Purely Commentary
An Historic Document . . . When Yigal Allon and
Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser Had a Very Friendly
Chat . . . Proof of Possibility of Kinship in M. E.
By Philip
Slomovitz
consider Itself your enemy, and whose in-
tentions toward you are only of good. I
do not advise you to surrender under pres-
sure, but in good faith, with full army
honor and with the possibility of returning
home immediately. Think about it, and let
us save our soldiers' blood and stop this
struggle. I cannot stop fighting, as long as
alien soldiers are on our lands. But you are
not fighting on your own land. See if you
can, that right is on my side."
Tahar (visibly moved by this): "Sir,
there is no doubt that your position is much
better than mine. The planning of this cam-
paign and your soldiers' performances were
fantastic. You have broken through our
Alton: "Is it not tragic for two sides, strongest lines, and you have put to shame
who actually have no reason to fight, should the hitherto undefeated Egyptian army. I
do not ,flatter myself that I can possibly
set upon each other without pity?"
change the existing situation regarding
"A real tragedy," said the Egyptian, your advantage. But there is one thing that
"but that is the way of the world. Fate is I can save — the honor of the Egyptian
fate, and there is no getting away from it." army. And that is why I will fight until the
Allon: "I hope that you have noted that last bullet and the last soldier, unless I
this war was imposed on us by force, as should receive other orders from my gov-
you realize, it is being carried on here in ernment"
our country and not in Egypt. I'm sure that
Allon: "As a soldier, I can understand
As a clarification of historical facts, this item is especially interesting. One the battle has gone our way, and it is bet- your sentiments well, but you must know;
that on certain occasions, the commander'
day General Allon will surely tell his own story about that episode in Israel- ter to put an end to the war."
Answered the Egyptian: "It is true, al- at the front should take the responsibility
Nasser relations.
Your Commentator asked for additional data, and we have just acquired it though I, as an officer, can only carry out for decisions as Von Paulus did at Stalin-
my government's commands."
grad. Believe me, Colonel, that your gov-
from the Israel Ministry of Education and Culture, whose director of foreign relations,
Allon; "It would be worth your while to ernment has no right to criticize a soldier
Shmuel Bendor, sends us a report clarifying the issue we referred to.
realize
that
you
are
fighting
a
war
without
of
your calibre. Look after your men and
The report Mr. Bendor has submitted to us in behalf of Cabinet Minister Yigal
Allon was prepared by Yeroham Cohen, who was an aide to Yigal Allon in 1948 and any hope of your winning it, and all your your country, and put down your arms."
efforts
are
in
vain;
in
your
own
country,
Tehar:
"No sir. There is no way in front
who had arranged the historic meeting in which Nasser participated with the Israeli
the British Army is in control We have just of me except war. It is clear that I am
officials. Yeroham Cohen then held the rank of major.
gotten rid of them. Don't you think that you the representative of the honor of the
His report is dated Autumn, 1948. We are privileged to present it here in full have fallen into an imperialistic' collusion, Egyptian army."
because of its historic significance and because it carries such a valuable lesson for supported by Egypt's allies in the war?"
Allon: "Am I permitted to ask you to
both Israel and the Arab states at this time.
Col. Tahar (getting a bit excited): "You send your government and your comman-
Jews and Arabs acted in a friendly spirit in the early years of Israel's in- have astonished us with your getting rid ders the description of your true state of
dependence. Even now, when Arabs meet Jews privately, they are cordial. Why can't of the British. It will not be long before we affairs and request their consent for your
get them out of our country, ourselves."
surrender?"
they meet amicably? Why can't neighbors converse freely?
Allon: "But how will you get rid of them
Tahar: "I will send a full report of our
This is the lesson of this historic document which we share with our readers.
if all your army is stuck here, after a talks to them."
August 1948
great defeat, and the evening before the
The tension eased, and Allon—in Arabic
The Israel Army besieged the Feluja started to talk about the weather, then agri- final one? Are you not sure that it would —invited the Egyptian officers.. to help
pocket, where the Egyptian forces, under culture and economics in Egypt — where be best for you to go home to Egypt and themselves to the light refreshments on
Nasser
spoke
bitterly
of
the
existing
situa-
the command of Col. Tahar Bey, was holed
look after your own problems, instead of the table, and an informal conversation
tion.
up.
getting mixed up in troubles in a land ensued. The drama of the battlefront was
I then guided the conversation to more which is not your own?"
The commander of the southern front,
shelved for the time being.
actual
happenings
—
the
Arab-Israel
war,
Brig. Yigal Allan, requested me to try and
Abdel Nasser, who was following the con-
Abdel Nasser unexpectedly turned to his
make contact with the Egyptian comman- and I learned that Maj. Nasser was a front- versation all the time most intently, show- commander: "Am I permitted to ask the
der and arrange a meeting between them. line soldier who had been taking part in the ed his interest on his face, although I don't Israeli commander a quegtiffi7"
majority of clashes in the southern front,
ink
he was aware of it.
