.S. arms shipment to Israel canceled due to Gaza conflict Responses: 24 Yoel Marcus: It's not Israel's fault it has a strong, well-run army Responses: 83 More Headlines 08:58 Two rockets fired from Lebanon hit north Israel 08:47 5 IDF paratroopers hurt in northern Gaza gunbattle 07:52 Olmert ignoring calls from Barak, Livni for immediate Gaza truce 03:13 Egypt tells Hamas it must commit to one year cease-fire in Gaza 03:14 U.S.: Olmert never asked us to abstain from UN vote on Gaza truce 07:21 ANALYSIS / Israel thinks Hamas waiting on Obama for Gaza truce 07:23 Diplomats: Gaza op causing long-term harm to Israel's image 07:30 Amira Hass / Palestinian doctor killed by IDF while treating Gaza wounded 07:25 Shin Bet: 565 rockets, 200 mortar shells fired at Israel since start of Gaza op 04:56 Israel's Waltz with Bashir, on 1982 Lebanon War, gets Oscar nod 07:38 Sarkozy urges French religious leaders to condemn anti-Semitic incidents 23:56 Settler shoots, kills Palestinian who allegedly hurled rocks at him 05:35 Israel resumes soccer league matches - except in Arab sector 23:58 Turkish PM denies anti-Semitism, says 'Jewish-backed media' spread false info on Gaza 07:08 IDF Chief: Hamas bombers posing as Israeli troops in Gaza 21:34 Palestinian reporters charged with leaking censored info on Gaza to Iran TV 22:25 Italy's Jews: Pope Benedict negating 50 years of interfaith progress 06:18 Holland supermarkets boycotted on rumors of Israel donations Previous Editions Select Day 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec

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