The date for the contact was found suit- and had been wounded at Hill 105, north-
CoL Tahar glanced inquiringly at Allon,
able after our forces conquered the Iraq- west-of-Kibutz Negba.
Col. Tahar—with his back to the wall as who said; "Please ask, and if
your question
Sweden fortress and Egyptian' strongholds
it were—was trying to find a way of getting is not within the limits of military secrecy,
He
lauded
the
bravery
of
the
Israeli
sol-
surrounding it. This put an end to the hopes
out of the situation, and although he tried, you will receive an answer."
of the Egyptian commander to break diers, especially in the battles with the Pal- there was no way of his avoiding a stereo-
Gaining confidence, Nasser asked with a
through the Israel forces at -the Feluja mach Brigade "Yiftach" that he had typed answer: "As long as my government
pocket and join the rest of the Egyptian fought.
orders me to fight here, I will do so. When smile: "Is the emblem showing the two
Meanwhile, the reply arrived from CoL I will be told to make peace, I will do so. sheaves of wheat and a sword that you
army in the Gaza area.
The morning after the Iraq-Swedan Tahar Bey that he personally was not When I will be told to go back to Egypt and wear on your lapel that of the Palmach?"
Allon, returning his smile, answered:
battle, I arrived near the Egyptian lines in against such a meeting, but that he had to fight the British, I will do it with pleasure
"Correct. I see that you are a good intel-
the pocket and started calling, through a get approval from his headquarters at and as told."
ligence officer."
loudspeaker, in English and Arabic that El-Arish.
Allan: "I have a high regard for your
Abdel Nasser, as though thinking aloud:
We fixed,a date for the next day for me obedience, Colonel; that is the way of a
"an Israeli officer requests a meeting with
an Egyptian officer." After an hour or so, to come and receive a definite reply, and e soldier.
s t d mee rn . am ish a e th
rwi d epe
ou ntde ct i ls on
tion m
in y e. go A v-
li "Now I understand our eefeat. The Pal-
I saw through binoculars three figures mov- the subsequent meeting was a short One.
mach and its commander are at the front."
ing behind the barbed wire at the rear of
Major Nasser informed me that his com- the same, it seems to me that you should
At the end of an hour and a half, the
the entrance of the village of Iraq-el-Man- mander accepted the proposal to meet inform your commander, or prove to him, meeting came to an end. We all walked
chia. I decided not to lose time and started Yigal Allan in any place we chose. I sug- the lack of hope you have in this war. I out to the courtyard of the kibutz. While
walking — alone and unarmed — the 800 gested Kibutz Gat that same afternoon.
do not ever try and hide my thoughts , my shaking hands with Allan, Tahar said: "You
meters that separated us, choosing the
Kibutz Gat was the front line of the problems and worries, or my right to fight captured Iraq-Sweden during the truce. I
asphalt road which I knew was the only pocket, but was still held by the members. —from my government. This does not mean hope you will honor the truce and not re-
path in the area not mined, although I was
One of the officers returned to the colonel that it is against the law of the land. Only peat this action."
aware that artillery and mortars were
Allon: "Most certainly we shall honor
for his confirmation, and immediately we with such co-operation does the alliance
trained on it.
come about between statesmanship and the international law, though it should not
received an affirmative reply.
military strategy."
The nearer I approached the village the
apply when defending one's homeland
I
rushed
to
Kibutz
Gat
to
prepare
for
less fear I felt, and as I came closer, I
Tahar: "There is no doubt that the posi- against an invader. You will admit, Colonel,
noted that the three soldiers were two cap- the meeting in about the only remaining tion on the front and in Egypt is clear to
that we captured Iraq-Sweden while in a
tains and a major. I saluted them and building with four walls.
my government, and I am sure that they counter-attack, after your people had
As previously arranged, I arrived at the will do everything that is necessary."
shook hands, saying, "Good morning, gentle-
broken
the truce by opening fire on Ki-
men." Each man introduced himself, and meeting point on the outskirts of the Feluja
Anon: "This was surely your belief when butz Negba."
the major said that he was Gamal Abdel township at the same time as three jeeps—
you
invaded
Palestine,
and
see
how
your
Tahar, replying with an embarrassed
Nasser. Speaking in English, I introduced with white flags fluttering—came from the j enders were wrong. If not for the intPr-
myself as the ADC to the southern com- opposite direction, bringing the Egyptian vention of the United Nations forces, the smile: "Yes, but who can tell whose shot
mander, and expressed the reason for my representatives. Cot Tahar Bey jumped Egyptian Army would have been completely came first, at a time of such confusion?"
mission, Le. the meeting between the com- easily from the first jeep; we marched crushed already, including your brave and
Allan: "I am pleased to have met you,
toward each other and saluted. A broad courageous brigade. You
manders.
Colonel. Whenever you wish to me
must understand ,
again,
you can always send a messehger.
Major Gamal Abdel Nasser countered: smile appeared on his face, and two rows Col onel, that the situation at the
front has
"Are you proposing that at this meeting of brilliant white teeth shone from the dark-
settled . Your brigade has been under May we meet in , better times." -
ness of his skin. He was genial and charm-
we surrender?"
"May we meet in peace times," replied
ing, and the great differences between us, a close siege, without any chance of break- Col. Tahar, and saluted.
I replied that each side would try and
both in age and rank, did nothing to inter- ing through. I have to take every chance
convince the other of the results that would
I
can
to
get
rid
of
your
brigade
complete.
I
escorted the Egyptian convoy on Its way
fere with his attitude toward me.
come from the continuation of fighting in
ly and to crush you. Where is the sense is back to Feluja. Before we parted, I had
He presented the staff officers accom-
the area.
your pointless stand? The fate of the other to ask Col. Taber: "Sir, how did you dare
panying him—three colonels and two ma- half of the pocket will be the same as that
The three then continued to ask me ques-
take the chance and come to see us, your
jors. A short time passed, and we were on which happened the day
tions concerning the proposed meeting, and
before yesterday." opponents? Weren't you afraid of a trap?"
our way through the track which led us to
While the two captains became quite heat- Kibutz Gat.
Taber was silent for some moments, and
The'colonel answered straightaway:
ed, the major remained calm throughout.
The Israeli delegation was headed by then replied: "Yes, sir, I see. But as long "Abdel Nasser told me about yon, I was
It seemed that my answers satisfied them, Yigal Allan, whom I introduced as Brig. as I have on hand men and arms, there is convinced that be trusted you easspietelY.
and after a long discussion it was decided Ylshayahu Bergstein—Yigal Allan's under- no reason why I should stop fighting."
Therefore I did not hesitate to came out
that one of the two captains would inform ground name since the 29th June, 1946. He
Albin felt that in front of him was a re- from our position, and it shows that I was
the commander of the pocket—Col. Tahar was seated at the head of the table with lentless fighter. Nevertheless he tried again, not misled by him."
•
Bey—of my message.
Once more we shook hands, with the hope
his staff officers as we came in, and he using diplomacy: "I greatly admire your
This wait gave me an opportunity for a broke the silence with words of welcome in courage, Colonel, but are you not sure that of seeing each other again. It was difficult
long chat with Gamal Abdel Nasser. We Arabic, but the Egyptian commander re- the life of man is more precious, and that to realise that these men stood on the op-
there is no point in sacrificing your men posing side of the Watling..
"Yigal Allon's Meeting With Camel Abdel Nasser
Commentary In the issue of June 5 carried an Item that called for supplement-
ation. The earlier item in this column stated:
Recalling Allan's Chat with Nasser
•
Frequently, there are inquiries about Gamal Abdel Nasser's earliest role
and whether he really was a prisoner of the Israelis.
It was so contended in an article in the London Observer some time ago.
Then the following letter to the editor of the Observer was published:
"Permit me to make a correction to Mr. Lajos Lederer's article last
Sunday, 'Tito bids for peace' where he says in effect that President Nas-
ser was taken prisoner during the 1948 Palestine war.
"I wish to point out categorically that at no time was President Nas-
ser 'taken prisoner' during the Palestine war.
M. SAMIR AHMED, Counselor,
Charge d'Affairs a.i.
Embassy of the United Arab
Republic, Wl"
Thereupon the editors, in footnote to the UAR letter, wrote about the role of
Yigal Allon, one of the Israeli generals in Israel's war of independence, and
stated:
"It is technically correct that the then Colonel Nasser was not taken pri-
soner, but he was trapped in the Faluja 'pocket' with his brigade. While release
negotiations were proceeding, General Allon spent several hours with him, dis-
cussing military and political problems."
-- 1L U7ll
2--hfikor,serieziker
11117101T 'AWN maws
quested that the talks be conducted in Eng-
lish. Yigal Allan regretted that they had re-
quested this, as he felt that the two differ-
ing sides understood Arabic better, and
therefore the results of the talks would be
more fruitfuL
Brig. Alton began to speak: "Colonel,
allow me to bring you my compliments on
your soldiers' bravery. The capture of Iraq-
Swedan and Feluja cost us great effort,
although there were not heavy casualties."
"Thank you, sir," said Tahar Bey, "and
I must say that your forces' tenacity aston-
ished me and and put me in a very difficult
position."
in a bade against a nation which des not
'